Role summary/purpose of job

The Senior BD Manager will work closely with the Co-Heads of the Global Markets (“GM”) group to define and implement the firm’s strategy for winning work across all jurisdictions in which we do not have a physical office. The position also plays a pivotal role in nurturing deep relationships with member of our StrongerTogether (“ST”) network of over 300 partner law firms across the world.

You will be providing high-quality, strategic business development advice to the lawyers in the GM group, helping them to develop and grow our client relationships, on both a regional and global basis. You can expect broad exposure to developing commercial opportunities across a spectrum of top-tier multinational businesses as well as local and regional champions.

About Marketing & Business Development (MBD)

MBD is a dynamic global team which includes business development specialists, research analysts, brand, marketing and communications experts. By working collaboratively, our team shapes the firm’s client strategy, completes analysis of complex business issues, targets opportunities, develops compelling proposals and creates content and marketing campaigns that lead our digital presence. Together, we define the client experience and shape the perception of Freshfields around the globe.

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables

Senior stakeholder influence

• Ensure the GM group’s priorities are appropriately understood and supported by influencing senior stakeholders across the business

• Develop effective approaches to embedding the GM group into wider initiatives within the firm, including those advanced by our sectors and practice groups, as well as at an institutional level

• Align the GM group with the overall MBD plan, and raise the profile of GM with other parts of MBD, especially Sectors and Practices

• Lead the collaboration with other parts of the MBD team, as well as other functions within Freshfields, to develop initiatives which create meaningful business development opportunities

Strategic advice

• Assist the GM Co-Heads with setting the group’s overall strategic priorities, and reviewing on a systematic basis

• Advise the regional partner leads on appropriate strategic approaches to their specific regions

• Lead on delivering the GM strategy through a disciplined and rigorous approach, with primary accountability for meeting targets and milestones as agreed with the Co-Heads

• Support the GM Co-Heads in broadening and deepening relations with the Top 30 ST firms

Client targeting

• Identify client and business opportunities arising from our GM initiatives and through our relationships with ST firms

• Work with the GM Co-Heads and relationship partners of our priority clients to develop client awareness of our ability to deliver in parts of the world

• Recommend approaches to client targeting that result in the best commercial outcomes for our clients, and for us as a business.

• Investigate and understand the market in which our clients operate, and advise the GM Co-Heads, regional leads and institutional client teams on how best to deploy this intelligence to gain new business opportunities for the firm

Thought leadership & events management

• Take primary organisational responsibility for the annual IBA event to be held in Canada in 2025, including working with the GM Co-Heads to determine the principal content requirements

• Provide oversight of regional ST events, held throughout the year, including assisting regional leads to develop appropriate content topics, speakers and supporting materials

Team leadership

• Help the GM team members to follow best practices, align with the wider GM strategy and assess ways to integrate individual GM activities into Firmwide initiatives and objectives

• Provide professional guidance to other GM team members and help them develop their own careers through constructive feedback and coaching, including finding ways for other team members to take ownership of their own regions’ activities

• Advise on the development and management of the Global Markets budget

• Provide professional feedback on other GM team members, including primary responsibility for their respective annual appraisals, and requirements to address performance issues

• Provide regular advice to the Global Head of BD, Clients & Sectors, as part of the cohort of Senior Managers within the department

Key requirements

• 10+ years’ of relevant experience in business development within a professional services environment

• Highly analytical approach to solving complex problems, while deploying fresh thinking

• Deep intellectual curiosity and thirst for knowledge

• Experience of working in an environment that requires buy-in and engagement of senior stakeholders and working across cultures

• Global mind-set, and experience of working with multi-locational teams

• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to listen, clarify and share information easily

• Ability to build strong working relationships with your team and to be able to persuade and influence a range of people, including partners

• Strong emotional intelligence and situational awareness

• Resilient and able to remain calm and positive under pressure, operating in a fast-paced environment

• Proactive and entrepreneurial spirit, keen to challenge the status quo

• Decisive and mature judgment

• Focus on results and outcomes, rather than process and inputs

• Demonstrated experience managing other high-performing professionals, both in person and virtually across remote locations

Freshfields Overview

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, and governments.

Our people make our firm - we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams. Our culture is a product of the combined mindsets and behaviours of our people which is through the Being Freshfields principles, outlined below:

• we show respect to everyone

• we are there for one another

• we are open with each other

• we are positive role models

We think and work globally - we do not just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work is not just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.

We aim to add value in everything we do - we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgements and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.

Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered based on their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case-by-case basis and take a number of factors into account (e.g. the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.