The Department

The pace of change in the business world has never been greater. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, new thinking, technology and business models have shaken up the old and made possible ideas that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. The Innovation Department brings together expertise from across the Firm, allowing a new level of collaboration and a focus on meeting the needs of clients in diverse and dynamic sectors. Our legal knowledge is underpinned by the latest technology to create better insights, better levels of customer service and increased efficiency for our clients.

The practices within the Innovation Department include those that are well established, recognised as being at the top of their game by the legal industry, and those that we have created in recent years as clients have come to us with new problems to solve and value models to create.

We offer a relentless curiosity for our clients' businesses and sectors, and a passion for finding new ways to help them meet their goals. We have an innate understanding of what drives those creating new ideas, because that's what we are doing within our own business every day.

Duties and Responsibilities

As a Business Development Manager at Mishcon de Reya LLP, you will be part of a team providing support to our Innovation Department. Led by the Head of BD and supported by a BD Executive, this role will work as part of a collaborative and high performing team to deliver on a range of BD activities and projects, whilst contributing to the Firm's overall business development strategy.

Whist this role will principally support the Innovation department; you will guide your core team to find connections with the wider firm that empower business development at all levels. Flexibility and teamwork are a must, as we strive to maintain and build our culture of "one team".

Summary of the role:

• Improve the marketing capability of the Practice's lawyers and raise their awareness of the role that the business development team can play. Attend fee earner practice meetings and develop/progress divisional business
• Further develop the department's and the Firm's profile through: PR, editorial, thought leadership market research, select conferences, newsletters, and seminars. This will involve working with our Central BD team, marketing and communications teams.
• Develop high quality pitch documents, credential documents, and marketing materials working with members of the department and wider business development team.
• Understanding the business development budget for the Innovation Department, monitoring the budget, approving BD activity according to budget allocation, and delivering plans within budget and to agreed timings.
• Guide and support the Practice Groups in the preparation of directory submissions.
• Lead on the coordination and delivery of events.
• Work with sectors within the Innovation Department to develop their activities in the market.
• Understand cross-departmental referrals and work across our golden triangle locations, as well as understanding the broader MDR Group and locations.
• Create marketing collateral that furthers the Firm's reputation (including, but not limited to, PowerPoint presentations, brochures, client briefings and other client communications.)
• Identify which are the most appropriate clients and intermediaries for growth (current and past clients as well as future targets) and develop plans accordingly.
• Conducting analysis: collect and analyse data on a range of strategic and operational questions and translate into actionable insight and strategic recommendations.
• Conducting research: you will stay on top of industry trends, market dynamics and the Group's competitive landscape, providing proactive updates and analysis to the Group's leadership and identifying opportunities and threats for the Group's businesses. This may include researching best practices in the industry, benchmarking Mishcon's performance against others, evaluating new emerging market segments and identifying potential business opportunities.
• Identify and develop Practice specific products and services that can be used to position the Practices competitively.
• Work closely with the Professional Support Lawyers (PSLs), to ensure that all members of the department (and business development) are aware of key issues and trends in the law.
• Work with our Business Insights team to develop metrics that measure the effectiveness of all activities.

Contributing to BD

• Strengthen the culture of "one team". Be a mentor and coach to more junior members of the team. Maintain a positive approach appropriate to a senior team member.

Being part of One Firm

• Contribute to the development of marketing and business development plans for cross-firm initiatives.
• Use effectively all communication channels for the department/Firm generally e.g. website, e-bulletins, media, sponsorship, conferences, and research and industry networks.

Skills/Experience

We are looking for individuals who are able to act as a true partner to our business. This role would suit a Senior BD Executive or Junior BD Manager looking for their next step.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate:

• Relevant Degree or equivalent experience is required.
• 3-5 years executive business development.
• Strategic and creative thinking and strong commercial nous.
• Client development focus in previous roles as well as experience in pitch/proposal preparation and appropriate coaching to those delivering pitches.
• The ability to manage budgets and multiple projects simultaneously, with energy, enthusiasm, and drive in a high energy environment.
• A team-orientated approach, with the ability to demonstrate through experience and from interview that they have a strong commercial and client-led approach to their work.
• A swift, analytical approach to problems.
• Excellent communication skills.
• The ability to build collaborative relationships across the firm.
• Highly organised, methodical, and takes initiative.
• Proactivity, reliance, and a flexible and calm approach.
• Working with the relevant systems and processes of the firm.
• Good team work.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

About The Mishcon de Reya Group

The Mishcon de Reya Group is an independent, international professional services business with law at its heart, employing over 1450 people with over 650 lawyers. It includes the law firm Mishcon de Reya LLP and a collection of leading consultancy businesses that complement the firm's legal services.

Mishcon de Reya LLP is based in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore and Hong Kong (through its association with Karas So LLP). The firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply. Its work is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex, spanning seven core practice areas: Corporate; Dispute Resolution; Employment; Impact; Innovation; Private; and Real Estate.

The Mishcon de Reya Group includes consultancy businesses MDR Discover, MDR Mayfair (in London, Singapore and Dubai), MDR ONE, MDRi (in Hong Kong) and MDRx. The Group also includes MDR Lab, which invests in the most promising early stage legaltech companies as well as the Mishcon Academy, its in-house place of learning and platform for thought leadership.

Earlier this year, the Group announced its first strategic acquisition in the alternative legal services market, flexible legal resourcing business Flex Legal. It also acquired a majority stake in Somos, a global group actions management business.

We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.

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