Senior Business Development Executive/Specialist – Paris Corporate

The Senior Business Development Executive/Specialist is responsible for supporting and driving business development, marketing, and client development strategies across key practice areas in the Paris office and the wider EMEA region.

This role works directly with partners and lawyers, particularly across Corporate, M&A, Private Equity, Debt Finance, as well as regional and global marketing teams. The specialist ensures the seamless execution of high-impact pitch proposals, legal directory submissions, market research, client relationship management (CRM), and targeted client events to raise the firm’s profile and maximize cross-selling opportunities in an international legal setting.

Permanent Contract – Full-time

Your Role

The primary responsibility of this role is to support business development and client development activities for a variety of practices across the Paris office, and wider EMEA region. The role reports to the Associate Director, Development Manager, based in Paris.

The Senior Business Development Executive/Specialist will:

• Produce compelling credentials and pitch documents, tailored to clients’ needs.
• Carry out research and analysis, including competitor analysis, on key clients, practices and sectors.
• Compile local and pan-European legal directory and award submissions.
• Liaise closely with partners within and across practices and facilitate communication and BD activities across groups.
• Identify and communicate new business opportunities.
• Support cross-selling initiatives.
• Support implementation of practice business plans.
• Support the firmwide client programs.
• Contribute to pan-European and global business development projects.
• Organize captivating client events.

Your practice support

• Principally support the Corporate department including M&A, Private Equity, Debt Finance, Africa, Tax and FIG practices.
• Support partners and lawyers in the various practice groups in executing their business and client development activities.
• Support the lawyers, the Associate Director and regional practice BD leads in implementing the practice business plans.
• Maintain key messages, marketing materials, standard slides, credentials and pitch materials for the relevant practices.
• Support analysis and tracking of key clients and target prospects.
• Support cross-selling efforts within and beyond Paris.
• Compile local and pan-European legal directory and award submissions.
• Support the organization of partner meetings, document actions and follow-up on actions agreed.
• Work with the global and regional Marketing and Communications team on profile raising and thought-leadership initiatives for key practices and industries.
• Support the preparation of internal practice group reporting (including business plan progress reports).

Pitch support

• Prepare compelling and high-impact credentials and pitches, appropriately tailored for individual clients.
• Work closely with the global proposals team on pitches for French clients to ensure messaging and tailoring aligns with local practices and capabilities.
• Produce, track and store standard content and materials for pitches.
• Ensure consistency of pitch material and seek continuous improvements in quality.
• Support the development of client presentations.

Client relationship management

• Keep partners informed of internal and external developments at key clients.
• Work with the Market & Competitive intelligence team to research clients, markets and sectors.
• Manage data held on key clients, especially in Microsoft Dynamics (CRM system).

Communication

• Work with the global and regional Marketing & Communications team on the promotion of thought leadership and press releases.
• Oversee contact lists and mailing lists for key clients and practices.

Events

• Work with the EMEA Events Specialist and local professional services colleagues to produce high-impact client events.

Your Profile

• You hold a University degree (ideally in law, economics or business studies).
• Minimum four years’ business development experience in an international law firm or professional services organization.
• Fluent in English.
• General knowledge of business and financial markets.
• High level of attention to detail.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Excellent analytical and research skills.
• Excellent relationship management skills.
• Team player.
• Ability to build credibility and trust with partners. Ability to effectively communicate, interact and build relationships at all levels of the firm.
• Excellent project management skills. Ability to manage multiple responsibilities amid competing priorities, tight deadlines, and changing business demands and opportunities.
• Organized and methodical. Able to take a structured approach to problem solving and decision making.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to work in a dynamic, multicultural environment with diverse personalities at all levels of the Firm.
• Professional ethic and manner. Demonstrating the ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Flexible and adaptable to work cross-functionally and across borders.
• Willingness to take personal responsibility.
• Show initiative and bring new ideas.

Are you looking to grow in an international environment where your business development expertise directly impacts the firm’s growth? Join us and play a key role in driving our business strategies forward. Please send your cover letter and CV to paradminrecruit@cgsh.com.