Business Development Executive, Dispute Resolution

The role

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Business Development Executive (BDE) to join us on a permanent basis. 

Reporting to and working in collaboration with the Senior Business Development Manager (SBDM), the BD Executive will support the Commercial Dispute Resolution, Business Crime & Regulatory, Restructuring & Insolvency and International Construction practices in their business development activities. 

This varied role covers the full mix of business development and marketing activities including: collateral, client targeting initiatives, budget management, events, social media, pitching, directory submissions, CRM and supporting on campaigns and content creation.

Role responsibility

BAU Business Development Support

• Providing day to day BD and marketing support to the Commercial Dispute Resolution, Business Crime & Regulatory, Restructuring & Insolvency and International Construction practices.
• Assisting in the drafting and delivery of business development plans.
• Overseeing and monitoring business development budgets and expenditure.
• Providing meeting support, preparing agendas, circulating notes and action points. Following up as needed.
• Creating and manipulating reports in advance of Go To Market group meetings.
• Assisting with developing the monthly Board report.
• Using CRM to log pitches, maintain and update dispute resolution contact types, develop and maintain marketing lists and report on mailing and invitation stats.

Marketing Collateral and Pitching

• Preparing first drafts of capability statements, credentials documents, pitches and client presentations.
• Working with SBDM on developing collateral and reviewing key messages as needed. 
• Updating and maintaining the credentials database. 

Events, Conferences and International Trips

• Leading on event planning and idea generation, ensuring events are in line with the department's BD objectives. 
• Managing event logistics, liaising with the Catering and Hospitality teams as required.
• Managing the invitation process, using Vuture and CRM as needed.
• Liaising with lawyers and third parties on content as necessary.
• Communicating with internal stakeholders and third-party suppliers as needed.
• Creating and managing the calendar of events and activities, ensuring that the team is aware.
• Maintaining awareness of early bird deadlines, ensuring tickets are purchased and travel organised in a timely manner to prevent unnecessary overspend.
• Managing the marketing strategy to maximise impact of events, conferences and international trips, working closely with the central MarComms team to execute marketing tactics and ensure all key channels are used.
• Proactively managing follow-up, ensuring the completion of trip / conference reports as necessary and reporting on / supporting lead generation.

PR, Content and Campaigns

• Supporting the development of departmental content and campaigns, providing ideas on topical news and issues.
• Regularly reviewing what competitors are doing in terms of key campaigns and initiatives and report back to the SBDM. 
• Undertaking ad-hoc research requests related to legal topics, people, clients and prospects or markets. For example, competitor websites, LinkedIn searches, marketing opportunities such as sponsorships and internal CRM system searches.
• Working closely with the SBDM to develop a marketing strategy on key campaigns and liaise with the central MarComms team to execute marketing tactics and ensure all key channels are used to maximise impact.
• Providing advice to lawyers on how to raise their profile via social media, at speaking events and internally.
• Managing the process for delivering the CDR and International Construction newsletters, supporting the lawyers to produce relevant legal updates, bulletins and blogs.
• Supporting the SBDM on PR strategy and liaising with the firm's PR agency in generating PR stories.

Directories and Awards

• Managing the annual directory submission process. Working with lawyers to draft and submit directories, regularly reviewing strategy to maximise opportunities to improve rankings.
• Supporting the lawyers with directory related interviews, including drafting interview prep notes.
• Monitoring the annual industry awards calendar and highlighting opportunities to make submissions. Supporting the SBDM in the creation of compelling award submissions.
• Managing the marketing strategy to maximise impact of any award short listings and successes, working closely with the central MarComms team to execute marketing tactics and ensure all key channels are used.

About you

Ideally you will be able to demonstrate;

• Proven experience of working in a similar role within professional services, preferably within the legal sector.
• Initiative and proactivity, being able to anticipate stakeholders needs.
• The ability to think strategically and commercially.

• The ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively, with self motivation and strong team working skills.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written).
• Attention to detail.
• The ability to interact with and build relationships with individuals at all levels across the business.

At Howard Kennedy we believe that everyone deserves the space to thrive. We’re committed to creating an inclusive recruitment experience that reflects the diversity of both our people and our clients.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, and we’re committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and accessible to all.

We understand that every candidate’s needs are different If there’s anything we can do to make your application journey more comfortable— whether for interviews, assessments, or onboarding—please let us know. We’ll work with you to remove any barriers and ensure our recruitment process is comfortable for you. 

Contact our recruitment team at recruitment@howardkennedy.com to discuss any support you might need.

Agency Introductions

Please note that we are not accepting applications via agencies for this role at this time. Before sharing any named candidate CVs, please contact your recruitment representative. If any named CVs are sent from agencies without approval from our recruitment team, they will not be deemed valid introductions, and no agency fee will be paid.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual holiday
• Permanent Health Insurance
• Life Assurance
• Interest free Season Ticket Loan
• Private Healthcare
• Pension Scheme
• Staff Introductory Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

About us

With almost 200 lawyers in one location, we ensure our clients have the right team to help them get from where they are to where they want to be. We advise major corporates and institutions as well as entrepreneurial, ambitious enterprises which are often privately or family owned, or private equity backed. As well as our significant business law capability, we are one of only a few London-based law firms with a large private wealth offering. Our clients find our straightforward approach a compelling alternative to larger, less personal firms.

Whether you are an ambitious and talented individual wanting to hit the ground running from day one, or an established professional looking for a new opportunity, Howard Kennedy is the firm where you can really make it happen.

We have earned a strong reputation for our exceptional and uniquely talented people who between them deliver outstanding results for clients. In a firm of our size, our strong team dynamic creates a thriving culture of creativity and entrepreneurialism. Howard Kennedy is a pragmatic and non-hierarchical environment where success is shared, and you are proactively encouraged to thrive at your own pace.

Our distinctive culture is built on fairness and respect. Guided by the firm’s values of talk straight, think smart and be yourself, everyone in the firm holds equal value, and everyone plays their role in supporting, encouraging and inspiring colleagues to do their best work.

At the same time, we recognise and reward individualism, celebrating the diversity of our people and supporting them to grow their practice and drive their own career advancement.

As well as client work, there is opportunity to broaden your horizons at the firm with fulfilling pro bono and charity projects. We have a regular social calendar full of wellbeing activities, charitable and social events too.