We are recruiting for a Business Development Manager to join our M&A practice team in London on a 12 month FTC.
DepartmentOur Business Development, Marketing and Communication team helps shape and deliver the firm’s client strategy and business objectives. They work with our partners in the pursuit of becoming our clients’ trusted advisers, building and maintaining long-lasting, institutional client relationships, winning new clients, increasing the profile and market reputation of the firm globally. Ultimately positioning the firm as the most advanced law firm among the global elite law firms. The function works as one team across the globe with very close collaboration between the central groups – such as Communications – and professionals working with offices, practice groups, sectors and clients.
London M&AWith over 40 partners the London M&A practice has a dynamic and ambitious strategy – a clear focus on growth. The M&A BD team plays a critical role in driving forward this strategy, through best-in-class business development and marketing advice and support. We help partners win work, deliver an exceptional experience, retain clients and build their name in the market. The London M&A strategy is focused on achieving a position of market leadership, working on the most significant mandates in the UK and international market. This includes building our profile as a standout practice for complex cross-border, high value transactions in public and private M&A, Private Equity, ECM, Pensions and Commercial work, across our core sectors of tech, life sciences, private capital, FIG, Energy and Infrastructure and Established Industries.
Role purposeYou will provide both strategic and day-to-day practical business development support and advice to the M&A team, in various sectors. Supported by a shared BD Executive and two BD Assistants, the role will help drive the BD strategy for these top tier practices and provide oversight to the BD Executive in executing the day-to-day business development tasks.
This role collaborates closely with the firm’s sector groups on a cross-practice basis. It is critical the teams have the highest quality BD resource to help them raise their profile, drive the business, capture market share and convert opportunities available in this competitive market.
The role involves working with the partners on their business development activities: winning new business, client relationship management, and business planning. The person will work with other marketing experts, such as PR, content and events teams, to raise the firm’s external profile in these and other areas.
Role & responsibilities- Business planning and advice – provide focus to the delivery and direction of BD activities. Play a key influencing role with partners regarding M&A business development activities and projects.
- Proposals – take a lead role in preparing proposals, pitch presentations and credentials statements for London based partners, working closely with the dedicated M&A pitch specialists in Belfast. Help partners on their presentations and encourage the teams to follow best practice. Input into documents prepared by other practice groups and offices requiring the relevant product/sector expertise. Work with colleagues to capture client feedback, capture proposal outcomes and prompt fee earners to act upon feedback.
- Client relationship management – assist partners, associates and BD colleagues in the management of strategic client relationships and coordinate client targeting efforts across the M&A practice. Work with the central CRM team on specific client tactics, including secondee debriefs, client presentations and training, etc. Develop an in-depth knowledge of the key clients in the market. Ensure regular sharing of information on client activities across relevant practice groups.
- Client listening – work on client listening programmes as appropriate; carry out client listening sessions with key clients. Assimilate the feedback into reports for the relevant partners. Proactively work with the partners to ensure that the feedback in reports is actioned appropriately.
- Management – responsibility for junior member(s) of M&A business development team to ensure the efficient delivery of proposals and other marketing initiatives and providing coaching and mentoring to develop the individuals.
- Market and client research – to support business planning activities.
- Client events and hospitality – proactively identify appropriate client entertainment opportunities with fee earners and the CRM team. Track marketing spend against clients and individuals/teams within clients to ensure activities are aligned with overall strategic priorities.
- Internal communications – oversee the maintenance of a flow of market/client intelligence (e.g. pipeline deals, major players, market shares, key client contact moves and developments) to partners and associates.
- Campaign management – work with partners, senior associates and the PSL team to develop and execute integrated business development campaigns. Plan roundtables and client seminars to raise awareness of our expertise in key product areas. Liaise with the Communications/PR team to develop a stronger external profile.
Requirements- Substantial relevant marketing experience (within a professional services organisation or in the sector, where the individual frequently worked with management of individual practice or service lines).
- Existing knowledge or keen enthusiasm to develop an in-depth understanding of the M&A market (in terms of the markets, the deals, asset classes, key players, competitive landscape and the actual structures and approaches involved in these areas).
- Proven track record of achieving product-line and sector business objectives.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills - with partners, key associates, and business development colleagues, clients and suppliers. Ability to motivate fee-earners to engage on business development projects and to work with them to develop and implement business development plans.
- Professional, proactive, creative and enthusiastic approach to work and interactions.
- Ability to motivate, develop and inspire both team and lawyers to develop business goals and change behaviour where required. Draws on experience to manage change.
- Ability to work to deadlines, juggle multiple projects and deliver under pressure. Ability to plan ahead, anticipate one’s own workload and knowing how to work with busy fee-earners, balancing conflicting priorities and does not over-commit team and themselves – always manages expectations
- A commercial and ambitious individual with a proven track record in a similar professional services environment, driven to work in a high performance business development team at a global law firm where commercial insight, developing strong personal relationships and achieving tangible results are valued and recognised.
We recognise the value of flexible working and embraces hybrid working, allowing our people to work from home up to 40% of their working time. We do however remain committed to working together in person for the remaining 60% of time so that we can learn, grow and succeed together.
