Business Development Manager/Senior Manager – Private Capital & Life Sciences

About this role

Overview of the firm and function Freshfields US LLP is a major international law firm, providing legal advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it matters most, wherever in the world that may be. We deliver seamless client service across borders, cultures, and languages.

Our people make our firm – we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams.

We think and work globally – we don’t just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work isn’t just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.

We aim to add value in everything we do – we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgments and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.

About Marketing & Business Development (MBD) MBD is a dynamic global team which includes business development professionals, research analysts, brand, marketing and communications experts. By working collaboratively, our team shapes the firm’s client strategy, completes analysis of complex business issues, targets opportunities, develops compelling proposals and creates content and marketing campaigns that lead our digital presence. Together, we define the client experience and shape the perception of Freshfields around the globe.

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables This is a varied role requiring excellent teamworking and communication skills as well as the ability to build strong, trusted relationships with senior internal stakeholders and client contacts, and to work collaboratively with brand, marketing, communications, research and business development professionals across our global firm.

We are seeking a Business Development Manager/Senior Manager to guide our strategic business development efforts from our new Boston office, focused on the Private Capital and Life Sciences sectors. Both Private Capital and Life Sciences are key sectors within Freshfields, lying at the very heart of our growth plans for the firm, underpinned by the opening of our Boston office in 2025. The successful candidate will work closely with our leading Private Capital and Life Sciences partners across the US to identify client issues, map out market trends and create an engaging program of client development activities to drive revenue in these practice areas on a global basis and with special focus on the Boston market.

This role will be part of the firm’s global MBD function and will report to the US Head of MBD, working as an integral member of the global sector MBD team.

With this context, the Business Development Manager/Senior Manager – Private Capital & Life Sciences will be responsible for working collaboratively with Boston‑based partners and key partners in other US offices, as well as with colleagues across the Global Marketing & Business Development team to:

1. Strategic Business Development & Planning • Lead and support the development and execution of a focused business development strategy for the Private Capital and Life Sciences sectors in Boston, aligned with the firm’s US and global priorities. • Work with Private Capital partners to identify the specific challenges and opportunities in the private equity, venture/growth, and broader private capital ecosystem, and translate these into concrete client development initiatives and revenue‑generation plans. • Work with Life Sciences partners across the firm to identify the specific challenges and opportunities in the life sciences, biotechnology, medtech and related venture/growth areas and translate these into concrete client development initiatives and revenue‑generation plans. • Actively contribute Boston and New England market intelligence and trends into the firm’s global MBD initiatives, ensuring local developments inform our broader sector strategy. • Support the creation and regular review of an annual BD and marketing plan (including targets, key accounts, campaigns, and events) with clear objectives, timelines and metrics for success.

2. Client Development, Targeting & Pipeline Management • Work with partners to develop, implement and track client targeting initiatives, including key account plans for priority clients, funds, and sponsors in the Boston market and beyond. • Use CRM and marketing technology tools to track key relationships, monitor pipeline activity, and generate actionable insights that support strategic business opportunities and cross‑selling across practice groups and geographies. • Map relationships across target organizations and the broader market, identifying decision makers, influencers, and alumni connections to support partner outreach and relationship‑building. • Support partners in preparing for client meetings (briefing notes, talking points, follow‑up actions) and ensure systematic follow‑up, including entry of activities and opportunities into the firm’s CRM.

3. Pitching, Proposals & Panel Submissions • Lead the development of compelling credentials, capability statements, proposals, and pitches to respond to fast‑turnaround opportunities, strategic panel appointments, and RFPs in the Private Capital and Life Sciences spaces. • Work closely with partners, lawyers, pricing, and other business services teams to tailor messaging, differentiate the firm’s value proposition, and ensure client‑centric, outcome‑focused materials. • Maintain and co

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