Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Business Development Manager - Restructuring to join our Marketing team, based in A&O Shearman’s London Office.

Marketing team – London
Our Marketing team helps the firm win and grow the right clients and win work. We assist partners to develop and implement go-to-market strategies, tactics and processes, differentiated insights and discipline and monitor execution. Alongside this, we strengthen the firm’s market profile and reputation to support client acquisition, retention, and growth. We work as one integrated global team, aligning central support and expertise with local knowledge and execution to maximize impact across offices, practice groups, sectors and client programs.
The London restructuring team consists of five partners, together with a Client Opportunities Consultant. The team focusses on assisting clients in the context of complex, usually cross border restructurings and insolvency processes and has a diverse client base consisting of banks, funds, corporates and insolvency practitioners. The team advises on a broad range of matters including large LBO restructurings, distressed M&A and insolvency matters, often together with our international and particularly western European offices. Partners within the London restructuring team are also members of the capital solutions team and implement complex financing structures within and outside of distress scenarios. As such partners and senior associates in the restructuring team are active members of the firm’s muti disciplinary capital solutions practice.

What you will do
You will support day-to-day business development for the London restructuring team and London based cross disciplinary capital solutions group by converting goals into work products that you deliver in an efficient, disciplined and collaborative way. You will work closely with our Client Opportunities Consultant to develop a deep understanding of today’s restructuring market and equip the team to identify and swiftly pursue developing opportunities. You will provide both reactive and proactive support to lawyers and the business to help pursue growth opportunities, including managing the pitch pipeline, client development, running campaigns and other client touchpoints in line with go-to-market strategies, and ensuring that best practice is followed in terms of systems, technology and processes. You will also provide support to the Global Co-Heads of the Restructuring Group in relation to the team’s global initiatives and activities.

Client development

Work on the development of client plans, contact maps and meeting records, ensuring that Dynamics is populated with high data quality.
Join and monitor client development plans and goals within the London capital solutions group
Coordinate client meetings, briefings and events; prepare targeted follow-up so that we capitalize on client interactions.
Track coverage, contacts and actions for priority client accounts.
Track marketing spend and return on investment (where applicable) against Restructuring BD budget and report variances.

Opportunities development

Work closely with our Client Opportunities Consultant to develop ‘watchlist decks’ (ie quasi pitch decks on developing situations) and schedule and monitor calls and follow up tasks arising as a result.
Co-ordinate calls with financial advisers, track and analyze financial advisors decks in order to assist with opportunity development.
Actively contribute to the global capital solutions group and co-ordinate, alongside the BD Manager for Debt Finance, the business development activities for the London capital solutions group.
Monitor contacts with financial advisory firms to ensure consistent coverage
Develop appropriate contacts with Octus/ 9Fin/ Debtwire and related organizations

League tables and team profile

Monitor league table submissions and prepare linked in updates following results
Monitor closing memorandums and update chambers, IFLR and Legal 500 submissions
Manage directories/awards submissions and associated interviews and follow up.
Monitor upcoming awards, assist with award submissions and proactively suggest opportunities
Assist partners and senior members of the team with profile enhancement and speaking engagements including assisting with linked in posts where required

AI and technology

Use approved marketing function AI tools, including the function’s agents for designated tasks, in line with the firm’s AI usage policy.
Complete the marketing function’s mandatory AI capability program and develop applied AI skills relevant to the role, including the function’s agents for designated tasks (in line with the firm’s AI usage policy).
Demonstrate progression in applied AI skills through tangible contribution to personal and team output.

Pitch work

Work in conjunction with the pitch team, pricing and lawyers to prepare and maintain pitch deck and precedents
Tailor credentials and case studies to client needs; support rehearsals and Q&A preparation.

Campaigns and events

Execute events and marketing campaigns; track engagement metrics.
Manage events logistics and follow-up within agreed timelines and budgets
Ensure consistent, evidence-based messaging and in all market facing materials.

Global and European interaction

Work closely with global restructuring team co-heads and colleagues across regions, practices, sectors and central teams.
Join global and European practice calls and assist with agenda and follow up items.
Support global practice activities and initiatives.
Monitor international partner visits and co-ordinate client meetings.
Promote consistent use of firm systems and templates; maintain file hygiene and naming/version standards.
Actively participate in change initiatives; share ideas and help embed new ways of working.
Escalate blockers and propose practical fixes.

Team leadership and development

Support resourcing across competing priorities and time zones.
Contribute tips, examples and improvements to team playbooks and libraries.
Contribute to onboarding new team members by sharing best practice for common BD tasks.

What you will have

Proven experience executing business development activities in professional services.
Intellectual curiosity about market trends and client needs combined with a proactive instinct to shape business development activities in line with these insights.
Strong project management and stakeholder skills; clear, persuasive writing with a focus on client needs.
Comfortable with data and research; confident using client data management systems (e.g., Dynamics), experience and pipeline systems.
Highly organized, proactive and resilient; strong attention to detail and follow-through across multiple priorities.
Strong client focus and ability to work well with busy lawyers while balancing deadlines.
Occasional travel as required.

What we can offer you
To learn more about the culture and benefits available at A&O Shearman, please visit: Culture and benefits | A&O Shearman careers

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

Our approach to hybrid working seeks to combine and maximise the benefits of effective remote working with the benefits of being in the office. Our current hybrid working arrangements require office based working for a minimum of 60% of your time (i.e. three days per week for a full time role) in accordance with our hybrid working policy.

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 here.

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A&O Shearman is a global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in nearly 30 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.

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