ROLE OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Business Development Manager (BDM), this position has responsibility for the delivery of marketing and business development services to the Commercial Disputes Group.

The department is one of the firm's largest practices areas and comprises lawyers who focus on litigation and arbitration; they represent clients on their commercial disputes, banking and financial markets disputes, tax disputes, and contentious and non-contentious issues relating to employment, restructuring and insolvency and competition. Each sub-group has its own industry focus, client base and approach to marketing.

The role would be suitable for a Business Development Assistant or Executive who is looking for a full mix role but in a mid-sized law firm where they can make a strategic impact and help shape the growth of this dynamic group.

The role has a primary focus on marketing and business development but will also be involved in other go to market initiatives including strategic events and other commercially important activities.

Key Responsibilities

Day to day duties may include, but are not limited to:

Business intelligence

• Understanding the service profile and key audiences of each practice area serviced and its nuances

Business planning

• Assisting the Head of Practice Development and BDM to develop, with the relevant partners, a BD/Marketing plan for each business area

Managing activities

Working alongside fee earners to implement the planned activities for each area of the business and ensure budgetary control of those activities including:

• Marketing collateral
  • Working with fee earners and others in BD & Marketing to develop marketing collateral (e.g. capability statements and other promotional materials)
  • Maintaining capability statements and fee earner biographies on a rolling basis and being the "go-to" person for those documents
• Newsletters
  • Assisting the Head of Practice Development in co-ordinating and collation of content for internal newsletters
  • Producing a weekly email for the Commercial Disputes group to encourage sharing of content on digital channels
• Digital
• Working with the Communications and Digital teams to ensure that social media and other online networking opportunities are exploited
• Working with the Communications and Digital teams to ensure relevant and up-to-date information is included within the firm's intranet (EDGE) and on the firm's website
• Bid support
  • Assisting the Head of Practice Development and BDM on practice-led pitches and the Proposals team on panel pitches throughout the tendering process where necessary, including for example: research, attending meetings with the bid team, sourcing pitch content and drawing together drafts, producing supporting materials and handouts, assisting in production of final documents
• Directories
  • Assisting the Head of Practice Development and BDM in co-ordinating and collating the Commercial Disputes submissions to legal directories: Chambers UK and Legal 500; Global Arbitration Review (GAR) and other industry focussed directories.
• Seminars and events
  • Briefing and discussion with the Events team on each event
  • Working with the CRM and Events teams to ensure accurate and carefully targeted invitation lists for each event
  • Briefing and discussion with Events team on the design and production of supporting collateral, (eg invitations and seminar packs)
  • Ensuring budgetary awareness for all events
  • Supporting and attending events and planning meetings, rehearsals as required (liaise with Events team)
  • Working with the Events team to ensure appropriate event reports and analysis of invitees and attendees etc
• Direct Marketing
  • Supporting the BDM and working with the CRM team on client mailings
• General
  • Sharing best practice and knowledge with others in BD & Marketing
  • Assisting the Head of Practice Development and BDM in drawing together any required information for management reporting

Knowledge, skills and experience:

• An understanding of business-to-business marketing, business development and relationship management within professional services
• Experience working in professional services an advantage

Qualities and skills:

• Good drafting and grammar skills
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong operational and project management skills
• Stature and gravitas - professional, credible, impactful and confident with persuading and influencing where appropriate
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written)
• Flexible - is happy to work outside normal working hours when required
• Enthusiasm
• Creativity - the courage to be brave with new ideas
• Effective relationship builder - able to interact with individuals at all levels across the business
• Shows initiative
• Is a self-starter and has the ability and confidence to run with things
• Being an ambassador of the firm

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