Business Development Manager - Global Financial Markets
A&O Shearman

Department Purpose and Structure
Operating in more than 50 countries-and at the forefront of our industry-A&O Shearman is one of the world's leading corporate advisers. Working alongside some of the world's most successful companies, commercial and investment banks and private equity firms, the corporate work we do breaks new ground and sets precedents.

Our clients know us as an ambitious, creative and enterprising team of individuals who think differently and embrace the most complex and cutting-edge commercial ventures. We find innovative new ways to deliver our services and exceed expectations on public takeovers, private M&A, equity capital markets, private equity, joint ventures and commercial partnerships, disposals and corporate reorganizations.

Role Purpose
The Business Development Manager - Global Financial Markets (GFM) will provide day-to-day business development support to the Global Financial Markets group as a whole and will work closely with other related business development professionals, focusing primarily on partners across the U.S. offices. The BDM will work with business development teams across the firm to help support and integrate the group worldwide. This includes, but is not limited to, responding to client requests for proposals, coordinating of the Global Financial Markets practice's involvement in firmwide initiatives, ongoing education of the wider firm on the practice's expertise, sponsorship, memberships and event management, collateral creation and management, client targeting exercises, coordinating of media opportunities with the U.S. PR & Communications team, thought leadership and legal directory submissions.

Key Relationships

• Director of Business Development - Finance (based in New York)
• Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer (CMBDO) - Americas (based in New York)
• Corporate Practice, Financial Services Regulatory Practice, and Finance Practices
• U.S. business development team
• Peers across the wider business development, marketing and communications team

Context
This role is partner facing and involves serving as the go-to for partners and other fee earners for all BD and marketing within the Global Financial Markets group. The BDM is crucial to the group's execution of its strategy and to the day- to-day success of the business.

Role and Responsibilities

• Practice strategy, planning and execution: Working closely with the attorneys to develop and implement the business development strategy and plans for each partner and their practices, including global initiatives, development of target client lists and ongoing practice and client development.
• Pitches, proposals and credentials: Working directly with the attorneys to create competitive proposals, credentials, pitches, and presentations for work originating in the Global Financial Markets practice and for work from the A&O Shearman network that involve the Global Financial Markets related areas.
• Cross-practice and cross-office integration: Using an understanding of the firm's international partner and business development network (and the varied range of working practices/styles across the firm), coordination of existing projects and development of new opportunities. Sharing ideas with colleagues to enhance quality and efficiency of work and developing best practices in coordination with the U.S. business development team as a whole.
• Market research: Conducting market research on existing and prospective clients and market issues which may impact clients' businesses and providing advice on effective marketing strategies to address these issues.
• Marketing discussion and review: Arranging and chairing meetings with the practice groups to review progress on marketing projects and key client targeting; ensuring relevant information from these meetings is circulated to other relevant internal groups, often with your own analysis provided.
• Next Level Profile/PR: Working with our PR & Communications team to spot opportunities to profile the practice and its partners and maintain effective press coverage on major market developments.
• Rankings, Awards & Directories: Draft submissions and nominations that tell a story for legal and industry awards and directories based on high profile-matters and issues of the Global Financial Markets groups.
• Sponsorships and client events: Identify and coordinate firm sponsorships of conferences (e.g., targeting speaker opportunities, coordinating materials and speakers, conducting event follow-up, etc.) and, together with the U.S. Events team, planning client events and seminars.
• Expertise database: Maintain records of Global Financial Markets proposals and matters and ensure that information about these matters is appropriately documented and disseminated to other relevant local and international internal groups.
• Management of memberships: Membership coordination - (ABANA, and MFA JFYI); oversee membership registration, organization and maximization of activities and events related to the organization.
• Team management: Mentor and collaborate with junior team members, ensuring appropriate work opportunities and allocation, and support of team members' long-term goals and training. Managing performance appraisals and coordinate promotion discussions as appropriate.
• Undertake other projects as assigned.

Team
This position reports to the Director of Business Development - Finance, who will continuously look to help the BDM to grow through project involvement. This position also works closely with other members of the U.S. business development and marketing team and members of the A&O Shearman global community. The BDM will have support from junior members of the U.S. business development team and will help to mentor other team members.

Key Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of professional services or sector experience working in a high-profile, fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; high attention to detail and strong client focus.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills - with partners, key associates, and business development colleagues, clients and suppliers, including selling concepts and presenting to senior management.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize effectively while working on multiple conflicting deadlines.
• Proven track record of achieving strategic business objectives and using this experience to determine people and financial resources required for specific projects.
• Experience with budgeting, including writing business cases, is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced business development professional to work closely with an energetic group of people, in a fast-paced law firm environment. We are looking for an individual who is proactive, persistent, committed to "getting the job done," and a supportive colleague.

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