Business Development Manager (Opportunities) in London

Travers Smith is a leading full-service law firm, with a wealth of experience in its areas of specialisation. The firm has a market-leading reputation for its international expertise in Asset Management, M&A and Dispute Resolution & Investigations. Clients include asset managers across the alternative asset classes (private equity, venture, credit, infrastructure and real estate), publicly listed and private companies, financial institutions, and other business enterprises involved in large and complex UK and cross-border matters, transactions and disputes. Our purpose is to provide the highest quality of service to our clients whilst enabling our people to achieve professional fulfilment in a supportive, inclusive and enjoyable working environment.

The Business Development, Clients, Marketing, Events and Communications team consists of 33 people who focus on increasing the profile of the firm and the brand through a variety of channels to create leads and opportunities that can increase profitable revenues. The department is at the forefront of several key strategic firmwide initiatives, priding itself on achieving strategic aims while ensuring a collaborative, inclusive and rewarding team dynamic.

The firm is in the process of investing in a new CRM system and this role is essential to ensure the successful delivery of the opportunity pipeline within that system that will drive profitable revenue growth. Reporting to the 'Head of Opportunities', this role will proactively identify, analyse, and disseminate business opportunities, market trends, and prospective client needs. You'll work closely with our fee earners, practice groups, and BD/marketing teams to ensure the firm is capitalising on growth opportunities and staying ahead of the competition. This role plays a critical part in driving revenue growth, enhancing win rates, and ensuring the firm takes a disciplined, insight‑led approach to pursuing the right work with the right clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Opportunity Spotting: Monitor legal, regulatory, and industry developments to spot new business opportunities for the firm, including potential clients, emerging sectors, and practice areas for expansion or investment.
• Market Analysis: Conduct thorough research and analysis of market trends, competitor activity, client news, and thought leadership, translating insights into actionable recommendations for partners and fee earners.
• Intelligence Gathering: Coordinate the gathering and sharing of client and sector intelligence, tailoring updates to relevant practice groups and individuals.
• Relationship Building: Build relationships with internal stakeholders to understand service offerings, strategic objectives, and client pipelines; foster a collaborative approach to business growth.
• Internal Communication: Present findings through regular internal briefings, tailored reports, and opportunity alerts; facilitate meetings and discussions to explore cross-practice and cross-sector collaboration.
• Pitch Support: Work with BD colleagues to identify targets and support tailored approaches for pitches, proposals, and panel appointments.
• Initiative Development: Support the development and delivery of BD initiatives (e.g., events, campaigns) that respond to identified market opportunities.
• Establish a clear framework for identifying, prioritising, and managing strategic opportunities across jurisdictions and practice areas.
• Develop close working relationships with the partners and wider lawyer team, providing support to implement and refine business plans, demonstrating a deep and thorough understanding of the respective practice areas, helping to identify market and client trends, and growth opportunities from existing and new potential clients.
• Work with the wider Business Development team to ensure that activities are aligned across practice groups and cross‑firm initiatives to ensure a 'one firm' approach to clients and to business development activities.

Other Responsibilities

• Set clear standards, processes, and best practices for opportunity management globally.
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and skills development within the team.
• Work with the BDMCE Leadership Team to plan and execute revenue generating initiatives and strategies.

Personal Specification - Experience, Knowledge & Skills

• 6+ years' experience, with at least one to two years at Manager level, working in a Business Development role in a professional services environment, preferably within a law firm.
• Commercially astute with a strong track record in growing existing and new business.
• Experience in opportunities, pursuits, or strategic business development within a professional services environment (legal or comparable).
• High level proficiency in systems skills - Word, Excel, PowerPoint and LinkedIn Sales Navigator.
• A hands‑on, delivery‑focused approach.
• Ability to understand macro‑economic issues and use them to define appropriate business development plans and activity.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills - able to speak with confidence and influence change both internally with senior leadership and externally.
• Comfortable providing recommendations and advising with confidence to senior level stakeholders, even when there is ambiguity involved, an ability to quickly gain confidence and challenge and change behaviours where required.
• Strategic and analytical thinker, able to set and measure the success of programmes across business development.
• Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external clients.
• Excellent work management skills - capable of managing and coordinating a broad and demanding, fast‑paced workload in an organised, controlled and efficient manner with the ability and confidence to prioritise as required.

We are excited to have moved from our London headquarters in Snow Hill, to a brand-new building in the City - Stonecutter Court.

Diversity & Inclusion statement

We value and celebrate the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of every individual including differences in gender, ethnicity, disability, faith, and more. We're committed to building an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of our clients and communities, where everyone feels empowered, respected, and heard. We actively partner with organisations and networks that champion equality and fairness, ensuring our policies and practices uphold these values.

Support and Adjustments for candidates

At Travers Smith, we are committed to ensuring that people who are disabled or have a long‑term condition are empowered in their identity, valued equally, and listened to. If we can adjust the recruitment process to make it more accessible, please let us know.