Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Erika Brachowski

Park Ridge

Summary

Experienced business development, marketing, and communications professional with nearly 20 years of experience in the legal services industry. Responsibilities have included strategic proposal and RFP generation, identification of cross-selling opportunities across practices and markets, development and execution of strategic marketing plans, creation of persuasive pitch content and other communications, research and analysis, and marketing team management.

Overview

23
23
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Global Practice Development Manager/Senior Manager – Marketing & Industry Team

Winston & Strawn LLP
01.2011 - 08.2021
  • Led a five-person marketing team in supporting the overall marketing and business development efforts of Winston & Strawn, working directly with firm leadership to create and implement key initiatives.
  • Developed and oversaw implementation of strategic business plans focused on sales and marketing activities to drive client acquisition and grow revenue.
  • Led the production of major pitches and proposals for both existing clients and targets.
  • Coached attorneys to position and sell the firm’s services and unique competitive advantages to clients through each stage of the business development cycle.
  • Identified cross-selling opportunities and synergies across practices, sectors, and markets; recommended pursuit avenues; and tracked results.
  • Worked with Managing Directors of Marketing and Business Development, Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Development Officer, and Director of Attorney Resources & Recruitment on preparing targeted lateral partner materials.
  • Collaborating with the Marketing Communications team, managed firm marketing and public relations initiatives, including press releases, award and directory submissions, and other external communications.
  • Oversaw the Global Practice Development/Marketing & Industry teams in maintaining and updating practice- and industry-specific content in marketing materials and on the firm website.
  • Worked with assigned attorneys to develop and execute webinars, podcasts, in-person seminars/client education programs, and other visibility-raising initiatives.
  • Utilizing various metrics generated by business development information systems and reporting tools, regularly tracked sales and cross-selling opportunities, market penetration, client and matter financials, and other relevant data.

Publications Specialist/RFP Manager

Winston & Strawn LLP
06.2004 - 12.2010
  • Led a three-person team in the creation and management of high-quality pitch content in alignment with the firm’s business objectives.
  • Partnered with attorneys to identify sales opportunities across practices and industries, develop strategic pitch content, and communicate the firm’s value proposition.
  • Oversaw the Publications and Graphics teams in the execution of hundreds of successful RFPs, panel submissions, and matter-specific proposals.
  • Tracked the firm’s business development efforts for strategic analysis and reporting to firm management through the creation and ongoing maintenance of sales activity tools.
  • Oversaw the development of all other types of marketing collateral, including brochures, attorney recruiting materials, client/executive communications, and blogs.
  • Provided day-to-day management of the Publications and Graphics teams, including assignment of projects and regular review of work product produced by team members.
  • Worked closely with the Chief Marketing Officer and Director of Marketing in drafting submissions to survey, directory, and award (firm, practice, and individual) submissions for numerous organizations and publications.
  • Partnered with the firm’s Marketing Communications team to draft website content and ensure messaging and branding consistency between website and other external marketing materials.
  • Assisted other firm departments in the development of internal and external communications (e.g., press releases, conference and seminar collateral, attorney recruiting brochures, department newsletters).

Marketing Specialist/Senior Editor

Keane Consulting Group
06.1998 - 09.2003
  • Managed a five-person Editing department and coached editorial team on communication style, writing skills, and interaction with project teams. Ensured the on-time delivery of top-quality project communications and documents to clients.
  • Was responsible for firmwide marketing efforts, including all business and client development, strategic marketing, and external communications.
  • Created the strategy and key deliverables for an aggressive re-branding effort and launched the branding strategy and supporting collateral to stakeholders.
  • Initiated a firmwide knowledge-sharing strategy, including 25 project summaries and three in-depth client testimonials. The initiative contributed to 5% growth in new and incremental business.
  • Secured public and media relations opportunities for the firm’s Executive Team, including speaking engagements at conferences, article placement in trade magazines, and participation in industry seminars.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Political Science

Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Skills

  • Broad legal substantive proficiency
  • Executive-level interpersonal communications
  • Pitch content strategy development
  • Marketing strategy creation and execution
  • Business expansion and cross-selling
  • Brand development and messaging
  • Professional development
  • Budget management

Timeline

Senior Global Practice Development Manager/Senior Manager – Marketing & Industry Team

Winston & Strawn LLP
01.2011 - 08.2021

Publications Specialist/RFP Manager

Winston & Strawn LLP
06.2004 - 12.2010

Marketing Specialist/Senior Editor

Keane Consulting Group
06.1998 - 09.2003

Bachelor of Arts - Political Science

Michigan State University

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Erika Brachowski