UK Job Description
Description
Great opportunity for a Business Development (BD) professional to join the BD team that supports and advises FIG, Reed Smith’s largest industry group.
The successful candidate will provide business development and marketing support to the lawyers in the EMEA FIG group, as well as select US lawyers, interacting with partners and associates, and other business development and marketing team members across the firm.
This is a hands-on role, which will include pitching, client targeting, profile raising and events. The role requires strong organisational skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability and flexibility to manage a large workload. We are therefore seeking a resourceful and dynamic candidate, who possesses excellent attention to detail and the ability to perform under pressure.
The position sits within a growing and energetic firm-wide marketing team of professionals. Flexibility in working hours will be required on occasion
The Firm
Reed Smith is a global law firm with more than 1,700 lawyers in 30 offices throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the United States.
Operating as one global partnership, we represent leading international businesses from FTSE 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises; advising clients on cross border transactions, international commercial disputes and regulation. We specialise in industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, energy and natural resources, entertainment and media, shipping and real estate.
We all share a common culture, with core values supporting the firm’s commitment to add value, achieve excellence, and promote professional development. London is our largest office with approximately 700 people, including over 350 fee earners across the full range of commercial practice areas. Consistent with the firm’s strategy, the office has grown significantly over the past five years. Key to this growth has been our ability to successfully integrate new hires into our business and give them a platform to flourish. We place a huge significance on listening to our people and incorporating their ideas wherever possible.
Responsibilities
- Develop tailored pitch and proposal material for EME FIG opportunities, delivering a good first working document to the attorneys.
- Assist with global proposals and multi-practice pitches, contributing experience and practice capabilities as needed.
- Work closely with various legal, BD and marketing professionals to develop and maintain standard practice related presentations or material (standard and customizable capability statements, practice group profiles, matter lists, case studies, bios etc.).
- Checking/formatting of materials for client presentations and internal meetings.
- Update the firm’s FIG deal database to ensure matters are accurately and promptly updated.
- Maintain contacts and key information on the firm’s CRM system.
- Manage the administrative tasks involved with posting requests on the firm’s CRM system.
- Assist PR and branding teams on thought leadership and campaigns to help raise the profile of EME FIG both internally and externally and to ensure coverage of successful matters and initiatives in key markets.
- Assist with internal communication strategies, including coordination of FIG newsletters and firm news for new business highlights and client and matters successes.
- Assist with the production of client alert preparation and mailing business development activities within the group.
- Assist with blog postings, social media posts (including LinkedIn), podcasts and other marketing platforms including Passle.
- Update lawyer and practice group information on the firm’s website and intranet.
- Assist with legal directory submissions with the lawyer team and help the partners prepare for interviews with legal directory researchers.
- Liaise with the Finance department and Client Intelligence teams to produce financial reports on clients.
- Collate information on clients and produce briefing notes for partner conferences, speaker events and/or business trips/client meetings.
- Co-ordinate and execute events such as webinars, seminars, roundtables and receptions.
- Work to ensure quality professional product, as well as delivery of all work within established time frames.
- Conduct client/prospective client research and analysis using library, knowledge management, and accounting resources.
- Display the confidence to share best practice learnings with colleagues and lawyers.
- Complete special projects as assigned
Key Skills, Attributes and Experience
- Knowledge of financial services preferred but not essential.
- Eagerness to learn about the legal services of FIG.
- Ability to manage and follow-through autonomously on projects and day-to-day lawyer requests.
- Confidence in liaising with people at all levels across geographies and time zones, including partners, BD and other support departments.
- Ability to work in an environment that can be fast paced at times, and to prioritise work accordingly.
- Team player and ability to work well with others.
- Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Technologically savvy and able to quickly learn new database systems.
- Extremely detail oriented, proactive and self-directed with ability to independently manage and appropriately prioritize multiple projects and competing priorities under tight deadlines, sometimes with minimal oversight.
- Able to demonstrate sound professional judgment and a high degree of poise and professionalism when interacting with internal and external contacts.
- Comfortable establishing effective firmwide working relationships with individuals at all levels.
- Possess, and be willing to continue to develop, strong organizational, project management and problem solving skills.
- Able to work independently as well as as part of a team, and be flexible in approach.
- Previous experience in a law firm or professional services environment is preferred.
- Must be able to demonstrate expectional organizational and time management skills, strong writing ability, and a great work ethic.
- Must have demonstrated experience working independently as well as within a cross-functional team in a professional services environment.
- Educated to degree level or equivalent.
- Experience with client facing activity desirable.
At Reed Smith, we welcome direct applications either in response to one of our advertised vacancies or on a speculative basis. Please click on the “Apply Now” button to submit your details and we will be in touch.
No search firms/agencies please.
Reed Smith's success depends heavily on the effective utilization of qualified people, regardless of their race, ancestry, religion, colour, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, veteran's status, or any characteristic protected by law. As a firm, we adhere to and promote equal employment opportunity for all.
We are committed to making all stages of our recruitment process accessible to candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions. If you have a disability or a long-term health condition and require adjustments to be made for you within the recruitment process, please contact a member of the Recruitment team. For more information on our approach to diversity and inclusion please visit our website . 
