10 Oct
Herbert Smith Freehills
London
Job description
JOB DESCRIPTION
About Herbert Smith Freehills
As one of the world’s leading law firms, we advise many of the largest and most ambitious organisations across all major regions of the globe.
With over 5,000 people, including 3,100 lawyers and over 2,000 business services professionals, operating from our global network of offices across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and North America, Herbert Smith Freehills is at the heart of the new global business landscape providing premium quality, full-service legal advice.
We recognise that the success of our business and our clients relies on the skills, knowledge and ideas of all our people.
Our environment is one in which high performance is expected, in return,
we will provide you with rewards and opportunities tailored to your personal and professional goals.
The Opportunity
Key Responsibilities :
- This is an opportunity for an experienced business development professional to join our Finance practice. The role will focus on supporting the UK-based Finance partners but will also work closely with the Finance partners and associates across our EMEA business.
- The Finance practice is a growing and successful part of our business with strong and recognised expertise in Corporate Debt, Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance, Real Estate Finance, Securitisation / Structured Finance, DCM and Restructuring & Insolvency.
The Finance BD team is fully integrated into the Finance practice, regarded as a key driver in the formulation and implementation of the Finance business plan and held in very high regard.
The role will focus on working with the Head of BD Finance,
the Finance BD team and the relevant fee earners to develop initiatives that are aligned to our business plan and key client / product / sector objectives.
The role entails supporting fee earners on pitches and client targeting initiatives. A track record of working collaboratively across a Matrix-organisation and an ability to influence fee earner behaviour is essential.
- Working closely with Partners on the development and execution of business plans and related BD initiatives.
- Work with the team to develop and drive new initiatives that align to our business plans.
- Maximise revenue opportunities from cross-selling initiatives with a particular focus on the firm’s integrated client programme and sector initiatives
- Work with partners and associates to develop revenue flow from key clients of the Finance practice
- Drive client feedback e.g. win / loss pitch debriefs,
matter reviews and relationship reviews
- Take responsibility for the project management and drafting of pitches, liaising with partners and associates as well as the wider BD team.
- Work closely with other BD teams to provide relevant information, credentials, CVs etc. for panel pitches and significant pitches led by other practice groups.
- Develop new and efficient ways to improve the pitching process, including pitch qualification and greater integration into existing and new technologies.
- Pro-actively work with the pricing team and partners and associates to develop innovative pricing proposals
- Provide advice on best practice around pitching, including proposition development, messaging and presentation skills.
- Work with BD colleagues,
associates and partners to prepare material that present the strengths of our practice such as brochures, pitches and client presentations.
- Keep Finance pitch templates up-to-date.
- Participate in / assist with the rehearsal of the pitch team
- Manage relevant communications including the debrief process internally and externally
- Ensure pitches are logged appropriately and outcomes are sought out with the relevant feedback.
- Work closely with partners and associates and pro-actively support profile raising activity through directory, award submissions and league tables
- Work with partners, associates and BD colleagues to identify and execute thought leadership campaigns
- Align our campaigns to target clients and work opportunities and monitor the success rate
- Assist with the creation of relevant materials and advise on best channels for dissemination
- Work together with the firm's Comms team and fee earners to develop press releases, articles, and LinkedIn posts
- Raise the profile of the Finance practice internally through various channels
- Lead and manage the directory submissions process for Finance, drafting a proportion of the submissions and working with fee earners and the broader BD team and other teams, as required.
- Project manage the process to ensure that we maximise our rankings and liaise with the Chambers / Legal 500 researchers, including connecting with researchers to set-up interviews and check deadlines and updating partners when to follow-up with their referees.
- Review of existing submissions processes, ensuring that focus is placed on the right areas and individuals.
- Proactively maintain the firm's credential system "Foundation" for Finance matters and carry out tasks required of the Finance Profile Manager role.
- Lead a small number of headline events that are aligned to key business objectives, ensure they are properly targeted, executed and followed-up.
- Work with our design team to ensure consistency of brand throughout invitations, diary holds and mailing lists
- Lead on the content for the production and development of internal and external newsletters and bulletins as necessary e.
g. Finance divisional news
- Ensure key Finance credential lists and key documents and capability statements are kept up-to-date.
- Maintain list of awards and accolades across the division.
- Contribute ideas to improving processes and systems within the team and take responsibility for such projects
- Where required, provide support on large-scale, firm wide projects (e.g. pitch automation).
- Proactively deal with ad-hoc queries from fee earners and other BD teams across the network.
Key internal relationships :
- Head of BD Finance, BD Senior Executive Finance, BD Manager Finance
- Finance partners and associates
- BD Director, UK, US & EMEA and the broader BD & Marketing team
Qualifications, Skills and Experience :
- Minimum of four years business development experience in a corporate or professional services firm. We will consider candidates with less or more experience providing they meet the required competencies.
- Degree educated or similar level of work experience.
- A background or experience of working in a partnership is strongly preferable.
- Demonstrated experience in building strategic relationships and pursuing new business.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills. Able to confidently get message across to senior audiences, presents with clarity, energy, confidence and enthusiasm.
- Able to make decisions to ensure the practice's objectives are met and is able to develops new and approaches without guidance from others.
Team
Business Development
Working Pattern
Full time
Location
London
Contract type
Permanent Contract
Diversity & Inclusion
At Herbert Smith Freehills you will be part of a diverse, innovative culture where high performance, client focus and highly engaged people are our differentiator.
People at our firm come from a range of backgrounds and bring a wide variety of experiences and perspectives to their work with us.
We strive to ensure that our inclusive environment means you feel valued and able to perform at your best by being your authentic self at work.
We know that our future success not only depends on being innovative and progressive in the changing legal market but, most importantly, on our people feeling highly engaged in meaningful work.
We understand that you have commitments and personal interests outside of work and we strive to create a working environment based on mutual trust and respect, in which you can perform at your best whilst maintaining sustainable balance across your life.
▶️ Senior Business Development Executive, Finance
🖊️ Herbert Smith Freehills
📍 London