Hiring trends in professional services BD, Marketing &

As 2025 draws to a close, here at Ambition we’re reflecting on an extremely busy and successful year for Legal BD & Marketing recruitment.

From multiple senior leadership appointments throughout the year to a late surge in executive-level and specialist roles, the market has shown resilience and growth across all areas.

Looking ahead to 2026, we anticipate continued momentum and exciting opportunities for professionals at every level.

We’ve included below updates for each of our specialist recruitment areas along with a reminder of your key contacts across our team.

Legal BD&M - Senior Market

As we wrap up 2025, the senior end of the Legal BD & Marketing market remains busy and full of opportunity.

Ambition is moving into 2026 with two brand-new, exclusive BD Director roles at leading international law firms, a strong indicator of continued demand for strategic leadership in this space.

Beyond these headline roles, the senior market has offered a diverse mix of positions across BD, Marketing, and Communications, with a notable surge in Events-focused and pure marketing roles.

Client Development continues to be a key area of growth, alongside a wide range of BD opportunities across multiple practice groups.

Dispute Resolution and Transactional practices have dominated hiring activity, reflecting firms’ strategic priorities.

For professionals considering their next career move in 2026, now is an excellent time to explore options at Manager through to Director level.

If you’d like to discuss upcoming opportunities or gain insight into the senior end of the market, please reach out to Harriett Stevens, Claudine Cullen, or Christine Sas for a confidential conversation.

Legal BD&M - Non-Management

The non-management recruitment market has seen a noticeable uptick recently.

We’ve had a strong influx of roles at the executive level, offering a healthy mix of classic BD Executive positions alongside more specialist opportunities in marketing and pitch-focused roles.

Salary bands in the non-management market have risen significantly, with some Senior Executive and Senior Specialist roles now offering packages that rival those at Manager level.

If you’d like to discuss upcoming Assistant to Senior Executive level opportunities, please reach out to Charles Serna or Kunjal Rawal for a confidential conversation.

Legal BD&M - Contract Market

The contract market has picked up in the last quarter of 2025, particularly with BDM and Senior BDM roles on the Finance side.

These have largely been maternity covers requiring specialist knowledge in areas such as Restructuring, Structured Finance, Banking, and Financial Institutions.

There’s also been a small uplift in BD roles focused on Life Sciences, IP, Tech, and Government, coming from a cross-section of firms - US, global, as well as mid-tier and boutique firms.

Many of these roles have taken longer to fill than typical FTC positions, with clients being highly selective and preferring to restart searches rather than settle for less-preferred options. This has sometimes meant no handover period, so firms are keen to secure experienced candidates who can hit the ground running.

Having celebrated her 20th Ambition anniversary this year, Marguerite Clooney remains the go-to market leader for contract roles within Legal BD & Marketing. Please reach out to Marguerite if you are considering contract opportunities.

Practice & Consulting BD&M

November saw strong momentum across the wider professional services desk, with a noticeable increase in job flow compared to previous months.

A key trend has been the growing focus on digital marketing roles, as firms look to enhance visibility, build credibility, and drive growth in an increasingly competitive market.

We’ve also seen a rise in BD positions across the regions, with recent roles in Birmingham, Manchester, and Bristol, signalling continued investment outside London. All signs point to these trends gaining pace as we head into the new year.

Natalie Lawford is your key contact for BD & Marketing recruitment within Accountancy, Real Estate, and Consultancy firms. Please get in touch with Natalie if you would like to discuss opportunities within this space.

Europe

The European market has kept Ambition very busy throughout 2025.

We’ve successfully placed BD & Marketing professionals across France, Italy, and Germany, from Specialist through to Senior Manager level, with some of our leading global law firm clients.

We’re taking multiple processes into the new year, including a BD Manager and BD Specialist in Milan and a BD Specialist in Paris.

We’re already aware of new roles coming to market across Europe in 2026, so watch this space!

If you’re a BD & Marketing professional based in continental Europe and looking for new opportunities in 2026, please get in touch with Ben Webb, who will be happy to share market updates and discuss upcoming roles in your region.

A huge thank you to everyone in the BD & Marketing community who has partnered with us and trusted us over the years.

We’ve loved working with you and being part of your career journeys, and we can’t wait to catch up and support you again in 2026!