ROLE OVERVIEW //
We are recruiting for a Business Development Executive who will sit within our Global Client Development team (GCD). The focus of this role is for the BD Executive to assist on a number of campaigns and initiatives relating to our award-winning Infrastructure, Energy and Natural Resources (IEN) practice, as well as our International practice, with the remit stretching to Africa and the Middle East (collectively, our Growth Markets).
The core aspect of the role is supporting the Business Development Manager for Growth Markets and IEN on a range of strategic BD planning, initiatives and campaigns on both a sector and international level. Alongside the BD Manager, the prospective individual will also be working quite closely with our IEN Knowledge team. This role would suit an individual with prior business development practice/sector experience at international law firms and are keen to take the next step forward with a high-achieving team.
The GCD team consists of 20 team members who work closely with partners and other fee earners to win work and grow client relationships on a global basis. Taking an integrated approach to client development, the team brings together regional, practice and sector-based expertise to maintain, grow and support client relationships and law firm relationships.
This is an exciting opportunity to support and help drive forward business development and relationship management initiatives for both a high-profile region as well as a high-profile sector, having a hands-on role in a range of different international BD activities across our key Growth Markets and our award-winning Infrastructure, Energy and Natural Resources practice. The role would suit a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual with a robust, professional personality, good attention to detail and an interest in both the global energy and infrastructure sector and in international matters.
The successful candidate will work very closely with the BD Manager for Growth Markets and IEN and assist in building relationships across the relevant jurisdictions, assist in client targeting initiatives across both practice and region and over time, take the lead in a number of different areas with the support of your manager.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES //
The key responsibilities of this role are set out below and there may be others which are not listed. You may be required on occasion to work outside our normal working hours of 9:30am to 5:30pm.
• Work directly with the BD Manager and lawyers from the Country Teams (Middle East and Africa) and our cross-stream IEN Practice Group in refining and developing our proposition and products for clients
• Lead on specific BD initiatives, such as a sector/country collaboration or a region- specific initiative
• Support our fee-earners in IEN and BD colleagues across the team in identifying and pursuing client development opportunities, including developing client target lists and researching clients/markets for opportunities
• Supporting on the delivery of our IEN strategy, working closely with our Knowledge & Information team, including our Head of IEN Knowledge and Senior PSL, our IEN Hub partners and associates
• Managing relationships with overseas counsel and provide support to fee earners in counsel selection
• Participating in law firm meetings, coordinating overseas visits and managing referral requests
• Consulting on, and preparing for, business development trips undertaken by country partners/associates that are related to your sector and jurisdiction
• Assisting in tracking and analysing global market trends and monitoring daily press and website news to keep ourselves and fee earners informed
• Assist with the preparation of credentials and pitches in liaison with the Pitch team, as well as the capture of matter know-how as transactions close
• Supporting the development of material on clients and producing briefings for external BD activities such as conferences and client meetings among other things
• Assisting with organising key flagship international initiatives e.g., events, secondments, thought leadership and client targeting
• Reviewing client mailing lists and developing targeted mailing lists to support BD campaigns or initiatives
• Support the maintenance and updating of the GCD intranet pages as well other internal platforms (such as our sector pages on the website)
• Support BD-wide initiatives that have an international aspect, including working with practice BD colleagues and central marketing teams
• Support our Client Relationship Management programme by identifying opportunities to cross sell/ present international or sector opportunities relevant to our CRMP clients Working alongside other members of the GCD team to support the wider business development strategy
• Other general assistance may be required
CANDIDATE PROFILE //
Candidates for this position must have:
* Degree-educated or equivalent industry experience. Ideally, the candidate will also have prior law firm experience in a practice/sector
* Ability to be proactive, entrepreneurial, self-motivated and to take initiative
* An interest in the global energy and infrastructure sector or willingness to develop an understanding of the industry
* Proven ability to manage multiple deliverables within a tight timeframe and deliver high quality work
* Demonstrable confidence to develop strong working relationships with your manager, partners, associates, PSLs and all members of the BD team
* Ability to manage and analyse large amounts of data and identify BD opportunities within it
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written, spoken and presentational)
* Excellent attention to detail and good use of grammar
* Proactive approach to defining needs and delivering solutions
* Ability to build strong business relationships with internal and external clients and the resilience to deal with demanding individuals
* Willingness to foster an inclusive team culture
* High level of professionalism and integrity; displays the highest standard of professional ethics