Senior Client and Business Development Manager

Overview

As Senior Business Development Manager you will lead strategic growth across the firm’s professional services and insurance practices, aligning BD activity with the firm’s commercial strategy. You’ll collaborate with senior lawyers and cross-functional teams to identify market opportunities, shape value propositions, and drive revenue through targeted campaigns and key account management. You’ll influence partners and coach junior staff, both in the UK and internationally, to deliver coordinated, high-impact growth initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and drive BD strategy for specific sectors
• Coach partners and senior associates on pitching, relationship management, and opportunity development
• Lead multidisciplinary teams in creating compelling pitch proposals, RFP responses and capability materials for insurer and professional services clients
• Collaborate with marketing to deliver targeted campaigns, thought leadership, events and digital content
• Identify and pursue cross-sector collaboration opportunities with risk, regulatory, disputes, corporate and employment teams
• Act as a visible client-facing representative in meetings, workshops, and relationship-building activities
• Facilitate client listening, feedback loops, and relationship mapping to enhance service delivery
• Collaborate with partners to deliver client development plans and monitor progress against revenue targets
• Use CRM systems and data insights to strengthen client engagement and pipeline visibility
• Provide strategic BD counsel to partners and drive accountability for BD activity
• Mentor junior BD team members and support budgets, KPIs and forecasting
• Manage a mixed-ability team and promote development and high performance
• Oversee contribution and delivery of high-quality service by the team
• Contribute to firm strategy via broader projects and leadership involvement
• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
• Holds a marketing qualification (desirable)

Key requirements

• Significant BD or client development experience in a law firm, professional services, or insurance environment
• Strong understanding of the insurance sector and its commercial drivers
• Proven track record in developing and executing strategic growth plans
• Excellent relationship management and experience with key accounts
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and work with partners
• Strong commercial acumen, analytical ability, and market awareness
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including pitches and thought leadership
• Ability to manage multiple projects under pressure with strong organisational skills
• Strong IT skills with CRM systems (preferably InterAction) and MS Office tools
• Excellent interpersonal skills, diplomacy, credibility and quick learning
• Experience coaching or managing junior team members
• Degree level education with 2:1 or above or equivalent experience
• Professional marketing qualification (CIM/CAM) desirable

• relationship management
• strategic thinking
• influencing and negotiation
• CRM systems (InterAction)
• Outlook
• Word

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