BD Executive

Farrers is synonymous with the highest quality legal advice and service. We advise individuals, families, businesses, financial services, educational and not-for-profit organisations on every aspect of the law, wherever the need arises. From our offices in London, we work with trusted professionals around the world to deliver a seamless international service. Our people have the skills, insight and experience to be able to deliver the best results. They are passionate about what they do, enjoy working together and are driven to do the best for clients.

Our clients tell us they value us for our integrity, good judgement and professional excellence, as well as our broad perspective, practical solutions and value for money. They describe us as 'a likeable bunch' too.

The Marketing Team at Farrer & Co is responsible for the development and implementation of the firm’s marketing strategy, including profile and reputation, marketing communications, and business development.  This also extends to all aspects of marketing planning, brand management, communications, events, CRM, business and market analysis, and business development, including pitches and tenders.

The role will provide business development support to two of the firm's core client & sector groups, Private Wealth and Businesses.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced business development executive to work with a firm that is growing and investing in its marketing and business development team. As you will be working within a small team, it is essential that you are able to perform as a team player but with the confidence to act under your own initiative. You will have the ability to take full ownership of BD support for several initiatives.

Private Wealth and Businesses

Private Wealth – we have a market-leading practice which services all the legal needs of individuals, families, trustee and family offices. Our clients operate in an increasingly complex environment. Regulation and reporting is on the rise, investment choices are broadening, while family life is impacted by social change. These developments play out against an increasingly international backdrop. Our role is to navigate this complexity on behalf of our clients. We have the ability and expertise to meet the legal needs of the most sophisticated of clients: from family governance to divorce, tax planning to trust disputes, immigration to property acquisition, philanthropy to reputation management.

Businesses - our focus is on private businesses, family businesses, entrepreneurs and private investors. We understand that successful businesses are run by dynamic and driven individuals and we make the effort to get to know both the individual and the business; the culture, the people and their plans for the future. We strongly believe that we can only provide maximum value to our clients if we have an up to date understanding of our clients' aims and objectives so that we can provide highly commercial advice which anticipates future issues and enables us to work together with our client to help their business succeed.

Planning & Budgets

• Working with the BDMs to support the development, implementation and monitoring of sector BD plans (across the following Private Wealth sectors – Trustees, Family Offices, Senior Executives and Landed Estates; and the following Business sectors – Family Businesses, Entrepreneurs & Investors).
• Monitoring and reporting on budgets in consultation with the BD & Marketing Assistant.

Research & Information Management

• Proactively provide market intelligence and client/prospect research.
• Review and analyse financial performance reports to support the monitoring of progress against plan.
• Monitoring competitor activity, keeping on top of industry trends through desk research and attendance of strategic industry events.

Tenders and capability statements

• Managing the tender process. This will include the full range of support from evaluating the opportunity, supporting the lead partner identify the pitch team, leading on the development of relevant tender documents/online portal response, coaching the team at the presentation stage and conducting an independent debrief.
• Working with Knowledge Management Lawyers and fee earners to ensure significant deals and case studies are being captured in the firm’s pitch database.
• Reporting on pitch statistics, including analysis of any key themes and example best practice approaches.

Events and seminars

• Working with the Senior Events Executive for the roll-out of flagship events/seminars to support the business plans.
• Responsible for planning, delivery and attendance of events for the relevant sector. This would include setting ROI objectives, conducting a post event analysis, creating the appropriate methods for capturing intel and BD opportunities.

Legal Directory & Award Submissions

• Managing directly the process for submissions to the legal directories – Chambers HNW, Chambers UK, Legal 500 – in consultation with the fee earners.
• Working with the Senior BDM to critique award submission requests and to support completion of entries for Private Wealth in consultation with the Marketing Communications team.

Thought leadership and new marketing campaigns

• Working with the partners to identify client issues for briefings/thought leadership.
• Working with the Marketing Communications team to manage the briefing/thought leadership process, including:
  • Identifying target audience;
  • Recommendations for appropriate format for distribution, including social media channels;
  • Ensuring BD opportunities are captured;
  • Reporting back on effectiveness of briefing/thought leadership; and
  • Identifying cross-selling opportunities.
• Identifying new marketing campaign opportunities, including testing market opportunity with appropriate external research and coaching on development of key messages and positioning.

Associate Networking

• Working directly with Associates to develop and implement a central networking programme within Private Wealth.

Profile raising

• Identifying speaker opportunities with key organisations/trade bodies.
• Assessing ROI for external speaking opportunities, including any negotiation on costs associated.
• Working with the Marketing team to identify good news stories for internal or external communication opportunities and promoting these across social media channels.
• Working with the Marketing team to monitor/review content on the firm’s website for Businesses and Private Wealth (at both a practice group and sector level).

• Critical thinking – ability to challenge and analyse.
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Highly organised and ability to work well under pressure.
• Team player.
• Outstanding command of written English and demonstrates attention to detail with a high level of accuracy.
• Excellent copywriting skills.
• Confident, with strong communication and collaborative skills.
• Strong IT skills with experience of CRM systems (preferably InterAction), Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

• Curious by nature and willingness to develop and continue to learn.
• Strong interpersonal skills including confidence, positivity, diplomacy and the ability to gain credibility and trusted advisor status quickly.
• Proactive and an ability to work autonomously with some supervision.

• Educated to degree level.
• CIM (or other equivalent) qualification (desirable).
• At least 2 years' experience in a business development executive (or equivalent) role within a professional services environment, preferably a law firm.

Our office hours are 9.30am to 5.30pm but it is essential that the applicant is committed, flexible and prepared to work beyond normal office hours when necessary and in response to the demands of the business.

Farrer & Co conducts a pre-employment screening which consists of a Criminal History Background and Credit Check for successful candidates.