Kilburn & Strode is one of Europe’s pre-eminent intellectual property firms. We act for UK, US and European clients at the forefront of their sectors on their most challenging, business‑critical IP matters – from EPO and Unified Patent Court proceedings to M&A due diligence, strategic portfolio management and high‑value prosecution. We have offices in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and the US
We are a certified B Corporation that looks forward, not back. We have a clear five‑year strategy and an ambition to be the market leader in premium IP work by 2030. Our values – be curious, think commercially, act collaboratively, take ownership, make a positive impact – are not a poster on a wall. They shape how we work and who we hire.
The Clients and Markets function
Our ambition for Clients and Markets is straightforward: to become the commercial engine of this firm’s growth. Not a support function. Not a planning exercise. A function that generates momentum, creates opportunities and helps the firm win the premium clients and work it deserves. We are not there yet – but that is precisely what makes this moment interesting.
To build towards that, we have made a board‑level appointment: a Director of Clients and Markets with a seat on the Governance Board and a direct reporting line to the Managing Partner. The function now has the standing, the access and the mandate to operate as a genuine strategic partner to the practice groups – not as a service team responding to requests.
We are professionalising and integrating the function from the ground up. The infrastructure, frameworks and ways of working are being designed now. The function covers both BD and marketing, and the two sides work closely together to deliver a coherent experience for partners, clients and contacts.
The role
This is the marketing execution engine of the Clients and Markets function. The Marketing Manager owns the firm’s campaigns, content and thought leadership programme, the events and conference calendar, and the directories and awards process. Critically, you hold the firm’s marcomms calendar – coordinating activity across practice groups, geographies and channels so the firm speaks with a consistent, joined‑up voice. You are the person who makes the firm’s marketing activity happen to a consistently high standard – on time, on brand and connected to commercial goals.
You will report to the Digital Marketing and Operations Lead and work closely with the BD side of the function, particularly the Senior BD Managers, to ensure marketing activity is joined up with BD planning and supports the firm’s client acquisition and retention goals.
Where the website project is still under way when you join, you will lead it – managing the agency relationship, coordinating internal stakeholders and driving content and copy. The firm’s Digital Marketing and Operations Lead provides technical and strategic marketing oversight; the creative and content direction is yours.
This role suits someone who is organised and delivery‑focused, has a strong editorial instinct, and understands how marketing activity connects to commercial outcomes in a professional services context. You do not need to be the most senior person in the room, but you do need to be the most prepared.
Responsibilities
Campaigns and thought leadership
* Own the firm’s thought leadership strategy and content calendar – identifying the topics, formats and audiences that will build the firm’s profile with the right people. Think beyond standalone insight pieces: the most impactful content connects across practice groups and sectors, resonates with all target audiences and creates the kind of flagship work that defines a firm’s reputation – the sort of ambitious, well‑researched programme that major professional services firms use to lead market conversations rather than follow them.
* Write, commission and edit content across formats: articles, opinion pieces, client briefings, social posts and event‑based content. You write some yourself; you shape and edit the rest.
* Work with partners and attorneys to develop ideas, extract insight and turn technical expertise into content that is genuinely useful to clients and targets – not just technically correct.
* Plan and execute integrated campaigns aligned to the firm’s strategic priorities: target work types, technology areas and geographies. Ensure campaigns are distributed through the right channels and tracked against clear objectives.
* Own the firm’s LinkedIn presence and other digital channels – managing scheduling, engagement and performance in close collaboration with the Digital Marketing and Operations Lead.
* Manage the editorial process: brief attorneys, chase copy, edit to standard, manage approvals and publish on time. Keep it fast and keep it high quality.
Directories and awards
* Own the directories programme across all three practice groups – Chambers, Legal 500, IAM Patent 1000, WTR 1000 and others as relevant. Manage the annual calendar, deadlines, submission drafting and internal coordination.
* Work closely with the Senior BD Managers on submission strategy, messaging and referee selection. You own the process and the drafting; they own the content direction and relationships.
* Brief attorneys on what strong submissions look like and what language resonates with researchers. Track citation language year on year and flag where descriptors are or are not moving in the right direction.
* Identify and manage a targeted awards programme – two to three submissions per year aligned to the firm’s strategic positioning.
* Track shortlists, wins and what drives them.
Events and conferences
* Own the firm’s events and conference calendar – both in‑person and virtual – in close collaboration with the Events Executive, ensuring it is strategically planned, commercially focused and reflects the firm’s target geographies and sectors.
* Lead on K&S‑hosted events: concept, invitations, content and on‑the‑day management. Quality over quantity – a small number of high‑quality, well‑targeted events is worth more than a busy calendar.
* Ensure consistent pre‑ and post‑event marketing activity: promotion through the right channels, follow‑up content and CRM updates.
Website
* Where the website project is still in progress on joining, lead it from a content and creative perspective – agency management, content migration, copywriting and stakeholder coordination. The Digital Marketing and Operations Lead provides technical oversight.
* Once the site is live, own the content management and ongoing optimisation – keeping pages current, publishing thought leadership and monitoring performance in partnership with the Digital Marketing and Operations Lead.
Team and operations
* Contribute to the team’s reporting framework – tracking content performance, directories progress, events outcomes and campaign results.
* Manage relevant supplier relationships and budgets with clear ROI discipline.
What we need
* Solid marketing experience within a professional services environment. You understand how marketing works in a partnership structure and how to get things done without formal authority.
* Strong editorial instinct and writing ability. You can produce clear, compelling content yourself and you can shape and improve the work of others. You know the difference between content that builds a firm’s profile and content that fills a page.
* Proven project management experience in a professional services environment. You are comfortable running multiple workstreams, managing internal and external stakeholders simultaneously and delivering to deadline without being chased.
* Campaign planning and execution skills. You have planned and delivered integrated marketing campaigns in a professional services environment and tracked their performance against objectives.
* Strong project management. You handle multiple workstreams simultaneously, hit deadlines and keep stakeholders informed without being chased.
* Comfortable working with data and digital channels. You do not need to be a technical specialist, but you understand analytics, social media performance and what the numbers mean.
* Comfortable setting and working to KPIs – both for your own output and for the campaigns and programmes you run.
* Good at working with senior professionals. You can manage upwards confidently, push back constructively and earn the trust of partners through reliability and quality.
* Experience managing or contributing to a website build or content migration project.
* Familiarity with the US professional services market and the publications and channels that reach US in‑house counsel.
* Experience working across multiple geographies – the firm operates in the UK, US, Germany and the Netherlands and markets to clients across all of these.
* Experience managing a legal directories programme – Chambers, Legal 500 or equivalent. Candidates without this will be expected to learn it quickly.
* Experience with awards submissions and trade press relationships.
Personal attributes
* Organised and delivery‑focused. You follow through, hit your deadlines and take pride in getting things out the door to a high standard.
* Editorial judgement. You know what good looks like and hold the line on quality.
* Collaborative and easy to work with. You build good relationships across a team and with partners, and you share information freely.
* Commercial. You think about what marketing activity is for, not just what it looks like.
* Positive and resilient. Professional services marketing involves a lot of stakeholder management and occasional last‑minute changes. You take it in your stride.
* Curious and proactive. You spot opportunities, suggest ideas and bring energy.
Kilburn & Strode is committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, gender, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age.
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