Dentons
Business Development Manager
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Department/Division: Clients & Markets
Duration: Permanent
Location: London
Reports to: Head of Business Development UKIME
Type of Role: Hybrid
Requisition no: 10340
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity to lead on Business Development for Dentons' Banking & Financial Services Division.
The Senior Business Development Manager will act as the strategic business adviser to the Division, shaping and delivering initiatives that improve Dentons' market position, deepen client relationships and support profitable growth. The role will manage and coordinate business development activity across the Division, ensuring a cohesive approach to client development, strategic pursuits, profile raising, market positioning and thought leadership.
Working alongside partners in the Division’s three practice areas—Banking, Capital Markets, and Restructuring—the selected candidate will spot growth opportunities, build integrated go-to-market campaigns, support key client initiatives, and encourage collaboration across the broader firm to increase cross-selling and improve client service. The Senior Business Development Manager will also be responsible for leading, mentoring and developing the Business Development professionals supporting the Division.
This is a high-profile leadership position that calls for sharp commercial judgment, skilled stakeholder management, and the ability to build trusted relationships with senior partners. The selected candidate will pair strategic thinking with direct execution to ensure commercial priorities turn into measurable business results.
Duties and Responsibilities
Business Planning
- Work with the Banking & Financial Services leadership team to develop and implement annual business development plans aligned to the firm's strategic priorities.
- Act as a trusted commercial adviser to partners on market positioning, client development and growth opportunities.
- Oversee the development and implementation of strategic initiatives across Banking, Capital Markets and Restructuring.
- Promote collaboration across practice groups, sectors and international offices to increase cross-selling opportunities.
- Oversee business development budgets, reporting and KPI tracking.
- Chair regular business development and go-to-market meetings, ensuring agreed actions are delivered.
- Develop the business cases for strategic investments and initiatives.
Winning Work
- Manage the strategy and delivery of significant client pursuits, panel appointments and strategic pitches.
- Manage the practice's opportunity pipeline, ensuring robust qualification, pursuit planning and effective conversion.
- Partner with the central Proposals team to deliver compelling, client-focused submissions and presentations.
- Collaborate with partners to develop effective plans for priority clients, target organizations, and major growth opportunities.
- Increase the value of panel appointments by coordinating follow-up business development and client engagement efforts.
- Improve continuous improvement in pursuit and proposal processes through feedback, lessons learned and the adoption of best practice.
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Client Development
- Manage the Banking & Financial Services practice's participation in the firm's Client Programme.
- Manage strategic account planning across key Banking & Financial Services clients.
- Identify opportunities to build client relationships through coordinated cross-practice initiatives.
- Support partners in developing client relationship plans and pursuit strategies.
- Engage with client listening and feedback programmes and ensure resulting actions are implemented.
- Monitor market developments and emerging client needs, advising partners on opportunities for growth.
Campaigns and Market Development
- Develop and deliver integrated marketing and business development campaigns that enhance Dentons' profile across Banking, Capital Markets and Restructuring.
- Work with partners to develop thought leadership programmes aligned to market trends and client priorities.
- Identify opportunities to leverage regulatory developments, market trends and industry issues to engage clients.
- Oversee the planning and delivery of flagship client events, roundtables, webinars and sponsorship activities.
- Work closely with Communications and Digital Marketing teams to increase campaign reach and impact.
Profile Raising
- Develop initiatives that raise the practice's external profile across target markets.
- Manage legal directory and awards strategy, ensuring consistent messaging and effective submissions.
- Support media opportunities, publications and speaking engagements.
- Ensure consistent messaging across marketing collateral, website content, credentials, proposals and social media.
- Monitor competitor activity and market positioning to inform strategic decisions.
Team Leadership
- Lead, coach and develop the Business Development professionals supporting the Banking & Financial Services practice.
- Create a collaborative, effective team culture.
- Allocate resources across Banking, Capital Markets and Restructuring to ensure priorities are effectively managed.
- Promote best practice, innovation and knowledge sharing across the Clients & Markets function.
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Best Practice
- Support the effective use of CRM, client intelligence and data analytics to support decision-making.
- Develop efficient business development processes and improve transparency for partners.
- Encourage adoption of firm systems and best practice across the practice.
- Identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of business development activity.
Required Experience, Skills and Attributes
- Significant senior Business Development experience within a legal or professional services environment.
- Experience partnering with senior stakeholders to develop and implement strategic business development plans.
- Demonstrable experience leading business development across complex practice groups or sectors.
- Solid people management and leadership experience.
- Experience managing strategic pitches and client development programmes.
- Demonstrated business acumen with knowledge of Banking and Financial Services markets.
- Effective project management and organizational abilities.
- Experience using CRM, client intelligence and data to support business development decision making.
- Experience managing multiple stakeholders within a matrix organisation.
- Experience guiding transformation efforts and working with senior leaders.
Personal Skills / Attributes
- Business-oriented mindset with an emphasis on delivering measurable outcomes.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate ideas into action.
- Skilled at building relationships and encouraging collaboration.
- Experienced working with senior partners and leadership teams.
- Effective leadership and coaching capability.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills.
- Well organized with a clear ability to set priorities.
- Collaborative approach and ability to build consensus across multiple stakeholders.
- Comfortable handling shifting priorities while maintaining steady performance.
- Demonstrates initiative, sound judgement and professionalism at all times.
- Committed to supporting the firm's values, diversity and inclusion principles.
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