Senior Business Development Executive, Employment, Pensions & Incentives (EPI) & Disputes (12 month FTC) in London

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals. Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years. As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world’s largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs. At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

The Opportunity

This is a great opportunity to join the dynamic HSF Kramer BD team working closely with the Senior BD Managers to support the partners and associates across the EPI and Disputes practice. The role predominantly supports the London-based partners, but there will be some liaising with partners and associates across our EMEA, US, Asia & Australia offices. There is also a strong interface with the firm's clients & markets team.

The key elements of the role include:

• Supporting partners and associates on day to day pitch/proposal/client pursuit activity.
• Preparing collateral, driving campaigns, leading on directory & award submissions.
• Organising events and capturing and maintaining core information such as credentials, CVs, and channels such as HSFKramer.com and the intranet.

This is a broad ranging BD role across two key practice areas.

Relationship building:

• Developing strong relationships with the partners, fee earners and PSLs in the London EPI and Disputes practice so that you are viewed as a trusted advisor.
• Developing an understanding of your groups' specific practice areas as well as the wider EPI and Disputes practices and the firm.
• Developing equally strong relationships across the local and global BD teams so that you can connect effectively your practices with the wider network.

Strategy and planning:

• Support in the delivery of the London EPI and Disputes business plan in line with HSF Kramer's strategic objectives.
• Work closely with associates across the practice groups to support associate BD efforts and provide BD skills coaching.
• Keep abreast of client and market issues to enable pro-active identification of business opportunities.
• Participate in and ensure working groups/teams are meeting regularly to move forwards business & client plans.

Pitches, proposals and tender submissions:

• Work closely with the partners and associates to draft all pitch and tender responses.
• Support the wider firm with EPI & Disputes input into other practice/sector group pitches.
• Capture and maintain pitch precedents.
• Work with the design team as required to develop bespoke materials.

Client focus:

• Develop and deliver client engagement initiatives around EPI and Disputes practice service lines & key products.
• Support cross-selling opportunities with other practice areas.
• Work with client & sector teams to support cross-selling opportunities, in particular across TMT, Energy, Consumer, Banks/FS.
• Prepare and maintain effective marketing collateral for clients, working with design where required.
• Deliver client, market and competitor analysis as required.
• Maintain list of European referral firms (EPI).
• Support production and development of internal and external newsletters and bulletins.

Profile raising:

• Liaise with the PR/communications team on media/PR opportunities and social media.
• Support with the development and execution of thought leadership campaigns & client facing content.
• Work closely with PSLs on know-how content for publications, blog, e-bulletin & podcasts.
• Promote and drive the use of social media amongst the fee earners, including LinkedIn and Yammer.
• Work with partners and associates to draft and lead on directory and award submissions (e.g. Chambers, Legal 500 etc).
• Events organisation, including presence at industry conferences and HSF Kramer hosted events.

Information management:

• Work with partners and associates to capture credentials via Foundation, our firmwide credentials database.
• Maintain intranet and website pages.
• Capture, maintain and develop credentials, case studies, CVs, accolades and other core practice information for pitches and marketing collateral.
• Maintain client target/mailing lists.
• Proactively contribute ideas to improve processes and systems within the team and take responsibility for such projects.
• Ensure BD activities reflect best return on investment for the practice, and recommend changes as appropriate.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Ensure consistent and timely delivery of a high quality work product.
• Ensure measurable results against plans for the practice.
• Regular positive feedback from partners, associates and senior BD leaders.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of their practice's needs and be seen as the group's "go-to" person for any BD enquiries.
• Remain close to the group of lawyers, being seen as "part of the practice" while expanding network across BD and other Business Services functions.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• Approximately 3-4 years' BD experience in a partnership or corporate environment (will consider candidates with less or more providing they meet the required competencies).
• A background in EPI or Disputes or experience of working in a law firm partnership is strongly preferable.
• Experience of EPI is desirable, but not essential. However, an understanding of issues/topics within the practice area of EPI will be expected and need to be demonstrated.
• Proficiency with systems, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Experience in Foundation, Qorus, Vuture Vx and InterAction would be ideal but not essential.
• An innovative mindset, curious about AI and emerging technologies.

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.