Finnegan
Business Development Manager
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About Us
Finnegan is more than just a law firm – we are a powerhouse of innovation and strategy growth. We pride ourselves on providing top-tier intellectual property services globally. Our success is rooted in our emphasis on relationships with our clients and each other. We care about every individual, and it is why many professionals have spent their entire careers at Finnegan.
Role Overview
The Business Development Manager serves as the primary on-the-ground CDMR lead for Europe, supporting the German, UK, and broader European markets. The role partners proactively with attorneys to identify and pursue growth opportunities, execute regional priorities, and provide responsive day-to-day marketing and business development support. As the only locally based CDMR colleague in Europe, the BD Manager must be equally comfortable advising office leadership, coordinating with centralized teams, and personally handling the practical execution and administration required to move initiatives forward.
Aligned with the Business and Client Development Team’s Market Growth function, the BD Manager translates European, office, and firmwide priorities into actionable business development strategies, with particular emphasis on market targeting, client and opportunity development, cross-selling, office growth, and coordinated go-to-market execution. The role advises German and UK office leadership and works closely with colleagues across the broader CDMR functions.
Responsibilities
European Market Growth & BD Planning
- Develop, implement, and monitor German and UK BD plans aligned with office priorities and the firm's broader European growth strategy, including client development, cross-selling, market visibility, and office growth
- Support Office Managing Partners with execution of agreed business development priorities and reporting to firm leadership
- Partner with Munich, London, and U.S. attorneys to identify priority clients, prospects, industries, and growth opportunities
- Serve as a proactive business development partner to European attorneys and IP professionals, helping identify priority clients, prospects, sectors, and growth opportunities while translating office, practice, and individual priorities into focused business development activities
- Partner with Client Experience colleagues and relationship attorneys to support priority European clients and client teams, including relationship planning, cross-selling initiatives, meeting preparation, and follow-up
- Partner with the Pitches & Pursuits team on European proposals, RFP responses, presentations, and other pursuits, contributing client and market intelligence, attorney coordination, European credentials, local market context, pricing support, and hands-on drafting, production, rehearsal, and follow-up assistance as needed
- Lead European cross-selling BD initiatives, including SEP, Automotive, Medical Devices, European BD collaboration efforts and the annual European Share Partners' meeting
- Monitor EPO opposition, UPC, and other relevant legal and market developments and work with attorneys to translate timely intelligence into business development opportunities
- Gather and act on attorney feedback to continuously improve business development support, resources, and processes across Europe
- Develop and deliver practical business development training, coaching, and resources tailored to European attorneys
- Contribute to selected firmwide practice, sector, or strategic growth initiatives based on business need, capacity, and alignment with European market priorities
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Market Visibility, Thought Leadership & Engagement
- Identify and promote attorney thought leadership opportunities, including speaking engagements, publications, legal directories, industry awards, and targeted campaigns that enhance attorney, office, and firm visibility
- Partner with Communications colleagues to activate public relations, social media, website, and profile-raising initiatives aligned with European growth priorities
- Collaborate with Events colleagues on the strategy, coordination, evaluation, and follow-up of European client programs, networking events, sponsorship activations, and office initiatives
- Build and maintain relationships with relevant European industry, legal, business, and professional organizations to support visibility, market awareness, relationship development, and opportunity generation
- Collaborate with Business Intelligence and Communications colleagues to coordinate European legal directory, award, and recognition submissions, including attorney outreach, matter collection, referee coordination, drafting support, review, deadlines, and follow-up
- Support development and maintenance of European website content, attorney profiles, office materials, and other marketing resources
- Maintain European marketing collateral, promotional materials, and related resources to support business development and brand-building efforts
Market Intelligence, CRM & Reporting
- Coordinate with Research to monitor competitor activity, client developments, legal developments, and market trends across Europe, and conduct research and analysis to support client targeting, opportunity development, industry positioning, and meeting preparation
- Monitor the progression of identified opportunities and coordinate next steps with attorneys and business development colleagues
- Promote consistent CRM usage among European attorneys and identify opportunities to improve data quality, reporting, and adoption
- Produce regular reporting on business development plan progress, opportunity pipeline, client engagement activity, event outcomes, and strategic insights for office and firm leadership
Local CDMR Operations & Team Collaboration
- Serve as the primary on-the-ground CDMR contact for the Munich and London offices, responding to local marketing and business development needs and coordinating with centralized teams as appropriate
- As needed, provide hands-on support for local BD activities, including meeting preparation, contact management, mailing lists, invitations, materials, scheduling, and follow-up tracking
- Coordinate local vendors, sponsorship documentation, subscriptions, invoices, promotional materials, and related administrative requirements in partnership with centralized CDMR teams and office operations
- Manage budgets for European marketing and business development activities, including tracking planned and committed expenditures
- Maintain accurate attorney, client, prospect, event, and business development information across relevant systems and resources
- Support attorney and lateral onboarding initiatives, including biographies, announcements, credentials, target contact plans, introductory activities, and integration efforts
- Collaborate across Market Growth, Client Experience, and Pitches & Pursuits functions to ensure alignment on targeting, opportunity development, and BD execution
- Coordinate with leadership and BD colleagues across offices on firmwide initiatives and cross-regional priorities
- Participate in regular department meetings and contribute to cross-office and cross-regional projects
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Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree level required; Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum 6 years of experience in legal marketing or business development, ideally in IP or corporate law services.
- Excellent written and verbal English communication skills required; professional proficiency in German strongly preferred
- Business acumen, confidence, and sound judgment to serve as a credible adviser and constructive thought partner to attorneys and office leadership.
- Ability to operate effectively at both strategic and tactical levels, balancing long-term planning with hands-on execution and day-to-day support
- Collaborative, service-oriented approach with the ability to build trusted relationships across offices, functions, and levels of the organization
- Comfortable with multiple reporting lines and responsibilities
- Proven success in strategic planning, event management, project leadership, and cross-functional collaboration at both local and firmwide levels.
- Strong organizational and project management skills with ability to synthesize data and succinctly convey facts and strategic implications.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; experience with proposal writing, marketing collateral development, and team mentoring.
- Proficiency in CRM systems, Microsoft Office Suite (including Copilot), virtual event platforms, video-conferencing technologies, and exposure or experience with SharePoint a plus.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
- Ability and willingness for regular business travel (Munich / London / Washington D.C.).
- Ability and willingness to adjust to different time zones and working patterns (i.e. meetings in US time zone)
- Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment while serving as the primary local CDMR resource within a broader global team
If you are a strategic thinker with a passion for promoting success, we would love to hear from you. The role is based in our Munich and/or London offices and requires a hybrid/onsite work schedule. A full range of medical, financial and/or other benefits dependent on the position will also be offered.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Finnegan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The firm is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment, as defined by applicable state and federal laws, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws. For candidates needing reasonable accommodations or assistance with the application process, please contact Human Resources at 202.216.5400.
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