International Business Development Executive

Help shape the future of intellectual property

Help shape the future of intellectual property (IP). Marks & Clerk is a leading global intellectual property firm with a rich history dating back to 1887. With approximately 300 patent, trade mark and legal attorneys worldwide, the firm has established a strong presence across key international markets. Our offices span Asia (Hong  Kong,  Beijing, Singapore,  Malaysia),  Europe  (UK,  Luxembourg)  and  North  America (Ottawa  and Toronto) providing comprehensive IP services to clients around the globe.

Marks  &  Clerk  is  a  long-established  innovative  Intellectual  Property  firm,  providing a stimulating  and collaborative environment for marketing and business development professionals.  As a premier intellectual property practice, Marks & Clerk specialises in patent and trade mark prosecution, IP litigation, and strategic IP counselling. Our team of highly skilled attorneys offers expertise in various technical fields, assisting clients in protecting their innovations, brands, and designs. We serve a diverse clientele ranging from innovative start-ups to multinational corporations across industries such as pharmaceuticals, technology, consumer goods, and manufacturing. 

Role purpose

Working closely with the International Marketing and Business Development Lead, the International Business Development Executive (IBDE) will support the planning, development, and implementation of the firm’s international business development strategy, in line with the firm’s global strategic objectives. The IBDE will collaborate with local marketing and business development (MBD) teams, and partners, to establish and implement MBD plans in each jurisdiction. The IBDE will also support the development of MBD structures that provide a collaborative and international approach to winning new clients and business.

Principal responsibilities

Annual MBD planning

• Work with the International and local MBD Teams to assist each jurisdiction to complete an annual MBD plan with objectives. The IBDE will also support specific offices on the implementation of the plan, as required and in co-ordination with local MBD support.

Client development

• Support the new business generation team – once the business generation team is established, support their mandate to win new business across the globe.
• Support international client teams – support client teams for a select group of clients ensuring that they have a structured approach to client engagement and client listening together with agreed goals and targets.
• Support the international attorney firm programme – support how we look after and manage our attorney firm relationships and how we promote our network of preferred international attorney firms to clients.
• Client care –promote M&C’s prescribed client care principles to maintain and enhance the firm’s international reputation for client satisfaction. 

Territory / practice / sector groups 

• Support territory groups -– assist the key international territory groups to raise the firm’s profile and to identify and pursue potential new direct and agency clients.  
• Support international practice and sector groups – work with cross-border teams to raise the firm’s profile in selected practices and sectors and to win new business.
• Strengthen the firm’s relationships – support and promote engagement with the firm’s relationship tracking software platform and related tools that allow firm members to win more work by leveraging existing relationships, cross-selling and nurturing new relationships.
• Develop and update shared collateral / selling tools – support and update the international MBD toolkit (which includes documents such as hot topics in IP presentations, quarterly sales messages, etc.). Where local toolkit materials are of benefit to the wider firm, ensure they are made available to all offices and promoted internationally to encourage their usage.

Event / visit co-ordination

• Improved conference co-ordination – keep an updated list of key flagship global IP conferences that the firm should be attending. Ensure international IP conferences, sponsorships and associated client meetings are co-ordinated across the international offices.
• Improved international travel co-ordination – support in the internal communication of international travel including a central calendar showing upcoming trips and visits. 

Content and campaigns

• Local content, comms and campaigns – work with the international comms team, and local MBD teams, to keep stakeholders updated on evolving BD strategies so as to inform and drive M&C’s international comms, content and campaign approach in each jurisdiction.
• Identify local organisations that M&C can become a member of to help raise the firm’s profile and provide networking/BD opportunities 

In addition to above, activities may include:

• Providing high quality market research and analysis to support business planning and client targeting.
• Supporting and coordinating the planning and review process for overseas trip proposals.
• Producing regular progress reports to highlight the main activities and accomplishments of the territory/practice/sector groups.
• Identifying possible conferences, sponsorships and partnering opportunities to enhance brand recognition and improve the firm’s chances of winning new work across territories.
• Providing a lead role in the organisation of key overseas events.
• Maintaining oversight of international business development-related trips to identify and maximise synergies.

Technical knowledge, professional qualifications and experience

What the ideal candidate looks like:

• Degree qualified – a professional marketing qualification would be advantageous.
• Minimum of three years’ experience in a business development or marketing role, ideally within professional services.
• Understanding of intellectual property and/or professional services sectors – preferable.
• Good level of IT skills (MS Excel, Power Point, Word, Canva and the ability to pick up in-house systems quickly).
• International business development experience – preferable.
• Self-starter with demonstrable success in supporting new BD initiatives.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrates a high level of confidentiality, discretion and diplomacy.

In addition, the successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Strong stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work across cultures and time zones.
• Good analytical skills, with the ability to translate analysis into creative but pragmatic BD actions.
• Strong organisational skills, and an ability to manage a busy and varied workload, to prioritise tasks and to meet deadlines.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective working relationships at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Determination and commitment to ensure successful completion of projects. 
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Lateral thinking and the ability to overcome challenges.
• A collaborative attitude as a supportive team player.