Head of Business Development

This is an exciting opportunity to join a top-tier global intellectual property (IP) firm with offices across the UK and Europe supporting a global client base. We are looking for a commercially focused Head of Business Development & Marketing to join its senior leadership team. With a long-established reputation for excellence, the firm advises an international client base that includes world-leading innovators, fast-growing scaleups, and multinational corporations across AI, life sciences, green tech, electronics, and more.

As the firm continues its strategic expansion, it is investing in business development capabilities to ensure growth is supported by insight-led, client-focused initiatives that deliver measurable results. Embedding a culture of business development is critical to ensuring that growth becomes a shared responsibility—integrated into daily practice, championed by leaders, and sustained across every level of the firm.

This is a key leadership position for a proven BD strategist with the vision and drive to elevate business development and marketing across an international, professional services organisation. You will be responsible for designing and embedding firm-wide BD aligned with ambitious growth priorities. Working in close partnership with the CEO and partners, you will lead the implementation of programmes that strengthen client relationships, identify new opportunities, and enhance revenue generation across key IP industries.

This is a high-impact role for someone who thrives in a consultative environment and is ready to take ownership of BD at a senior level.

• Develop and lead a cohesive, firm-wide business development strategy aligned with the firm’s business plan and market positioning.
• Support partners and fee earners in identifying new opportunities, nurturing client relationships, and growing market share.
• Provide strategic coaching and BD planning to client-facing teams—tailored to individual skill sets and sector focus.
• Drive cross-practice collaboration and ensure intelligence-sharing across departments to surface new opportunities.
• Track business development activity and outcomes, improving accountability and enabling continuous improvement.
• Lead and collaborate with the marketing and communications individual on profile-raising activities that directly support BD goals.
• Provide thought leadership and internal guidance to foster a culture of commercial awareness and client focus across the firm.

• Significant experience in a senior business development role within professional services—legal, consulting, IP or a similar environment.
• A strategic thinker with a hands-on approach to implementation and delivery.
• Proven ability to influence and advise senior stakeholders in a partnership or matrix structure.
• Commercially astute, with the ability to translate data and insight into action.
• Excellent communication, coaching and stakeholder management skills.
• Experienced in managing BD budgets and leading high-performing teams.
• A strong understanding of IP, legal services or other technically complex, client-led sectors is highly desirable.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the BD function at a highly respected international firm, where innovation, integrity and long-term client relationships are at the heart of the business. You will be joining a collaborative, forward-looking leadership team and have the opportunity to make a significant and visible impact on the firm's next phase of growth.

As a responsible business, it is important that we represent the diversity of our people, our clients and our communities. We believe that the firms that thrive are those with the most diverse team; that’s why we work so hard to source the best talent from the broadest pool possible. As an equal opportunities employer we strive to accommodate anyone who may have specific needs. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the selection process, please talk to a member of the recruitment team so that any required adjustments can be made in advance.