Business Development Manager - Intellectual Property

About the role

Your role At Allens, our business teams are specialists in their field, using their unique knowledge and expertise to solve critical client and business challenges. Intellectual property Allens' Intellectual Property practice is one of the largest and most respected IP practices in the Asia‑Pacific region, delivering comprehensive legal and attorney services across the full lifecycle of intellectual property. The team advises leading Australian and global companies, as well as start‑ups, universities and R&D organisations, on managing, protecting, commercialising, enforcing and defending valuable IP assets across a broad range of industries. The practice has an unrivalled history of acting in many of Australia's leading IP cases and most significant commercial transactions, and is regularly engaged on complex, high‑stakes disputes and enforcement matters. The team advises on patent, trade mark, copyright and confidential information litigation, as well as on major transactional and strategic matters where IP is central to value and risk. Uniquely among top‑tier firms, Allens operates a fully integrated patent and trade mark attorney practice alongside its full‑service IP legal team. This integrated model enables the firm to manage clients' IP strategies holistically, delivering efficiency and consistency by having one team responsible for contentious and non‑contentious IP matters, portfolio management and prosecution, and complex technical advisory work. The Business Development Manager for IP plays a strategic, partner‑facing role that drives revenue growth, deepens client relationships, elevates market presence, and strengthens the firm's BD culture. You will act as a trusted adviser to partners -shaping strategy, challenging thinking, and embedding future‑fit BD habits aligned to practice and firm priorities. The role requires exceptional commercial judgement, the ability to translate strategy into focused partner action, and the confidence to influence senior stakeholders in high‑stakes, fast‑moving environments. You will help the practice anticipate market issues, win the most meaningful work, and build deeper, more enduring client relationships. This is a hands ‑ on, practice ‑ embedded role suited to a BD professional who enjoys working closely with partners, managing pursuits, and delivering high ‑ quality BD support in a fast ‑ paced environment. You will build strong relationships across the practice, develop your commercial judgement, and continue to deepen your exposure to partner ‑ facing work with support and mentoring from senior colleagues. You will: Co ‑ create and deliver the IP practice BD plan with partners, and develop and review personal BD plans with partners and managing associates to drive focus on priority clients, opportunities and pipeline actions. Identify and share market, client and competitor insights to surface prospecting and growth opportunities, and suggest practical next steps such as outreach emails, conversation prompts or meeting preparation. Manage and coordinate tenders and pursuits, contributing to pursuit strategy, value propositions, written materials and pitch preparation. Engage directly with clients to understand their experience, coordinate client feedback discussions where appropriate, and ensure agreed actions are followed through with partners and the BD team. Work with Marketing and Communications to ensure campaigns, thought leadership and events are focused on priority clients, sectors and opportunities for the practice, with clear objectives and follow ‑ up actions. Use BD systems, tools and frameworks effectively and collaborate with BD colleagues across practices and central teams to deliver a consistent, high ‑ quality and client ‑ focused BD approach. This is a permanent, full-time position although we will consider candidates looking to work a 9 day fortnight or 4 day a week. Hybrid working (60% in the office) is how we work, however flexibility matters at Allens, so if you are seeking hybrid working or looking for flexibility in your work, we would be happy to discuss what arrangements would work best for you. About you BD & Client Growth Expertise Experience in business development within a professional services environment, with exposure to partner ‑ facing work and practice ‑ embedded roles. A strong client ‑ centric mindset, with the ability to translate insight into clear, practical actions that support growth and deepen relationships. Hands ‑ on experience delivering tenders and pursuits and contributing to strategy. Comfortable contributing ideas on prospecting and growth opportunities and supporting outreach and client engagement activity. Interest in building BD capability in others through hands ‑ on support in pursuits, client engagement and day ‑ to ‑ day BD activity. Core Skills & Behaviours Strong organisation and judgement, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and follow through on agreed actions.

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