Business Development Lead

Ambition; England; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious international law firm is seeking a Global Business Development Lead to head its Corporate BD function. You will lead a high-performing global BD team, develop a global strategy, and collaborate with senior stakeholders. This role requires extensive experience in business development within professional services and strong stakeholder management skills.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in business development leadership within professional services.
• Proven track record of driving strategic growth and embedding BD best practices.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills at senior levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the global Corporate BD team.
• Develop and implement a global BD strategy.
• Collaborate with partners and senior stakeholders.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Strategic growth

Business development

Data analytics

Job description

Principal Consultant- Legal Marketing, BD & Communications at Ambition UK & Europe

Global Business Development Lead – Corporate (International Law Firm)

Location: London (Hybrid Working Model)

A prestigious international law firm is seeking a dynamic and strategic Global Business Development Lead to head up its Corporate BD function. This is a high‑impact leadership role, offering the opportunity to shape and drive global business development initiatives across a broad range of specialist subgroups including M&A, Antitrust & Foreign Investment, Employment, Pensions, Tax, and TMT/IP.

The Opportunity

This is a rare chance to lead a high‑performing global BD team within a firm known for its collaborative culture, commitment to excellence, and forward‑thinking approach. You’ll work closely with senior stakeholders—including partners, practice group heads, and sector leads—to develop and execute a global BD strategy that aligns with the firm’s overarching goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the global Corporate BD team, fostering a high-performance and inclusive culture.
• Develop and implement a global BD strategy across multiple specialist practice areas.
• Collaborate with partners and senior stakeholders to support strategic growth and market positioning.
• Drive cross‑practice and cross‑sector initiatives, identifying opportunities for client engagement and revenue generation.
• Leverage data, client insights, and market intelligence to inform BD priorities and measure success.
• Partner with marketing, pitching, and client teams to ensure alignment and impact across campaigns and proposals.

What You’ll Bring

• Extensive experience in business development leadership within professional services, ideally legal.
• Proven track record of driving strategic growth and embedding BD best practices.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills at senior levels.
• A client‑centric mindset with a deep understanding of relationship development.
• Comfort with data and analytics, and the ability to build compelling, insight‑driven narratives.
• Experience leading global, cross‑functional teams and working across borders.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Marketing and Business Development

Industries

Legal Services, Law Practice, and Professional Services