Marketing/BD Specialists Consider a career in law-it s got it all. cartermurray.com. London Dubai

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1 Marketing/BD Specialists Consider a career in law-it s got it all Dubai

2 Move into law - it s got it all The law is a powerful, commercial and expanding sector which offers exciting opportunities for marketing specialists in and overseas. Carter Murray (with specialists based in and Dubai), has been recruiting in this space for more than ten years and is perfectly placed to help you explore your career options should you decide to look at law as your next move. To help you get a better understanding of what law firms are like to work for, we have asked some of our most recent recruits to share their experiences with you. From engineering consultancy to legal: Business development Business development professional Top 50 law firm Since joining a professional services firm from an engineering consultancy six months ago, the type of work I do and environment I work in has shifted considerably. Now in an in-house advisory role I value, more than ever, the experience I gained outside professional services when I was required to develop my own client relationships to bring business to the firm. In the law firm that I now work for it is the BD team s role, as an internal consultancy, to provide practical advice to fee earners on how to market themselves and their practice areas. It seemed strange to me initially that business development and marketing professionals are in a position to advise highly experienced lawyers in this arena but six months in, it is clear to me that the BD team brings lawyers and their practices a unique skill set encompassing creativity, client insight and sector knowledge. Having been in the shoes of the lawyers I now advise, I identify easily with both the thrill of the chase and the longer term challenges that are associated with business development campaigns. I ve also discovered that moving into professional services is no picnic! It is crucial to secure the trust of senior level fee-earners so that they become confident that the advice given to them will ultimately help them generate revenue. This doesn t happen overnight but I am a firm believer that any experience gained from working on the client side within a lawyer s industry of choice is particularly valuable when offering sector specific advice. I am confident that the firm will reward success and push me to develop my skill set and my career. When I joined my current firm, the shift in my day-to-day work was accompanied by a more competitive, ambitious working environment. Everyone I work with is driven to succeed; a city law firm is not for underachievers. This culture is both motivating and stressful at times but in a team of eleven I m well supported. I have been given responsibility early on, which has allowed me to carve out a reputation for myself. When mistakes are made clear feedback is given which helps me to position myself as an asset to the business development function. I am confident that the firm will reward success and push me to develop my skill set and my career.

3 From financial services to legal: Marketing & business development Isla MacLaren Dundas & Wilson When considering the next career move, we all have our own set of criteria to follow, whether it be professional challenge, financial benefits, location or culture. For me, it was a change of industry, a move into an area where my marketing skills and experience could be transferred relatively readily and quickly be put to good use. Working in financial services marketing for years and needing a change, the opportunity to work in professional services, in particular legal services, was one that I couldn t let pass me by. Did I think I d be working in an Ally McBeal style office with communal loos and karaoke at the end of the evening.or the more traditional Rumpole of the Bailey culture? A combination of the two perhaps?! What I wanted was the opportunity to work with an established and respected, focused yet forward thinking firm where there is opportunity to contribute, influence and develop. More and more law firms are recognising the need for strong business development and marketing strategies and the individuals to deliver this. Dundas & Wilson was the firm that offered that opportunity and shows their desire and ability to lead the way in 21st century commercial law. To me, the reputation of Dundas & Wilson showed the strength and respect gained by the firm throughout the UK. The extent of sector and market area services and expertise, values, brand, directory ratings and culture all increased the appeal of working in legal services and in particular with Dundas & Wilson. Legal services can provide a marketing and business development professional a variety of opportunities, from focused business development with established and potential clients to the full range of marketing communications, brand, web & social media development and event management. It can prove to be fast paced, challenging, rewarding and, at times, highly entertaining. If you are considering your next career move, even with limited or no legal services experience, it is very possible to move into this industry. If you are a strong marketer and business developer who thrives on challenge and innovation, can identify potential and is dedicated to progress - consider legal services. It can prove to be fast paced, challenging, rewarding and, at times, highly entertaining.. karaoke or wigs being optional!

4 From sales to legal: Events & sponsorship Lydia Parsons Ashurst Dubai I joined Ashurst around 6 months ago and am very happy to say I m enjoying it immensely. Having been working in an administrative role which covered a broad and often random range of duties I moved into professional services marketing seeking to develop a useful and coherent skill set and to establish myself on a career path. I discovered very quickly that working in marketing within a leading law firm would help me to achieve these goals. The Business Development function is taken seriously by the partners. Here at Ashurst the business development function is taken seriously by the partners who we work with very closely, helping them promote and maintain new and existing client relationships and bring in new and repeat business. My role as a BD Assistant exposes me to many areas within marketing. I have learned the value of a well planned and properly directed event and how much clients appreciate the effort you go to. Working with publications I have also learned the importance of attention to detail and how presentation of information is a powerful tool in conveying the right message to your audience. Perhaps my favourite part of the job is in helping to put together pitch documents in response to the Requests for Proposal we receive from potential clients. This is where the BD team can really add value and can help the partners to produce a concise and compelling response which actively contributes to the winning of new business. As I had not worked in a law firm environment before there is still a lot which I must learn but I am grateful every day for the support I receive. This continuing support comes not only from my colleagues in the BD team but also from the lawyers, secretaries and partners who are all more than happy to take time to explain things to me. The atmosphere in the office is professional yet friendly and everyone understands the importance of teamwork and sharing information. The workload can be heavy at times but it is always varied, presenting different challenges every day so the time flies by. What I like most about our work is that you can see results - a successful event, a series of glossy publications and a pitch document which wins the pitch. These results coupled with the skills I am learning and the opportunity to progress make for a very happy employee and I look forward to the personal achievements I am confident I will make within Ashurst.

5 From property development to legal: Marketing Lucy Wilson Steptoe & Johnson For the past six months I have worked as a Marketing Executive for the office of an American law firm, a job that Carter Murray found for me within a month of registering with them. Prior to this I worked in a similar role for a national property development company. I decided to make a career change into the world of legal marketing because of the vast opportunities and prospects it offered to a recent graduate like myself (June 2009). The experience I had already gained in professional services created the perfect foundations and understanding of the corporate world and made it an easy transition into a law firm whilst giving me an opportunity to learn new skills in a challenging environment. The projects I work on range from events including seminars and conferences, press relations, website design, copywriting, preparing high profile tenders, spotting and initiating new marketing opportunities and co-ordinating efforts between our different offices....work hard, play hard ethos where staff are rewarded for their efforts. Coming from a property background in the current economic climate, the security of working for an international law firm is a huge draw from a place where redundancies and administration were common talk. My experience of a law firm so far has truly demonstrated a work hard, play hard ethos where staff are rewarded for their efforts. In addition I have been provided with several staff benefits such as private healthcare, a generous contribution towards my pension, season ticket loan, a yearly allowance towards gym memberships and sports equipment as well as opportunities to further my career with additional training and courses. I see my employment at the firm as a long term career path with a lot of potential for new responsibilities and progression in the industry of legal marketing. I have learnt so much already and had an insight into the interesting and complex world of law and am really looking forward to my future here at Steptoe & Johnson.

6 From theatre to legal: Events & sponsorship Amanda Goodworth Taylor Wessing I have been in my role as Events & Sponsorship Executive at Taylor Wessing for one year. Previously, I spent over two years running events in a popular theatre. When I left the theatre, I knew I wanted to make the switch to corporate in-house events, and the legal profession stood out as the best option. I had hosted a number of events for law firms and had got to know something about what they wanted and expected from events, so felt I was ready to transfer my skills to the other side. One of the key strengths apparent in a good event planner is organisation, and I have been particularly impressed by the organised, systematic and structured approach to events at Taylor Wessing. I organise a wide variety of events: breakfast briefings, seminars, dinners, receptions, corporate hospitality, large overseas conferences and webinars. The seminar/webinar topics we cover are current and interesting, and the clients we host come from a wide spectrum of global and well-known brand names. Having previously worked within a small team, I was excited to join the large and integrated marketing and business development team at Taylor Wessing. It is clear that in an increasingly competitive legal market, events and other marketing practices are seen as vital tools for promoting lawyers expertise. I enjoy this challenge as we are constantly striving to keep up-to-date with current and forward thinking event practices including webinars, social media, conference technology and unique venues and catering concepts. I have never questioned my move to in-house legal events. One of the best aspects of my job is the buzz of completing a successful event, especially after the thorough, detailed planning that is common amongst lawyers. The follow-up is also key; we are keen to gain feedback on all aspects of our events, as everything is integral to the clients perception of our firm. This meticulous attention to detail is often a cause of pre-event anxiety but it s ultimately what makes my job so rewarding and why I have never questioned my move to in-house legal events.

7 Areas in demand It s all about quality. If you have a strong background in any area of marketing, from business development through to database, there may well be opportunities open to you. Although and Dubai are the main markets, we are also seeing an increase in the need for high quality candidates overseas, in particular in Hong Kong and Singapore. The long term future Law is an area of constant change and of superb opportunity. Mergers are common and law firms are becoming increasingly international. If you are looking for an exciting sector where strong marketing skills are appreciated and highly sought after, then consider a career in law...it s got it all. Typical base salaries - /Dubai* Job title Salary range Assistant 23k - 28k Executive 28k - 38k Senior Executive 38k - 45k Manager 45k - 80k Senior Manager 65k - 125k Heads of/director 90k - 200k+ * In Dubai there is no tax

8 Nick Root Partner Carter Murray is a niche recruitment consultancy specialising in the placement of marketing experts into professional and financial services organisations. For more information on a career in legal please contact one of our specialists: Nick Root For Heads of/director level nickroot@ Phil Quellyn-Roberts For all other levels pqr@ Dubai Abbie Gibson For all roles in the Middle East abbiegibson@catermurray.com 95 Queen Victoria Street EC4V 4HN T: +44 (0) Dubai Suite 614, Liberty House DIFC PO Box T: Carter Murray is a member of The SR Group