Communications Specialist
A&O Shearman

A&O Shearman is a new global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 29 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US 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.

Department Purpose
The Business Development, Marketing and Communications team is integral to the setting and achievement of the firm's business objectives, which includes supporting our partners and associates in their pursuit of becoming our clients' trusted advisers, building and maintaining long-lasting, deep institutional client relationships, winning new clients, increasing the visibility of the firm globally, and positioning the firm as the thought leader and most advanced law firm among the global elite law firms. The function works as one team across the globe with very close collaboration between the central teams and roles (such as this one) and professionals supporting offices, practice groups, sectors and clients.

Role Purpose
The Communications Specialist will play a critical role in advancing our external communications strategy in the U.S. This role focuses on supporting the external communications team by leveraging media performance tools, managing communications projects, and collaborating with various departments to enhance the firm's external presence and reputation. The ideal candidate will have strong project management skills, ability to effectively draft press releases and external key messages, expertise in media measurement, and the ability to drive effective external communications initiatives.

This role is vital for enhancing the firm's external communications priorities in the U.S. By managing media performance tools, overseeing external communications projects, and providing insights through detailed reporting, the specialist will contribute to strengthening the firm's reputation and achieving strategic communication goals.

Role and Responsibilities
Media and communications

• Support the planning, execution and reporting of the external communications strategy for priority areas across the firm in the U.S., including supporting the finance practice and financial institutions teams.
• Identify themes and issues on the news agenda which create the opportunity to position A&O Shearman as a leading global law firm, with a distinctive, forward-thinking reputation that will excite media, clients and other key stakeholders.
• Triage incoming media inquiries and work with people across the Communications team and business to source responses to journalists' requests.
• Handle logistics for press interviews and prepare initial draft of media briefings for partners.
• Provide first draft of news releases.
• Create and maintain press lists.
• Issue news releases and handle all follow up including circulating coverage.
• Support the external communications team with critical information on media activity and produce regular reports to showcase the team's work.
• Research relevant topics as required and draft relevant pitches.

Media Performance Management

• Media lists: Accountable for actively creating and managing media contact distribution lists in line with our overall communications and firm strategy. Media coverage reporting
• Develop and distribute comprehensive media coverage and audience insights reports on a regular basis.
• Track and analyze media coverage performance and audience insights to assess the effectiveness of communication strategies.
• Evaluate media performance against competitors to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.

Technology platforms

• Oversee the day-to-day management of the media relations technology platforms for the U.S. market.
• Ensure the external communications team effectively utilizes the platforms to maximize its potential.

Project management
Campaigns

• Support the planning, execution, and performance tracking of external communications campaigns.
• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure campaigns are aligned with strategic goals and executed effectively.

Client success activations

• Manage the process of promoting client successes, including coordinating promotional activations, and ensuring consistent messaging.

Onboarding/offboarding support

• Coordinate communications related to the onboarding and offboarding of lateral partners.
• Ensure smooth transitions and clear, consistent messaging during these processes.

General responsibilities
Metrics and reporting

• Assist in the development and analysis of metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of external communications initiatives.
• Provide actionable insights and recommendations for continuous improvement based on performance data.

Budgeting and reporting

• Track and process budget requests and expenditures related to external communications activities. Produce monthly budget reports to ensure financial oversight and accountability

Cross-departmental project management

• Facilitate effective collaboration and ensure the seamless execution of projects involving multiple teams within the Communications team.

Key Stakeholders

• Relevant partners across practices and sectors
• Global community of external communications team members
• Internal communications and social media
• BD leads, content and campaigns and brand

Key Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field.
• Proven experience in external communications, with a strong background in media relations and project management.
• Trustworthy with sensitive and confidential information
• Able to quickly establish good working relationships and promote best practice.
• Highly motivated, flexible, enthusiastic and creative with required determination to achieve results.
• A successful team player, can demonstrate initiative and the ability to be proactive when appropriate, whilst also being able to follow instructions and support the external communications managers as appropriate.
• Highly organized in order to successfully manage and prioritize a varied and demanding workload.
• Excellent attention to detail with a methodical approach to work and focus on accuracy, with an understanding of the need for documentation and well-defined procedures.
• Polite and confident in manner an ability to exercise tact and diplomacy in an organizational setting.
• Show resilience to overcome obstacles to deliver what is required.
• Ability to be an ambassador for A&O Shearman, being professional in outlook and attitude.
• Proficiency in media measurement and reporting tools, such as Meltwater or Signal.
• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and provide strategic recommendations.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work collaboratively with various departments.
• Experience in a professional services or corporate environment, preferably within a law firm or similar complex organization.
• Familiarity with media performance tools and platforms.
• Experience in managing budgets and financial reporting.
• Knowledge of client win promotional strategies and best practices.

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