Senior Business Development Manager

The role

The firm has developed a three-year business plan which will see it grow to around £80 million revenue, including through the recruitment of a number of new partners. While growth is planned in each of the firm's practices, Corporate is a key component of our firm and our growth in this area requires the support of a strong and effective business development programme.

As such we have an exciting requirement for a Senior Business Development Manager (BDM) to provide support for our corporate practice (comprising four go-to-market groups) as well as supporting the firmwide strategic approach to the Retail & Leisure sector.  The BDM must have a proactive approach to their work and have strong influencing skills in order to advise effectively at partner level.

The role will provide strategic and advisory level support about the future direction of the M&A, Capital Markets, IP & Commercial and Employment Go-to-market groups.  As well as providing firmwide strategic and tactical support to the Retail & Leisure sector.

In addition to leading on the BD activities of these groups, the role will also provide support and be required to lead on agreed firmwide BD projects, such as around managing key client relationships, improving our pitch and tender processes, and cross-firm targeting initiatives. These will be agreed following further discussion with the Head of Clients & Markets and BD & Marketing Director.

The role sits within the Business Development & Marketing team, but obviously works very closely with the Corporate Department. They will have line management responsibility for one BD Executive and will work closely with other members of the 20-strong team who provide BD, marketing communications, digital, CRM and events support.

The role would suit an existing Business Development Manager seeking growth.

Role responsibility

• Undertaking the day-to-day role of managing the BD initiatives of the four go-to-market groups for the corporate practice (M&A, Capital Markets, IP & Commercial and Employment).
• Lead the firmwide sector team for Retail & Leisure in delivering strategically sound, targeted and well executed ideas and campaigns.
• Development of strong effective credible relationships with Partners and practice/sector group based on knowledge of the Firm, the wider practices/sectors and markets.
• Strengthening the business development and marketing capability of the Practice's lawyers and raise their awareness of the help and value the business development team can provide.
• Providing a coaching resource to Partners to help them focus on the right opportunities, develop their marketing and selling skills in order develop their creativity and facilitate their strategy to the implementation phase.
• Developing robust annual plans as well as budgets for both Corporate and Retail & Leisure.  Including possible identification of new markets for the practice and sector to exploit.
• Providing support for responses to tender, ad-hoc pitching and provision of credentials as part of the sales process.
• Provide line management for one BD Executive.

Contributing to BD

• Enhancing the reputation of the BD team within the Firm for its professionalism and for the strategic and distinctive value it provides.
• Defining and assisting in the development of the wider marketing and business development plan for cross-firm initiatives.
• Assisting the Head of Clients & Markets and BD & Marketing Director in leading agreed cross-firm projects.

Leadership & Management

• Provide oversight and direction to the BD Executive (Corporate/Retail) using coaching, mentoring and other development initiatives.
• Empower your BD Executive to take responsibility for their goals. Delegate tasks at the appropriate level and expect accountability and regular feedback at all times.
• Maintain transparent communication with all team members using department and team meetings, as well as regular one-to-ones. Take initiative to identify and tackle underperformance using the appropriate informal/formal channels.

About you

Ideally you will be able to demonstrate:

• Strong BD credentials ideally developed within a law firm and ideally with experience of the practice areas to be supported.
• Confidence and gravitas to encourage doing the right thing.
• Creative, proactive and enthusiastic, bringing new ideas to the table.
• Able to spot opportunities early and to deliver outcomes in collaboration with others.
• Able to present ideas and views clearly to persuade and influence across all levels of the business.
• Good writing skills, able to write persuasive and succinct prose.
• A strong track record of client development in previous roles.
• Experience in pitch / proposal preparation and one-to-one coaching.
• A track record in developing and coaching more junior colleagues.
• A team player who is analytical, tenacious, adaptable and self-motivated.

• Educated to degree level, and/or Chartered Institute of Marketing qualification.

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

We are a London based, full-service law firm, specialising in providing straightforward advice to entrepreneurial businesses and individuals on domestic and international matters.

We have grown substantially in recent years, including two mergers and an office move. We’ve also matured in terms of our approach to providing advice to our clients, seeking to simplify and improve the experience of working with a modern, independent law firm.

We’re proud of our journey. Without losing sight of where we’ve come from, we are focused on where we’re going. We are evolving and growing every day. And just like our clients, we are ambitious and moving forward. Many of our clients are entrepreneurial, ambitious enterprises who are often privately or family owned, or private equity backed. We are one of the only London based law firms with a large private wealth offering alongside significant business law capability.

The firm also advises major corporates on particular specialist legal matters who find our straightforward approach a compelling alternative to larger, less personal firms.