Business Development Manager

Watson Farley & Williams is an international law firm advising on complex disputes and transactions through local knowledge and an integrated international network.  We have a strong sector focus, combining our technical excellence with deep industry knowledge across Energy, Transport and associated Infrastructure.

The firm has achieved rapid expansion and year-on-year growth owed almost entirely to a focused strategy, strong leadership and the quality of its people.  The next stage in the firm’s growth plan is to achieve full-service strength within core sectors across the global platform.

We strive for excellence in all that we do and view investment in our people as key to achieving our business goals and values, which rest on developing deep and long-lasting relationships externally and internally through respect, sharing, communication and integrity.

Our global practice is integrated across our offices in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and North America delivering consistently high levels of service across borders and locally through a deep understanding of local business customs and culture.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace to attract and retain the most talented people from all backgrounds and cultures.  We believe in celebrating difference and that people from any background can rise to the top, ensuring opportunities to develop and progress are available for all.

The Global Business Development and Communications team comprises 60 business development, communications and marketing professionals globally.  As our route to market is through our global sectors and our clients are international, team members regularly collaborate to deliver cross-border campaigns, projects and client development.  It is a close-knit and supportive team with an excellent reputation across the firm.

Working in partnership with key stakeholders in Dubai and across the wider firm, this role requires a self-motivated person who can provide both strategic and operational support to our lawyers in the management and growth of existing client relationships and the development of new business.  Working with our Dubai Office Head and supporting our Energy and Transport sectors, this role will be instrumental in driving the growth of the Dubai office and our broader Middle East practice.

This role has line management and career development responsibility for our Dubai Senior BD Executive.

Partnering with our Dubai Office Head and working proactively with partners and lawyers based in Dubai, your role will include:

• Implementing and delivering the office’s business development and marketing plan, providing advice to ensure the effective implementation of key initiatives.
• Contributing to the development of long-term profitable relationships by supporting partners in the management of five key regional clients including identifying opportunities to grow the relationship, participating in client reviews and post-transaction feedback and providing strategic advice and recommendations to partners based on client feedback.
• Project managing pitch opportunities in sector, including preparation of pitch documentation, coaching teams ahead of presentations and securing client feedback to assess quality and value.
• Coaching and advising partners and lawyers in relation to wider client opportunities, including evaluating opportunities and creating bespoke marketing materials.
• Identifying and executing profile raising activities and initiatives to develop market position aligned to the firm’s strategy through appropriate digital channels, events and conferences, strategic directories, league tables and awards.
• Staying well-informed and engaged on the latest industry developments and market trends, providing business intelligence on key competitors and interpreting how to best translate those into opportunities for the team.
• Liaising and working with other members of the Global BD & Communications team and other Business Functions to improve the co-ordination and delivery of initiatives across the firm, adding value to the business as well as our clients.
• Developing and managing the local business development and marketing budget ensuring spend is aligned to strategy and delivers a return on investment.

• Championing and implementing firmwide projects and systems as appropriate.
• Developing and managing the Dubai Senior Business Development Executive.
• Serving as a mentor, sounding board and role model for junior members of the team and contributing to overall team planning, development and culture.

Between five and ten years' business development and marketing experience within a law firm, including experience of winning, growing and embedding client relationships.

• A self-starter: someone who is hard working and ambitious with a strong interest in, and knowledge of the Energy and Transport sectors.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively with, and influence, key stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to write and present accurately, concisely and persuasively.
• Experience in managing multiple projects running in parallel with tight deadlines.
• A team player who is confident sharing information across a broader team.
• Understands and demonstrates WFW's core values of respect, sharing, communication and integrity.
• Plays a full part in making WFW a firm they would recommend to others to work in, respecting diversity and acting fairly and inclusively.

We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.

The Firm promotes a culture of agility and flexibility and is fully supportive of flexible working arrangements where these can be accommodated.

Respect for different backgrounds and perspectives is at the heart of our firm’s core values and we recognise the importance of fostering an inclusive environment that allows everyone to reach their full potential. This is a key feature of our Global Code of Conduct, which places diversity and inclusion at the centre of our firm’s ways of working.

We believe that exceptional client service can only be delivered by exceptional people. For this reason, we aim to attract, retain and develop the best talent from a wide range of backgrounds. All decisions relating to employment will be objective and based on merit and ability.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are as inclusive and barrier-free as possible. This includes making adjustments for candidates with a disability or long-term health condition.  If you require adjustments to be made at any stage of the recruitment process, we’d encourage you to get in touch with a member of our team who would be happy to discuss options with you.