Event Planning Manager (Europe) The Marketing and Business Development team are seeking an Event Planning Manager (Europe) to join the team on a 6 months fixed-term contract. Position Summary : The role, based in London, will be part of the Cooley global Events team; and will work seamlessly with the European Marketing Team. This role requires creativity, proactivity and initiative, as well as a willingness to provide hands on support to: gain the maximum out of a range of London based sponsorships and partnerships. design and smoothly execute European based events, aligned to and supporting the marketing and BD priorities of the London and Brussels offices. assisting the wider events team with projects outside of Europe as needed. It will require liaising with Partners and Directors on a regular basis, as well as other areas of the Firm. Position Responsibilities : Plan, organise and implement marketing events hosted and/or sponsored by Cooley, ensuring exceptional attendee experiences and maximum ROI. Serve as the primary point of contact leading each assigned event. Lead in all pre-event phases including invitee lists, reminders, external vendor management, internal logistics. Represent Cooley on-site at events, as necessary. Manage virtual events using Zoom. Take the lead in key London based corporate sponsorship and hospitality relationships, including management of the O2 Arena box. Collaborate with Marketing and Business Development team members on event strategy/goals and materials. Determine creative, cost-effective approaches for all events and provide detailed implementation proposals to event team members or attorneys. Research all aspects of events (venues, timing, housing, catering, transportation, registration, entertainment, decoration, billing, communications/invitations, RSVPs, name badges, food and beverage, room set-up, speakers, AV, production and handouts, off-site activities, giveaways, shipping, branding, etc.) according to internal client needs, including price comparison and site inspections. Research, solicit proposals from, and conduct site visits and inspections of potential event properties, including hotels and resorts, restaurants, bar/lounges, and special event spaces. Prepare visual presentations and/or cost-comparison spreadsheets of venue recommendations, as requested. Negotiate contracts for venues, caterers, and other vendors and suppliers, working closely with the firm’s internal contract review team to ensure compliance. Conduct post-event evaluations, including client and participant satisfaction and ROI. Create and manage budgets of varying sizes, tracking and demonstrating ROI. Work in collaboration with various Cooley departments (i.e., IS, Facilities, Catering) to execute events. Establish event design and staging (i.e., media needs, lighting, audio-visual) and event agenda (i.e., speaker order, breaks, meals) as well as shipping of event materials if off-site. Use Salesforce to run reports, manage lists, and track RSVPs, attendance, follow-up, etc. Provide planning and RSVP updates, Salesforce “who-knows-whom” reports and identify appropriate event follow-up activities to maximize business development potential. Develop and manage event timelines, communicating deadlines and assignments to marketing staff and consultants, as necessary. Work with in-house design staff to develop creative and compelling event themes. Work with in-house communications team to develop social media and PR/press plans to leverage and promote relevant events. Utilize data from past events to enact changes to improve future results. Build and maintain an international network of other event planners and third-party resources. Manage relationships with trade organizations, conference organizers and other third-party partners. Function as main point of contact between Cooley and these relationships. Ensure relevant events are posted to the firm’s website, internal calendar, etc. Implement best practices, policies and workflow procedures to ensure the efficient and effective execution of all events. Work with in-house digital marketing team to build and send invitations and other collateral with the firm’s email marketing system (Pardot). Run reports, track distribution, etc. Manage and assign tasks to on-site staff, which may include other members of the marketing department, other Cooley staff, or vendors/consultants. Work with the CLE team for course accreditation. Work collaboratively with the London events coordinator - ensure compliance with assigned work hours and monitor for compliance with all firm and department policies. Manage event staffing coverage. All other duties as assigned or required. Skills & Experience : : Previous marketing events experience within a law firm, or professional services environment. A demonstrably innovative and creative approach to event planning. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Team player, proactive and the ability to deal with people at all levels of seniority. Excellent interpersonal skills, resilience and confidence. After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications. Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required. Ability to travel, as required. Significant direct applicable work experience (e.g., event management), along with the proven ability to operate at an elevated level in terms of scope of responsibility, judgement, and autonomy. Experience running virtual events; highly proficient in Zoom. Experience in planning multiple high-level, logistically complicated events simultaneously. Experience with vendor contract negotiations, particularly hotels and catering. Supervisory experience. Competencie s : Ability to work well under pressure. Exhibit high energy and genuine enthusiasm for law firm marketing activities and goals. Professional demeanor. Ability to handle a complex and fast-paced environment. Possess excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritise and handle multiple tasks. quickly and efficiently. Ability to use initiative, diplomacy and tact. Cooley offers an excellent benefits package and competitive compensation including: Enhanced family leave Health and dental insurance Group income protection Life assurance Pension Fertility benefits Wellness programs Employee discounts including a fitness and nutrition allowance And more A comprehensive benefits brochure will be provided to all candidates during the interview process. Hybrid Working As part of the Cooley culture, we recognise and appreciate the value of being together, in person, to build comradery with others in the office and to be a contributing member of the Cooley office. However, we also appreciate the benefits and flexibility that come from remote working. This role follows our hybrid working approach which supports our business professional staff to work in a hybrid way with the expectation that you are required to have some in-office presence and some work from home days. The office presence requirement is very much dependant on the department needs and the business needs, which are subject to change at any time. Our Values We are the counselors, strategists and advocates for today and tomorrow’s leaders of the business economy. We seek to meet the evolving needs of our clients by building a community of professionals of the highest caliber who share our vision and embrace our values. We do not compromise on quality; We are one firm; We are ethical, fair and honest; We take pride in the firm and its reputation; We value diversity; We give to our communities; We strive for balance in our lives. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion We strive to create an inclusive and rewarding environment that allows our people to thrive both professionally and personally. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at the Firm will be based on merit, qualifications and abilities. The Firm does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, promotion, termination, and access to benefits and training. Cooley (UK) LLP is committed to ensuring that our recruitment practices and candidate interviews are inclusive and accessible for everyone. If you have a medical condition, disability and/or are neurodivergent and would benefit from reasonable accommodations, adjustments or support during your interview process, please contact LNHRcooley.com. All requests will be handled with sensitivity and strict confidence and will not influence your potential employment with Cooley (UK) LLP. Affinity Groups We have a variety of Affinity Groups which are open to our lawyers and business professionals. To find out more about Cooley’s culture, please click Here .