Business Development Manager (Corporate) in London

Overview

The Department

We work with innovative companies and multinational corporates, challengers and disrupters, to navigate the problems and opportunities they encounter throughout their business lifecycle. As a full-service corporate group, we represent companies, founders, management teams, wealth owners, venture capital funds, investors, and universities, each pioneers in their own field. We guide them through the start-up process, venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, exits and listings on the public markets, giving insightful board-level and corporate governance advice borne of deep experience, each step of the way. We help our clients navigate not just the present, but the future, anticipating regulatory change, the impact of evolving technologies and the pressures of a dynamic landscape of culture, governance and innovation. Working with clients who simultaneously drive and experience this ecosystem enables us to provide informed strategic advice and market leading solutions, including in such areas as cyber risk, ESG and shareholder activism. From emerging companies to market-leading business, our clients compete in fast moving and innovative industries including software, biotech, digital communications, life sciences, as well as financial services. We also advise some of the leading innovators and operators in more traditional sectors such as real estate, retail and sport. All industries themselves in the process of dynamic change.

As experts in helping dynamic companies to grow, we invest a great deal of time and effort in developing our own resources, people, tools and processes, to help transform the client experience. We work closely with specialists across the firm to provide a comprehensive offering incorporating tax, commercial agreements, fund formations and IP, executive compensation and employee incentive arrangements, real estate and disputes - all tailored towards supporting our clients through their journey of development and growth.

Duties And Responsibilities

As a Business Development Manager at Mishcon de Reya, you will be part of a team providing support to our Corporate Department. Reporting to the Lead Head of Business Development and supported by a Business Development Executive, this role will work as part of a collaborative and high performing team to deliver on a range of BD activities and projects, whilst contributing to the Firm's overall business development strategy. Whist this role will principally support the Corporate department, you will guide your core team to find connections with the wider firm that empower business development at all levels. Flexibility and teamwork are a must, as we strive to maintain and build our culture of "one team".

Summary of the role:

• Improve the marketing capability of the Practice's lawyers and raise their awareness of the role that the business development team can play.
• Attend fee earner practice meetings and develop/progress divisional business plans.
• Further develop the department's and the Firm's profile through: PR, editorial, thought leadership market research, select conferences, newsletters, and seminars. This will involve working with our Central BD team, Marketing, and Communications teams.
• Develop high quality pitch documents, credential documents, and marketing materials working with members of the department and wider Business Development team.
• Understanding the Business Development budget for the Corporate Department, monitoring the budget, approving BD activity according to budget allocation, and delivering plans within budget and to agreed timings.
• Guide and support the Practice Groups in the preparation of directory submissions.
• Lead on the coordination and delivery of events.
• Work with sectors within the Corporate Department to develop their activities in the market.
• Understand cross-departmental referrals and work across our golden triangle locations, as well as understanding the broader MDR Group and locations.
• Create marketing collateral that furthers the Firm's reputation (including, but not limited to, PowerPoint presentations, brochures, client briefings and other client communications).
• Identify which are the most appropriate clients and intermediaries for growth (current and past clients as well as future targets) and develop plans accordingly.
• Conducting analysis: collect and analyze data on a range of strategic and operational questions and translate actionable insight and strategic recommendations.
• Conducting research: stay on top of industry trends, market dynamics and the Group's competitive landscape, providing proactive updates and analysis to the Group's leadership and identifying opportunities and threats for the Group's businesses. This may include researching best practices in the industry, benchmarking Mishcon's performance against others, evaluating new emerging market segments and identifying potential business opportunities.
• Identify and develop Practice specific products and services that can be used to position the Practices competitively.
• Work closely with the Knowledge Lawyers to ensure that all members of the department (and Business Development) are aware of key issues and trends in the law.
• Work with our Business Insights team to develop metrics that measure the effectiveness of all activities.
• Contributing to BD: Strengthen the culture of "one team". Be a mentor and coach to more junior members of the team. Maintain a positive approach appropriate to a senior team member.
• Being part of One Firm: Contribute to the development of marketing and business development plans for cross-firm initiatives.
• Use effectively all communication channels for the department/Firm generally e.g. website, e-bulletins, media, sponsorship, conferences, and research and industry networks.

Skills/Experience

We are looking for individuals who are able to act as a true partner to our business. Candidates must be able to demonstrate:

• Relevant Degree or equivalent experience is required.
• Experience as a Business Development Manager or equivalent role.
• Strategic and creative thinking, with strong commercial nous and a practical approach.
• Client development focus in previous roles as well as experience in pitch/proposal preparation and appropriate coaching to those delivering pitches.
• The ability to manage budgets and multiple projects simultaneously, with energy, enthusiasm, and drive.
• Confidence in negotiating with fee-earners on BD activity; identifying the right mix of activity to balance benefits of individual practices with the wider department and the firm overall.
• A team-orientated approach, with the ability to demonstrate through experience and from interview that they have a strong commercial and client-led approach to their work.
• A swift, analytical approach to problems.
• Excellent communication skills.
• The ability to build collaborative relationships across the firm.
• Highly organised and takes initiative.
• Proactivity, reliance, and a flexible and calm approach.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

About Mishcon de Reya Group

The Mishcon de Reya Group is an independent, international professional services business with law at its heart, employing over 1400 people with over 650 lawyers. It includes the law firm Mishcon de Reya LLP and a collection of leading consultancy businesses that complement the firm's legal services. Mishcon de Reya LLP is based in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Hong Kong and UAE. The firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply. The work the firm undertakes is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex, centred around three increasingly entwined and connected sectors: the Innovation Economy, Private Wealth and Capital, and Real Estate. The firm is known as a disputes powerhouse with a formidable capacity firmwide for dispute resolution.

The Mishcon de Reya Group includes consultancy businesses MDR Discover, MDR Mayfair (in London, Singapore and Dubai), MDR ONE, and MDRi (in Hong Kong). The Group also includes MDR Lab, which invests in the most promising early stage legaltech companies as well as the Mishcon Academy, its in-house place of learning and platform for thought leadership. In 2024, the Group announced its first strategic acquisition in the alternative legal services market, flexible legal resourcing business Flex Legal. It also acquired a majority stake in Somos, a global group actions management business.

We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.