Business Development Manager - Litigation & Risk

Shoosmiths; Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Shoosmiths LLP is seeking a Business Development Manager in Litigation & Risk, based in Birmingham/Manchester/Leeds. The role sits in the Business Development team and focuses on identifying growth opportunities across the Corporate market, developing strategic bids, and delivering cross‑firm marketing initiatives.

You will build relationships with key referral networks, work with client relationship teams, and mentor junior team members, with BI/MI reporting to support performance reviews.

Qualifications

• BD and marketing experience in professional services; knowledge of the legal sector is advantageous.
• Strong commercial thinking with ability to translate issues into opportunities for the firm.
• Excellent networking and stakeholder management to build cross‑firm relationships.

Responsibilities

• Identify growth opportunities across the Corporate market and support strategic business planning.
• Stay up to date with market developments to spot commercial opportunities.
• Develop relationships with referral networks and industry bodies to identify opportunities.
• Collaborate with the new business and strategic bids teams on responses for current or new opportunities.
• Create integrated marketing campaigns and thought leadership; coordinate events where possible.
• Collaborate with Market Insights to support client and competitor research.
• Support Transactions directory and award submissions.
• Coordinate with PR for press releases and external communications.

Skills

Business development

Marketing

Networking

Influencing

Project management

Content writing

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Job description

Business Development Manager - Litigation & Risk

Business Development, Birmingham/Manchester/Leeds

Main information

Intermediate

Term type:

Permanent

Working hours:

Full-time

Team:

Business Development

Location:

Birmingham/Manchester/Leeds

The role

Division overview

Our Transactions division is one of the leading corporate legal practices in the UK, advising an impressive range of clients including entrepreneurs, owner-managed businesses, private equity investors, listed companies and multinational organisations. Combining commercial insight with exceptional technical expertise, the team supports clients across the full business lifecycle, from strategic investments and acquisitions to complex restructurings and exits, and their commercial requirements throughout. Recognised for its market knowledge and collaborative approach, the team has built an outstanding reputation with clients and the wider market. “Clients praise the team for its commerciality, responsiveness and ability to deliver pragmatic solutions to complex challenges” (Chambers).

Key responsibilities

• Work with the divisions and sectors leadership to identify growth opportunities across the Corporate market and support strategic business planning projects aligned to those growth aspirations, providing sector and market research and information.
• Be intellectually curious about the division and the markets in which it operates, continually keeping up to date with developments and know how - spot and/or anticipate any possible commercial opportunities to drive forward and keep our service offering front of mind for our clients.
• Develop a deep understanding of the Transactions division and wider firm clients, building relationships to spot opportunities for revenue generation and cross-selling, identify gaps in the market and relevant ‘hot topics’ to champion specialist knowledge and the best channels to take that forward.
• Develop relationships with key referral networks and industry/sector bodies to identify new opportunities and partner on marketing activities.
• Work closely with the new business team and strategic bids team to contribute to Transactions specific bid responses and pursuits for current or new Corporate opportunities and clients.
• Collaborate with the client relationship team to support specific client relationship activity, sharing objectives, knowledge and insight.
• Develop integrated marketing campaigns to raise the profile of our brand. This will include developing thought leadership and event coordination (with support from the events team where appropriate). Seek out opportunities for thought provoking seminars/round tables and attendance at, or sponsorship of, relevant industry-related events to profile our Transactions offering.
• Collaborate with the Market Insights team to develop client and competitor research projects.
• Support and advise on Transactions directory and award submissions.
• Work with the PR and Communications team to share information and updates that can be developed into meaningful press releases and external communications, writing copy as needed.
• Share stories and updates internally to raise the profile of the sectors to foster opportunities for cross Market/division collaboration and projects.
• Mentor and coach junior members of the Business Development team.
• Provide BI & MI reporting for the Market/division to support quarterly and annual performance reviews.
• Contribute to Transactions division ad-hoc Business Development projects.

Skills and qualifications

• Previous business development and marketing experience gained within a professional services environment. An understanding of either the legal sector is advantageous.
• Strong commercial thinking, able to translate emerging business issues and developments into opportunities for our firm.
• Excellent networking skills – connecting people within the firm and help build their networks and works collaboratively across the board.
• Exceptional influencing and persuasion skills.
• Experience of working proactively with a solutions driven, growth mindset and the ability to identify key priorities and manage multiple projects.
• Strong content writing skills and experience.
• Good analytical and communication skills with the ability to combine data and information to provide a high level of commercial insight.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and develop relationships.
• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail.

The firm

Shoosmiths is the law firm clients choose for excellent service, incisive thinking and above all for our ability to focus on what matters. From offices across the UK and Brussels, we support some of the world’s most exciting and ambitious businesses; amazing clients making an impact. We empower our people to be their authentic selves and deliver together in supportive teams committed to excellence and innovation. The first top 50 law firm to achieve ‘Platinum Standard’ Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm.

We have an outstanding benefits package to complement our competitive remuneration system. In addition to the competitive salaries, great working environment and high-quality work, we believe that all staff should be rewarded for their commitment to the continued success of the firm through a comprehensive and flexible range of benefits.

Shoosmiths is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. Disability Confident is a government scheme designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term conditions. As part of our accreditation, we commit to interviewing any applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for each vacancy. In some circumstances we may only be able to interview those that best meet the essential criteria due to the volume of applications received.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to and usable by everyone. If you have a disability or long-term condition and would like to receive information in a different way, or need us to make any adjustments, changes or do anything differently during the recruitment process, please get in touch with the Talent Acquisition team on [e-mail] .We can consider your needs and requirements, and how we can assist you to apply for our roles. For example we can provide a copy of our application via email so that you can complete it using your own accessibility software.