BD Manager - M&A

We have an exciting opportunity for a Business Development Manager - M&A to join our Marketing team, based in A&O Shearman’s London Office.

You will provide strategic and day-to-day business development support across a varied portfolio spanning FIG, insurance and Energy & Infrastructure M&A as well as Sports sector coverage. You will convert practice and sector priorities into focused, practical plans and deliver them in an efficient, disciplined and collaborative way. The role combines opportunity-led support, including pitches, credentials and client targeting, with longer-term responsibility for market profile, campaigns, events, directories and priority client relationships.

This role will be supported by our corporate Core Pitch Team and Marketing Solutions Team, based in Belfast. You will coordinate with these central teams and leverage their ability to assist with junior tasks and pitches to enhance your ability to act strategically.

You will also coordinate relationship activity for selected priority clients, working across practices, offices and central teams to provide joined-up support and maintain momentum against agreed actions.

Strategic planning and execution

Client development

AI and technology

Pursuit excellence

Market profile, content and campaigns

Practice and sector portfolio

Collaboration, integration and change

Team leadership and development

• Translate business plans into focused BD activity across relevant practices, sectors and clients.
• Develop and maintain BD plans with partners and wider teams.
• Manage budgets and track spend and ROI.
• Support planning discussions, maintaining clear priorities and actions.
• Use CRM, pipeline and market insights to inform BD activity and reporting.
• Coordinate relationship activity for priority clients across offices and practices.
• Develop client plans, contact maps and reporting, maintaining accurate CRM data.
• Coordinate client meetings, briefings and events, ensuring effective follow-up.
• Support client listening, research and relationship development initiatives.
• Respond to client and partner requests while progressing agreed priorities.
• Use approved AI tools in line with firm policy.
• Complete required AI training and develop practical AI capabilities.
• Apply AI effectively to improve individual and team outputs.
• Coordinate proposals, capability statements and credentials across priority practices, sectors and clients.
• Work with BD, pricing and legal teams to deliver compelling, client-focused submissions.
• Tailor credentials and materials to individual opportunities.
• Maintain accurate pipeline data and support pitch processes and debriefs.
• Develop reusable content to improve pitch quality and efficiency.
• Deliver profile-raising activity and campaigns aligned to agreed strategy.
• Manage directories, awards submissions and relevant content.
• Coordinate events, memberships, sponsorships and hospitality opportunities.
• Maintain high-quality website, marketing and client-facing content.
• Ensure consistent, evidence-based external messaging.
• Support FIG and Energy & Infrastructure M&A BD activity, including pitches, credentials and practice development.
• Coordinate BD activity across the Sports team and wider global network.
• Support cross-practice and cross-border opportunities.
• Contribute to wider strategic BD initiatives.
• Collaborate across regions, practices, sectors and central teams.
• Build strong relationships with lawyers and specialist colleagues.
• Promote consistent use of firm systems, templates and processes.
• Support change initiatives and identify practical improvements.
• Support resourcing across competing priorities and time zones.
• Share best practice and contribute to team resources and onboarding.
• Take ownership of professional development and relevant training.
• Seek regular feedback to support continuous development.

Our approach to hybrid working seeks to combine and maximise the benefits of effective remote working with the benefits of being in the office.  Our current hybrid working arrangements require office based working for a minimum of 60% of your time (i.e. three days per week for a full time role) in accordance with our hybrid working policy.

• Proven business development experience within professional services.
• Strong commercial curiosity, with the ability to translate market and client insights into effective BD activity.
• Strong project management and stakeholder management skills, with clear and persuasive written communication.
• Confidence working with data, research, CRM systems such as Dynamics, and experience and pipeline systems.
• Excellent organisation, attention to detail and follow-through, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Strong client focus and the ability to work effectively with busy stakeholders and demanding deadlines.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience working across regions and time zones is advantageous.
• Flexibility to travel occasionally as required.

What we can offer you
To learn more about the culture and benefits available at A&O Shearman, please visit: Culture and benefits | A&O Shearman careers

A&O Shearman is a global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in nearly 30 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world’s leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to an inclusive environment, and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.