Business Development Recruitment
We specialise in Business Development recruitment for the legal industry, connecting leading law firms with high-performing business development professionals.
Business Development Recruitment for International Law Firms in the Middle East
Business development in a law firm is a unique discipline. The people who do it well understand both the commercial world and the legal one. They know how to position a firm, craft a compelling pitch, support time-poor partners and build the kind of client relationships that generate real revenue. Finding someone who can do all of that, within the specific culture of an international law firm in the Middle East, is not a straightforward task.
Barratt Galvin has been placing BD professionals into international law firms across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Doha since 2007. We understand what these roles genuinely demand, what great looks like at each level of seniority and where the best talent in the market currently sits.
Why Barratt Galvin for Business Development Recruitment
BD recruitment in the legal sector is a specialist discipline, and we treat it as one. The skills and qualities that make someone exceptional in a BD role at an international law firm are quite different from what a generalist commercial recruiter would look for. We have spent nearly two decades understanding that difference, and it shapes every search we run.
Laura's own career in top-tier international law firms, including Baker McKenzie and Clifford Chance, gives her a firsthand understanding of how Business Development functions at the highest level of the profession and what partners genuinely need from their BD teams.
We work closely with CMOs and Heads of BD across the region. We have a strong understanding of how BD teams are structured, where the pressure points are and what a new hire needs to bring to make an immediate and lasting impact. When you brief us, we are not starting from scratch. We already know this world.
At one leading international law firm, we placed their entire BD and marketing team across multiple briefs, placing the coordinator, advisor and manager. This client's choice to work with Barratt Galvin exclusively meant we built a detailed picture of their culture, work rhythms and team dynamics, making each successive placement sharper and more precise than the last.
Not every search begins cleanly. A US law firm came to us having spent almost five months searching for a Senior BD Manager without success. We placed the right candidate through our network, referred to us by another candidate we had worked with for over five years. The successful candidate was never on the open market. Without the Barratt Galvin network, that firm and candidate would never have been connected.
Every candidate we present comes with a thorough brief covering background, depth of legal sector BD experience, working style and our honest assessment of fit. We do not send high-volume CVs and leave you to sort through them. We do the work, take the screening load off your desk and stand behind every recommendation we make.
Our approach is built on long-term relationships rather than one-off transactions. The better we know your firm, its partners, its culture and its growth ambitions, the more precisely we can identify the people who will thrive within it. Every placement deepens that picture.
What We Recruit
Business Development Roles We Recruit For
We recruit across the full range of business development roles for international law firms, including:
- BD Assistant
- BD Coordinator
- BD Executive
- BD Advisor
- BD Manager
- Pitches and Proposals Manager
- Senior BD Manager
- BD Director
- Head of Business Development
We also recruit for specialist BD roles requiring expertise in a particular practice area or market, and for combined BD and Marketing positions where the remit spans both functions.
Business Development Roles We Recruit For
What We Recruit
We recruit across the full range of business development roles for international law firms, including:
BD Assistant
BD Coordinator
BD Executive
BD Advisor
BD Manager
Pitches and Proposals Manager
Head of Business Development
BD Director
We also recruit for specialist BD roles requiring expertise in a particular practice area or market, and for combined BD and Marketing positions where the remit spans both functions.
What We Look for in a Business Development Professional
BD professionals who succeed in international law firms share a distinctive set of qualities. They are commercially sharp and genuinely curious about the legal landscape. They understand the business of law, not just the practice of it. They are confident working alongside senior partners, influencing without authority and delivering high-quality work under real time pressure.
At coordinator and executive level, we look for people who are organised, proactive and eager to learn the sector deeply. At manager and advisor level, we want demonstrated experience in pitches and proposals, client development and BD planning within a legal or professional services environment. At senior manager, director and head of function level, we are looking for strategic thinkers who can lead a team, build a BD culture and earn the genuine respect of the partnership.
Across all levels, experience within a law firm or professional services environment is important. It tells us a candidate already understands the dynamics of a partnership structure and the particular rhythms of a busy international firm.
Where We Place Business Development Professionals
We recruit BD professionals for international law firms across the Middle East, with particular depth in:
- Dubai, including the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
- Abu Dhabi, including Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
- Riyadh
- Doha
We also support firms with BD hiring in Australia and London, and can assist with multi-market searches where your BD function spans more than one office.
Access to the Right Business Development Talent
We maintain an active network of BD professionals with genuine international law firm experience. A strong proportion of our candidate pool is already based in the Middle East, meaning faster placement timelines and candidates who already understand the culture and pace of the region.
Where a role is best filled through international sourcing, we give you a candid picture of what that process involves: realistic timelines, what to expect from incoming candidates and how to set the engagement up for success from day one.
For candidates relocating to the region, our support extends well beyond the placement itself. We help new arrivals get settled, share accommodation advice, make introductions based on what we know about both parties and point them toward communities that will help them feel at home quickly. A settled candidate performs better and stays longer, and that is good for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to fill a BD role at a law firm in Dubai?
Most Business Development placements come together within four to eight weeks from brief to offer. The range reflects seniority. At coordinator and manager level, where our network is deepest, the process moves quickly. At senior manager, director and head of function level, the process naturally involves more stages and more careful consideration. We will give you honest advice along the way, including what the market looks like and what you may need to do to secure the best person.
What salary should I expect to pay a BD Manager in Dubai?
BD salaries in Dubai vary considerably depending on seniority, scope and firm profile. We publish an annual salary report covering BD and legal business services roles across the Middle East. Contact us for the latest data or download our Salary Report from the website.
Do you recruit Business Development professionals at all levels?
Yes. We recruit across all levels from BD Assistant through to Head of Business Development, including BD Coordinator, BD Executive, BD Advisor, BD Manager, Pitches and Proposals Manager, Senior BD Manager and BD Director. Volume is highest at manager and advisor level, but we have a strong track record at senior levels and understand what those searches require in terms of both candidate profile and process.
What makes a BD professional well suited to a Middle East law firm role?
Beyond strong BD skills and legal sector experience, we look for candidates who are adaptable, culturally aware and comfortable in a demanding international environment. An understanding of the Gulf market is a genuine advantage, though not always essential. We assess all of these factors carefully before presenting anyone to you.
We are a new office. Can you help us build a BD function from scratch?
Yes, and this is something we genuinely enjoy. Whether you are opening a new office or expanding an existing one, we can help you think through what your BD function should look like, who you need first and what that person needs to be able to do. We have strong networks across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada and the Asia Pacific region, as well as an active pool of candidates already in the Middle East.
What is your policy if a BD placement does not work out?
Every placement comes with a warranty period. If things do not go as planned, we will re-engage and work to find the right replacement. We see every placement as the beginning of a relationship, not the end of a transaction. Contact us to discuss the terms that would apply to your engagement.
Get in Touch
Whether you have a vacancy to fill today or are simply thinking ahead, we would love to have a conversation. After nearly two decades in this market, we have a great deal to share and are always happy to talk through what we are seeing, what talent is available and what a search like yours would realistically involve.
You can also submit your vacancy directly via the Submit a Vacancy form on our website.
