Business development manager - Capital Markets

A&O Shearman is a new global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 29 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, U.S. law, and the laws of the world's most dynamic markets enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

About the role

The Business Development Manager – Capital Markets role is a fantastic opportunity to gain global experience working for one of the largest law firms in the world and to learn the unique approach that a truly global firm utilizes towards business development and marketing. The Business Development Manager will support and work closely with partners to develop and implement business development and marketing strategies for the firm's U.S. offices. The BDM will also work with business development teams across the firm to help support the Capital Markets practices.

Responsibilities

• Practice strategy, planning, and execution: Work closely with attorneys to develop and implement business development strategy and plans for each partner and their practices, including global initiatives, development of target client lists, and ongoing practice and client development.
• Pitches, proposals, and credentials: Create competitive proposals, credentials, pitches, and presentations for work originating in the Capital Markets practices and for work from the A&O Shearman network involving the Capital Markets practice area.
• Cross-practice and cross-office integration: Coordinate existing projects and develop new opportunities using an understanding of the firm's international partner and business development network. Share ideas with colleagues to enhance quality and efficiency of work and develop best practices.
• Market research: Conduct market research on existing and prospective clients and market issues which may impact clients' businesses. Provide advice on effective marketing strategies to address these issues.
• Marketing discussion and review: Arrange and chair meetings with the practice groups to review progress on marketing projects and key client targeting. Ensure relevant information from these meetings is circulated to other internal groups.
• Profile/PR: Work with the PR team to spot opportunities and maintain effective press coverage on major market developments. Draft entries for legal and industry directories. Determine high-profile matters and issues of the Corporate practice to ensure press and internal coverage where appropriate.
• Sponsorships and client events: Identify and coordinate firm sponsorships of conferences (e.g., targeting speaker opportunities, coordinating materials and speakers, conducting event follow-up). Plan client events and seminars together with the U.S. events specialist.
• Expertise database: Maintain records (in the global database) of Corporate proposals and matters. Ensure information about these matters is appropriately documented and disseminated to other internal groups.
• Team management: Mentor and collaborate with junior team members, ensuring appropriate work opportunities and allocation. Support team members' long-term goals and training. Manage appraisals and coordinate promotion discussions as needed.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of legal or professional services experience working in a high-profile, fast-paced environment.
• Willingness and enthusiasm to develop an in-depth understanding of the capital markets; experience working in these sectors preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; high attention to detail and strong client focus.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills with partners, key associates, business development colleagues, and clients, including selling concepts and presenting to senior management.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize effectively while working on multiple conflicting deadlines.
• Proven track record of achieving strategic business objectives and using this experience to determine people and financial resources required for specific projects.
• Experience with budgeting, including writing business cases, is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Bachelor's degree required.

Key relationships

• Director of business development – Corporate (based in Boston)
• Chief marketing & business development officer – Americas (based in New York)
• Partners and fee earners in the Capital Markets group
• U.S. business development team
• Peers across the wider and global business development, marketing, and communications teams