Business Development Specialist - Disputes
A&O Shearman

A&O Shearman is a new global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 29 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world's most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world's leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to an inclusive environment, and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.
What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE - A&O Shearman does not accept unsolicited CVs. For further information, please see our UK Recruitment Agency Policy and our commitment to direct sourcing

Department Purpose and Structure
The U.S. Marketing & Business Development team (U.S. MKT Team) is a sophisticated group of experienced professionals charged with guiding the Firm's fee earners to grow U.S. and global revenues, expand existing client relationships and strategically tackle new client pursuits.

This is a team that is all-in. As business professionals at one of the largest law firms in the world, the U.S. MKT Team thrives on market challenges and outside-the-box thinking. It is a team where fresh ideas are not only entertained, they are encouraged.

Role Purpose
This Business Development Specialist- Disputes role is a fantastic opportunity to gain global experience working for one of the largest law firms in the world and to learn the unique approach that a truly global firm utilizes towards business development and marketing.

The Business Development Specialist will provide day-to-day business development support across the Litigation group in a collaborative role with business development teams across the firm. This includes, but is not limited to, client targeting efforts, proposal writing and management, matter list and business development collateral creation and management, and legal directory submissions.

Key Relationships

• Director of Business Development - Americas Disputes
• Manager of Business Development - Americas Disputes
• Partners and fee earners in the Disputes group
• U.S. business development team
• Peers across the wider and global business development, marketing and communications teams

Context
The Business Development Specialist is a multi-faceted role and involves supporting key initiatives, including practice strategy, pitches and RFPs, market research and analysis, and directories, rankings and submissions execution.

Role and Responsibilities

• Pitches, Proposals and Credentials: Working directly with partners to create and manage competitive proposals, credentials, pitches and presentations, including applying best practices, developing messaging, and managing the collection and dissemination of data on our proposals to help identify the reasons for wins and losses, including pitch debriefs.
• Marketing Systems: Maintaining practice and attorney specific information in our marketing systems (lawyer CVs, experience, matter capture, and client contact database) to ensure that accurate, tailored documents can be prepared in a timely and efficient manner.
• Market Research: Developing sector knowledge to identify potential business opportunities and expand existing business.
• Internal Communications: Building and maintaining a flow of market intelligence (e.g. precedential cases and enforcement matters, major players, market shares, key clients and industry developments) to partners and associates, providing regular communication within the group regarding planned marketing activity, and working with business development colleagues responsible for related areas to coordinate client targeting activities.
• Cross-Practice and Global Integration: Identifying cross-practice and cross-jurisdictional connections and opportunities and sharing ideas with local and global colleagues to enhance quality of work, open lines of communication and develop best practices for the practice and for the business development function as a whole.
• Client Events: Working with the U.S. client events team to plan and facilitate client events and seminars.
• Sponsorships: Coordinating practice related sponsorships of conferences, supporting on the organization, presentation and pre- and post-conference deliverables.
• Profile/PR: Seeking and maintaining effective press coverage on major litigation matters and market developments, and drafting legal directory submissions, partnering with the PR, social media, and directories teams when necessary.

Team
This position reports directly to the Director of Business Development - Americas Disputes and works closely with other members of the U.S. business development team.

Key Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years of legal or professional services experience working in a high-profile, fast-paced environment.
• High attention to detail and strong client focus.
• Culturally astute team player with ability to work effectively with colleagues from other countries on cross-border activities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal, and influencing skills.
• Ability to write accurate and compelling business development proposals and other marketing materials.
• A self-starter with the ability to prioritize and drive forward multiple projects.
• Willingness and enthusiasm to develop an in-depth understanding of the energy and infrastructure sectors, with experience working in these sectors preferred.
• Bachelor's degree required.

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