Fieldfisher is a leading European law firm with an ambitious growth agenda and a collaborative, entrepreneurial culture.
We are looking for a Business Development Manager to join our Brussels office and support the development of our local practices and sector priorities.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced BD professional who combines strong commercial instinct with excellent stakeholder management skills, and who is able to translate market opportunities into practical business development initiatives for the Brussels office.
The role is focused exclusively on business development and will work closely with the Brussels partners, the COO, and the wider international BD network across the firm. It requires a confident and credible professional who can operate autonomously, build momentum locally, and help drive a more structured and proactive business development culture within the office.
Key responsibilities
Business development strategy
- Support the definition and implementation of the business development priorities for Fieldfisher Brussels.
- Work with partners and office leadership on practice and sector BD plans aligned with the office’s strategic objectives.
- Help identify growth opportunities, client priorities and market positioning initiatives for the Brussels market.
- Drive execution of BD plans and ensure follow-up on agreed actions.
- Introduce structure, focus and accountability around BD activity and help embed effective BD routines and processes within the office.
Client development and targeting
- Support partners in identifying and developing key client relationships and target accounts.
- Prepare client and market research to identify opportunities for new work, cross-selling and relationship expansion.
- Contribute to client account planning and the development of compelling value propositions.
- Help strengthen relationships with referral sources, intermediaries and international colleagues across the Fieldfisher network.
- Support lawyers in building their market profile and strengthening their thought leadership in a way that aligns with the Firm and office’s strategic priorities.
BD initiatives and campaigns
- Proactively identify opportunities for profile-raising, client engagement and market visibility that support business development objectives.
- Develop and coordinate targeted BD initiatives, sector-driven actions and client-focused campaigns for the Brussels office.
- Track activity, opportunities and outcomes to assess impact and return on investment.
Pitches, credentials and submissions
- Lead and coordinate Brussels pitch opportunities, proposals and capability statements.
- Support partners in preparing tailored credentials and client-facing materials.
- Coordinate legal directory submissions, awards submissions and other profile-raising opportunities that directly support BD objectives.
Pipeline and opportunity management
- Maintain visibility over key BD opportunities and follow-up actions across the Brussels office.
- Support the use of CRM and other BD tools to improve opportunity tracking, relationship management and reporting.
- Ensure that relevant BD materials, matter highlights and credentials are kept up to date and easily accessible.
- Use dashboards, CRM data and reporting tools to turn pipeline visibility into clear, practical and commercially relevant recommendations.
Internal collaboration
- Act as a trusted BD partner to the Brussels partners and work collaboratively with colleagues across the international BD function.
- Encourage cross-practice and cross-office collaboration to maximise opportunities for Brussels within the wider Fieldfisher One Europe platform.
- Bring structure, momentum and accountability to BD discussions and actions.
Requirements
- Degree educated or equivalent professional experience.
- At least 5 years of experience in a business development role within a law firm
- Strong commercial awareness and understanding of business development in a partnership environment.
- Proven experience in working closely with senior stakeholders and advising on BD priorities.
- Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
- Ability to interpret data, pipeline information and market intelligence and translate them into actionable recommendations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; French and/or Dutch would be a strong advantage.
- Strong relationship-building skills and a collaborative, hands-on approach.
- Experience with CRM systems, pitches, client targeting and opportunity follow-up.
Benefits
What we offer
- A strategic and visible business development role within a leading international law firm.
- The opportunity to help shape the growth agenda of Fieldfisher Brussels and make a tangible impact.
- Close collaboration with partners, office leadership and the wider European BD network.
- A dynamic, international and entrepreneurial working environment.
- A high degree of autonomy and ownership in a senior local BD role.
- The opportunity to drive change, introduce structure and contribute to the continued development of the Brussels office.
- A competitive salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience.
- Opportunities for professional development and cross-office collaboration within the wider Fieldfisher platform.
