Business Development Manager
Ambitious law firm in growth mode
Emerging Companies & VC
London
Hybrid working
My client is a highly regarded independent City law firm with a strong position in the UK private capital market. The firm advises high-growth businesses and the investors that support them, with established expertise across venture capital, M&A, finance and commercial advisory work.
This newly created role will support practices working with emerging companies, investors and lenders across the early and growth stages of the business lifecycle. Covering Emerging Companies and Venture Capital, Growth Finance and Private Credit, and Commercial, the portfolio brings together work across some of the market’s most active and developing areas, including AI, fintech, cybersecurity, data, intellectual property and emerging technologies.
Working directly with partners, you will help turn business plans into focused activity, develop relationships across the growth company and investor community, and identify opportunities to extend the firm’s work and profile. The role offers the freedom to shape activity rather than simply respond to requests, while remaining closely involved in pitches, campaigns, events and client development.
Reporting to the Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, you will have direct access to senior decision-makers and considerable ownership within a lean structure. Partners are engaged with the firm’s growth plans and keen to work with dedicated business development support, giving you the opportunity to build momentum around their priorities and see the impact of your contribution.
Key responsibilities
- Work closely with partners to implement business development plans across the relevant practices
- Identify and develop opportunities with growth companies, investors, lenders, referrers and existing clients
- Build engagement within the venture capital and wider private capital community
- Lead pitches and proposals, coordinating input and developing clear, relevant positioning
- Use client and market intelligence to inform targeting, campaigns and practice priorities
- Develop focused outreach and relationship-building activity through the firm’s CRM and digital tools
- Plan and deliver client events, seminars, webinars and partnership initiatives, with structured follow-up
- Manage legal directory and award submissions in collaboration with the wider team
- Coordinate activity across business development, marketing, communications and client intelligence
- Maintain momentum against agreed priorities and give partners clear visibility of progress
About you
- You will have 4 to 7 years’ business development and marketing experience gained within professional services, venture capital or another relevant environment. You should understand the community of growth companies and investors operating across the early and growth stages, together with how relationships, referrals and opportunities develop within this market.
- You will be comfortable working directly with partners, influencing senior stakeholders and taking responsibility for activity from initial discussion through to delivery. Strong writing, presentation and project management skills are essential, as is the ability to manage competing priorities within a lean team.
- The firm is open to candidates from outside the legal sector where they can demonstrate relevant market knowledge, experience of working with senior professionals and a clear understanding of the client and investor groups supported by these practices.
- You will be commercially minded, practical and comfortable working independently. Confidence using digital tools is important, while an interest in the developing use of AI within business development would also be valuable.
The firm operates a hybrid working pattern, with 3 days per week in the London office and 2 days working remotely.
Equal Opportunities
As a responsible business, it is important that we represent the diversity of our people, our clients and our communities. We believe that the firms that thrive are those with the most diverse team; that's why we work so hard to source the best talent from the broadest pool possible. As an equal opportunities employer we strive to accommodate anyone who may have specific needs. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the selection process, please talk to a member of the recruitment team so that any required adjustments can be made in advance.