Business Development Manager

Overview

Penningtons Manches Cooper is a leading UK and international law firm, recognised for combining legal expertise with a deep understanding of our clients’ commercial objectives. With over 400 specialist lawyers, we provide a full-service offering tailored to the needs of businesses and individuals, delivering high-quality, practical legal advice across a range of sectors.

Our Marketing and Business Development team plays a central role in driving the firm’s strategic growth ambitions. Comprising 28 dedicated professionals, the team has been recognised as a finalist for Best Business Support Team at the British Legal Awards in both 2024 and 2025, reflecting its impact in delivering commercially focused and innovative BD initiatives across the firm and a testament to its collaborative approach.

The role

We are seeking a Business Development Manager to join our Real Estate division. As one of the largest areas of the firm, the division comprises six teams and over 120 fee-earners, with ambitious growth plans. To support this next phase of growth, we are strengthening our BD capability by introducing an additional Business Development Manager to work alongside the existing BD Manager and BD Executive.

This is a pivotal role, designed to enhance the division’s ability to deliver high-quality, consistent and strategically aligned business development activity. You will take ownership of a defined group of Real Estate teams, ensuring they receive dedicated, proactive BD support, while working closely with colleagues to deliver a cohesive divisional approach.

This role will play a key part in further strengthening and evolving the division’s business development approach, supporting a more structured, insight-led and growth-focused model.

Responsibilities

Practice and Team BD Management

• Act as the primary BD contact for allocated Real Estate teams, ensuring consistent and high-quality support
• Work closely with partners and senior stakeholders to understand priorities, challenges and growth opportunities
• Support the development and delivery of team-level BD plans aligned to divisional strategy
• Provide practical, commercially focused advice to fee-earners on business development activity
• Contribute insight and intelligence to support strategic decision-making
• Help identify new market opportunities, client segments and growth areas

Delivery of BD Activity

• Manage day-to-day business development activity across assigned teams, ensuring delivery is proactive and well-coordinated
• Support and coordinate pitches, proposals and capability materials, ensuring high-quality and consistent outputs
• Oversee the development of credentials, presentations and marketing collateral aligned to client needs
• Lead on all profile-raising activity, including directories, awards, publications and thought leadership

Client and Referrer Development

• Support partners in identifying and developing key client and referrer relationships
• Contribute to client account planning and help drive follow-through on agreed actions
• Identify opportunities for cross-selling and collaboration across practice areas
• Help ensure consistent and structured support for priority relationships

Campaigns, Events and Market Activity

• Plan and deliver targeted BD campaigns aligned to sector and client priorities
• Support the delivery of client events, seminars and profile-raising initiatives
• Work with marketing specialists to ensure activity is integrated across channels
• Contribute to raising the profile and market position of the Real Estate division

Stakeholder Support

• Work with partners, lawyers and business services teams to gather information and support relationship activity
• Assist in coordinating internal client meetings and capturing actions
• Build strong working relationships across the firm while developing confidence engaging with senior stakeholders
• Provide responsive and high-quality support to the Client Relationship Manager and wider BD team

Events and Client Engagement

• Support the planning and delivery of client-facing events, roundtables and engagement initiatives
• Assist with invitations, logistics, materials and follow-up activity
• Help track attendance, feedback and outcomes from events
• Contribute to ensuring events align with client relationship objectives

Pipeline and Opportunity Management

• Monitor pipeline activity across teams, helping to identify and progress opportunities
• Support the development of a more structured and visible pipeline approach
• Provide reporting and insight on BD activity, opportunities and outcomes
• Help embed a more consistent approach to tracking and converting opportunities

Collaboration and Team Working

• Work closely with the existing BD Manager and BD Executive to ensure aligned and coordinated delivery

• Help balance workload across the team, reducing pressure points and increasing responsiveness
• Contribute to building a more sustainable and scalable BD model for the division
• Share knowledge, best practice and insight across the BD function

Essential & Desirable Criteria

What We’re Looking For

• At least 5 years' experience in a business development role within legal or professional services, ideally within the Real Estate Sector but not essential.
• Strong understanding of BD fundamentals, including pitching, client development, campaigns and events
• Confidence working with partners and senior stakeholders in a collegiate but commercially driven environment
• Excellent organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach and the ability to take ownership of workstreams
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Commercial awareness and an interest in the Real Estate sector
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team and contribute to a shared goal

What You’ll Gain

• The opportunity to play a key role in supporting the growth of one of the firm’s largest and most important divisions
• Significant exposure to partners and involvement in shaping BD activity across multiple teams
• Experience across the full spectrum of BD, from day-to-day delivery through to strategic initiatives
• The chance to develop sector expertise within a dynamic and high-performing Real Estate practice
• A collaborative and supportive BD team environment
• Clear opportunities for development and progression within the firm

Why Join Us Now

This is an exciting time to join the Real Estate division as we enter the next phase of our growth.

As one of the firm’s largest and most commercially significant divisions, Real Estate continues to evolve, with ambitious plans to further strengthen its market position, deepen client relationships and drive sustained revenue growth.

To support this, we are investing in our Business Development capability to create a more structured, scalable and proactive approach ensuring that each team is well supported and that our activity is aligned, consistent and impactful.

This role will play a key part in that journey, working alongside an experienced BD Manager and Executive to enhance delivery, embed best practice and support the division in achieving its full potential.

It is a unique opportunity to join a high-performing practice at a pivotal moment where you can take ownership, build strong relationships with partners and make a tangible contribution to the continued success of the division.

Working Arrangements

The firm operates a hybrid agile working policy, enabling employees to work from home (or another UK location) for up to 50% of their time.

If you are looking for a role where you can take ownership, work closely with senior stakeholders and play a meaningful part in driving growth, we would be delighted to hear from you.

At our firm, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a priority and at the heart of everything we do. We actively want to attract a diverse workforce and welcome applications from everyone, from all backgrounds. We are committed to promoting an inclusive culture where everyone can be their full selves and experience being seen and heard. You can find out more about our firm’s commitment, initiatives and Pennclusion committees here.

We ensure that there are equal opportunities and treatment for all job applicants and employees, at all stages of the recruitment process and employment, regardless of age, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and social background. We aim to provide adjustments for people who have a disability, long-term health condition (including mental health) or neurodiversity. If you would like to request an adjustment, please contact [email protected].