Manager - BD - Corporate
A&O Shearman

A&O Shearman is a new global industry-leading law firm, with 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.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people: opportunities to work for the world's leading businesses, to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimize your wellbeing.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE AND STRUCTURE
A&O Shearman is one of the world's leading corporate advisers. Working alongside some of the world's most successful companies, commercial and investment banks and private equity firms, the corporate work we do breaks new ground and sets precedents.

Our clients know us as an ambitious and enterprising team of individuals who think differently and embrace the most complex and cutting-edge commercial ventures. We find innovative new ways to deliver our services and exceed expectations for client on their most strategic corporate transactions.

Combined with our transactional expertise, we also cover the full range of specialist areas including antitrust and competition, commercial, employment and benefits, environmental, intellectual property, tax and corporate governance.

Driven by our clients' needs, we combine U.S., English and local law expertise within one single, integrated firm as well as the broadest network of any of the leading global elite law firms. Our global insights, local depth and creative thinking assist us to get deals done and find solutions in complex cases.

ROLE PURPOSE
This role is a fantastic opportunity to be at the heart of a growing practice within the U.S. and the firm at large. Business development teams are integral to driving and supporting business growth.

The candidate will be the main point of contact and oversee all day-to-day business development support for our New York partners and support on key initiatives for the M&A and Private Equity teams.

The role will require working with business development teams around the world to help support this group. This includes pitching, identification and prioritization of clients, coordination of partners and associates responsible for managing client relationships, client targeting efforts, lateral integration, deal list maintenance and business development collateral creation and management, and legal directory submissions. The candidate will play a critical role in maintaining, nurturing, and expanding client relationships for this practice and collaborating with global BD and Client Relationship colleagues globally. The candidate will also help to foster a collaborative team environment and to manage and mentor junior members of the business development team.

The candidate must have an understanding of pitching and marketing principles, as well as a baseline understanding of transactional practices within a global firm. A successful candidate will also have client centric and solutions focused approach to their work. A key component of this role is being familiar with key trends and issues across a variety of sectors.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Senior Manager, Corporate BD
• All partners and fee earners in all U.S. corporate team
• Director, Corporate BD, U.S. Transactional practices
• Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer - Americas
• U.S. business development team and global peers across the wider business development team

JOB DESCRIPTION
Context
The managerial functions operate in an environment where the provision of a top-quality service and product is paramount. Innovation, attention to detail, and creative ideas are encouraged.

This role involves regular interaction with members of the leadership team and fee earners but also contact with all levels of staff within the group. The U.S Marketing team has a seat at the leadership table and its input into strategic conversations is always encouraged.

The role will involve practice strategy, pitches, market research, and PR. There is also involvement in the day-to-day running of the business from a BD perspective, especially in relation to operational processes management, planning, and execution. Change management is an increasingly important part of the role.

Role and responsibilities

• Working directly with attorneys to create and manage competitive proposals, credentials, pitches and presentations both locally and internationally.
• Working with the Senior Manager, Corporate BD to onboard and integrate lateral hires into the practice and our global network.
• Developing an understanding of practice sectors to identify market trends and highlights practice and client opportunities.
• Using an understanding of the firm's international partner and BD network to coordinate projects and develop new opportunities. Sharing ideas with colleagues in order to enhance quality of work and developing best practices.
• Developing and maintaining marketing processes for assigned groups.
• Working with the U.S. client events coordinator to strategize, plan and run client and charity events and CLE seminars.
• Coordinating and attending firm sponsorships of conferences throughout the year.
• Maintaining up to date "master" list of deals and sharing relevant information relating to the deals with other internal groups and to externally managed databases and league tables.
• Working with the Senior Manager, Corporate BD and external PR agency in the U.S. to maintain effective press coverage on major deals and market developments and drafting submissions for directories.

Team
This position reports directly to the Senior Manager, Corporate BD and works closely with other members of the U.S. business development team. The Business Development Manager will directly mentor junior members of the team.

Key requirements

• High attention to detail and strong client focus.
• At least 5 years of professional services experience.
• Ability to deliver at a complex organization.
• A proactive approach to achieving results and a demonstrable track record of helping to grow a practice group.
• A self-starter with the ability to prioritize and drive forward multiple projects.
• A strong team player, with experience developing successful working relationships.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills.
• Willingness and enthusiasm to develop an in-depth understanding of markets.
• Innovative thinking.
• Bachelor's degree required.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced marketing professional to develop a role in a growing practice group whilst working closely with a team of colligate and highly motivated colleagues.

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