Senior Business Development Manager

Clarke Willmott LLP.; Taunton; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in Taunton is seeking a Business Development Leader to drive client relationships and market presence. This role involves managing strategic initiatives, working collaboratively with key stakeholders, and fostering a culture of proactive business development. Ideal candidates will have a strong track record in business development within professional services and a deep understanding of the private client landscape. The firm offers a supportive environment that values individual differences and career growth.

Benefits

Comprehensive learning and development programme

Range of wellbeing initiatives

Flexible benefits

Qualifications

• Proven experience in business development within legal, professional services, or wealth management.
• Understanding of family, private wealth, lifetime planning, probate, and court of protection.
• Existing network with intermediaries is beneficial.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and strategic planning.
• Passion for building internal and external relationships.
• Ability to coach junior business development colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support business development activities to grow client relationships.
• Collaborate with managing partners and directors to deliver growth strategies.
• Build the brand in key markets through campaigns and thought leadership.
• Maximize internal collaboration across teams.
• Analyze client data to spot trends and opportunities.
• Support ad hoc business development activities and projects.
• Coach and develop your business development team.

Skills

Strong track record in business development

Deep understanding of the private client landscape

Experience with intermediaries

Influential leadership

Relationship-building

Mentorship abilities

Job description

Overview

The role involves leading and supporting business development activities to grow client relationships, increase market presence, and drive cross-team collaboration within Clarke Willmott’s Private Capital Division and broader firm.

Responsibilities

• Key Client Relationship Management & Growth
  • Support the fee earning client leads with their key client relationships, ensuring understanding of how they work.
  • Track, coordinate, and drive key client related initiatives across relevant teams.
  • Lead efforts to raise Clarke Willmott’s profile with key clients and identify cross-team growth opportunities.
  • Work with the team to identify new key client opportunities and support pursuit of these opportunities.
• Division BD Leadership
  • Collaborate with the Managing Partner of the Private Capital Division, the Director of BD&M, and key fee earners to deliver on the division’s growth strategy.
  • Drive and track intermediary and client-focused initiatives, including targeting, relationship management, and value-add activities.
  • Support fee earners within the division in articulating and delivering excellent client service.
  • Review and understand the needs of our clients to help improve client service, opportunity spotting and cross sell.
• Brand & Market Presence
  • Build Clarke Willmott’s private client brand in key markets through:
    • Thought leadership
    • Campaigns and PR
    • Award and directory submissions
    • Events, webinars and sponsorships
  • Ensure all initiatives are measurable and ROI-driven.
  • Identify market trends, competitor activities and potential opportunities for growth.
• Internal Collaboration & Process
  • Maximise internal cross-selling and collaboration across teams.
  • Establish efficient BD processes and reporting mechanisms.
  • Contribute to a culture of proactive business development across the division.
• Client Data
  • Review data provided by finance relating to billing, clients, referrers, new matters and new clients.
  • Analyse data and spotting trends, opportunities and challenges.
  • Help to drive forward firm wide changes in the effective recording and tracking of client data.
• BD Team
  • Support the Director of BD&M in other ad hoc BD related activities and projects as and when required.
  • Lead on some of the wider BD Team roles and responsibilities (e.g. firm wide event best practice owner).
  • Work closely with the other BDMs to ensure communication and collaboration across teams, sectors and divisions.
  • Drive best practice for our team through insights, ideas and proactively leading improvements.
• Line Management

  Coach and develop your team, giving them opportunities for development.

Qualifications

• Proven BD Experience: Strong track record in business development within legal, professional services, or wealth management sectors.
• Private Client Expertise: Deep understanding of the private client landscape - spanning family, private wealth, lifetime planning, probate, and court of protection.
• Intermediaries Experience: Experience and understanding of working with intermediaries, business relationships and end clients. An existing network in this space is beneficial.
• Strategic and Influential: A confident leader who can influence senior stakeholders and contribute to strategic planning.
• Relationship-Driven: Passionate about building and nurturing relationships - internally with partners and externally with clients where appropriate.
• Mentorship Oriented: Demonstrated ability to coach and develop junior BD colleagues.

About Us

Who we are

You’ll be joining a national law firm that enjoys a strong reputation, made possible by our exceptional people – each chosen for their industry knowledge and passion for their field. We want to help you to reach your full potential, love the work you do and deliver the best results for your clients. It’s our goal to make you feel great about working with us, and we work hard to cultivate a culture that makes it easy for you to stay with us for many years.

We work flexibly and you’ll be empowered to work where you do your best work, balancing your individual needs with the need for us to engage as teams and deliver excellent client service.

What we can offer you

A career at Clarke Willmott will feel different to other law firms. We thrive on our individual differences and diversity because as a team, we are united by our shared values and mutual respect. Working with us you will feel empowered, valued and free to be yourself in a safe and supportive environment.

Our mission is to help you realise your full potential whilst maintaining a positive work-life balance. We provide a comprehensive learning and development programme and a range of wellbeing initiatives to support your career journey.

There’s no doubt we expect the best from our people and even the occasional extra mile. In return, your dedication and commitment to the continued success of the firm will be rewarded with a comprehensive range of flexible benefits.