Senior Specialist/Executive: Public Relations & Communications in London

Overview

Mayer Brown is an international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We are recognised by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do. We are a collegial and collaborative firm where highly motivated individuals with an unwavering commitment to excellence receive the opportunity, support, and development they need to grow, thrive, and realise their greatest potential all while supporting the Firm’s client service principles of excellence, strategic partnership, commercial instinct, integrated strengths, innovation, and collaboration across our international firm.

If you enjoy working with team members whose defining characteristics are exceptional client service, initiative, professionalism, responsiveness, and adaptability, you may be the person we are seeking to join our Business Development & Marketing team in our London office as a Public Relations and Communications Senior Specialist (EMEA). We are seeking a talented and motivated Senior Specialist to work closely with the Assistant Director: PR & Communications (EMEA) in London. This prominent position in a leading law firm offers a self-starting and collaborative PR professional the opportunity to be part of a central team playing a key role in shaping and raising the external brand profile of Mayer Brown at a time of strategic global growth for the firm.

Working with the Assistant Director: PR & Communications (EMEA), the person in this role will develop and implement PR strategies to raise the profile and reputation of Mayer Brown’s London partners and practices. They will build media relationships and work closely with the partnership and colleagues in the US and across the firm. They will deliver effective PR and communications outcomes by helping to run a busy press office, working closely with our PR agency, and proactively generating media coverage to supplement in areas such as Tech, Innovation, Pro Bono, Graduate Recruitment, Pensions and Immigration. They will collaborate with our wider Commercial, Marketing & Business Development team to support the planning and execution of integrated communications campaigns including social media output.

The person in this role will be an operationally innovative project manager with excellent communication skills, a keen interest in the media landscape and news agenda, and an inquisitive and adaptable mindset.

Responsibilities

• Alongside the Assistant Director: PR & Communications (EMEA), play a key role in running the press office including responding to media enquiries, issuing press releases, ensuring efficient information flow to the PR agency, project managing key legal award submissions, and maintaining planning and reporting documents.
• Work closely with the wider Commercial Marketing & Business Development team to support on delivering digital marketing activities including drafting website news content and social media posts, as well as managing paid marketing and media opportunities to support and optimise campaign performance.
• Track news, legal and business agendas to identify and secure opportunities for media coverage.
• Cultivate strong relationships with key stakeholders across the firm to drive participation in the PR programme, both by facilitating PR agency work, and by planning and securing media opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong media relationships primarily with the legal and industry press, thinking creatively to organise engagement opportunities such as briefings and other media events, and to pitch impactful interviews, commentary and articles.
• Provide interview preparation for partners and organise formal media training sessions with external provider to ensure they are equipped to engage confidently with journalists.
• Assist in developing campaign narratives and media materials, thinking creatively to produce compelling, goal-aligned content across communication channels.
• Work with the media monitoring and database agency to maintain and refine media lists, ensuring effective outreach and engagement.
• Track and analyse press coverage, working with the PR agency to generate regular reports, internal communications, and other feedback mechanisms to demonstrate value to the firm.
• Run ad-hoc innovation projects to discover operational efficiencies for the team, and provide support to the Assistant Director: PR & Communications (EMEA) on daily operations and key initiatives.
• Stay updated on industry best practices.

Qualifications

Essential: Relevant bachelors/postgraduate degree or vocational qualification.

Desirable: CIPR or CIM qualification.

Experience:

Essential: At least four to five years’ relevant experience working in-house or at an agency in a legal or professional services environment, with a preference for those who have worked within a law firm. Proven track record of generating proactive media coverage across a range of different subjects and media.

Desirable: Experience of working in a complex organisation, preferably international.

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with diverse and senior stakeholders.
• Excellent English verbal communication skills and great attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work independently, as well as effectively within a team.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, organisational, and planning skills.
• Ability to hit deadlines and work well under pressure, handling multiple projects and shifting priorities in a demanding and fast-paced environment.
• Creative thinking with the ability to develop innovative communications strategies.
• Thorough knowledge of the UK media and how it works, including the timing and pace of news stories for pitching.
• Familiarity with the legal marketplace and professional services firm operations.
• Methodical and structured approach to reporting and other PR routines.
• Ability to identify and implement process improvements and press office best practice.
• Ability to use computer software such as Outlook, Powerpoint, Excel, AI, and to learn new software and operating systems.

Personal attributes:

• A proactive and results-oriented self-starter, highly-professional in attitude and presentation.
• A team player with a collaborative style of working who is excited about the bigger picture and the role of our highly-visible team.
• An inquisitive, creative and adaptable mindset with a curiosity for the news and the different ways that a story can be told whether via media relations or integrated marketing communications.
• An ability to diplomatically persuade and challenge.
• An ability to be sensitive to issues of confidentiality and exercise discretion and sound judgement in oral and written communications.
• Flexibility to adjust hours to meet operating and business needs.

At Mayer Brown, we are committed to creating an inclusive work environment that offers our people the opportunity and support they need to succeed. Our culture promotes mutual respect, acceptance, cooperation and productivity among people from all backgrounds and values different perspectives and ideas. One of our core values at Mayer Brown is to promote inclusion at all levels within the business which is actively supported by our Employee Resource Groups - LGBTQI+, Fusion (Race & Ethnicity), Multi-faith, Women, Enable (Disability), Social Inclusion and Opportunities Network and Work and Me (Family). We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that individuals may require throughout the recruitment process and once they have joined the Firm.