Business Development Manager - Competition & Intellectual Property

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.
 

Competition
 

Allens Competition, Consumer and Regulatory practice is one of the leading competition and consumer law advisers in the region. We advise on a wide range of competition and consumer law issues including ACCC investigations and enforcement action, large and complex anti-trust matters, general advisory matters and regulatory developments.
 

Our leading merger clearance practice sees us advise clients on the largest and most complex merger clearance transactions, both in Australia and globally. We lead the Australian market in getting transactions through the ACCC, often at an early stage in the review process.
 

Our team also houses one of the strongest competition and consumer law investigations, litigation and regulated access practices. Covering the full spectrum of issues from immunity applications, ACCC investigations and enforcement action to allegations of misuse of market power, unconscionable and misleading conduct.
 

The team has a strong and respectful working relationship with the ACCC, built up over years of extensive interaction, offering clients an unparalleled level of knowledge into its operations and procedures.
 

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 D&I 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 Disputes & Investigations 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.

• Confident communicator who can work effectively with partners, lawyers and BD colleagues, and contribute constructively to discussions.

• Collaborative working style, bringing people together around shared goals and contributing positively to team culture.

• Comfortable using BD systems and tools, including CRM and pursuit processes, and keen to continue developing technical and commercial capability.

• A growth‑oriented mindset, demonstrating curiosity, resilience and a willingness to learn and develop.

Your development
 

In joining Allens, you will receive unparalleled learning and development opportunities. You will be challenged, supported and guided as you learn and develop, and will be encouraged to grow. We foster greatness, and will coach and support you to meet your goals and aspirations.
 

Our unique Career Deal allows you to take control of your career and provides a transparent approach to career development. Our international alliance with Linklaters means we are able to support secondments all over the world.

Our perks
 

Our benefits include:

• Financial: market competitive fixed remuneration, employee recruitment referral program, discounts at hundreds of suppliers including retail outlets, health and travel insurance, charity matched funding program.

• Health and wellbeing: fully subsidised gym memberships, annual flu vaccinations, skin checks, in-house snacks and catered meals, subsidised sporting and social activities, Employee Assistance Program including confidential counselling, wellbeing coaching and financial coaching for employees and their families.

• Flexibility: hybrid and flexible working arrangements to support you in your work and life commitments and passions, equipment to support working from home.

• Leave: ability to purchase additional annual leave, access to an enhanced, inclusive and flexible parental leave policy – 26 weeks paid parental leave with no minimum service for permanent employees and high quality executive coaching to support the transition.

• Recognition: team based recognition including social activities and contribution based recognition activities, and annual Allens Values Awards to nominate and recognise the incredible contributions of our people.
   

Allens is also proud to invest in our communities, giving you the opportunity to make a difference through our work on reconciliation, the environment and other social justice issues as well as our workplace giving and volunteering programs.

How to apply?
 

We'd love to hear from you so please click "apply now"! If you would like to find out more, please visit "This is Allens" or listen to our Allens Confidential podcast to hear real stories from real people about life at Allens. Alternatively, for a confidential discussion, please phone James Watts on 0451 237 417.
 

At Allens, our culture is made up of unique backgrounds and varying life experiences. We celebrate our people's differences across gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, cultural backgrounds, First Nations communities, and family and caring arrangements. If you require adjustments to fully participate in our application process, please contact us at careers@allens.com.au. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align, please express your interest by emailing us at careers@allens.com.au. The right role for you might be just around the corner!