James Martin

James Christopher Martin LLB (Hons), MBA www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmartinseventysix M: - / - E:-Management. Strategy. Operations. Projects. Administration. Marcomms. Client Development. PROFILE SUMMARY Versatile, senior generalist business professional with 25 years' experience for world class global firms. Advises and assists leaders and leadership teams in implementing strategy, growing client base, change and transformation, and optimising operational and financial performance while also personally enabling revenue growth as a proven Client Director. Leads and manages teams and individuals, setting high standards while supporting and empowering through servant leadership and empathy. Works cross-functionally within complex, demanding, fast-moving, high-pressure and confidential environments. Often operates with an international remit, forming successful teams across geographies, possesses linguistic and cultural understanding (native English, advanced Spanish, intermediate French). A sophisticated verbal and written communicator, drafter, editor and reviewer. AREAS OF EXPERTISE Business Operations, Technology / Data, Special Projects Saved many hundreds of hours of leader/Partner time on management, operations and administration. Led on BAU operational rhythm and cadence including day-to-day process and project management e.g. internal presentations/communications/updates, recurring leadership and senior level meetings, agreeing and executing management actions and tasks, internal discussion groups, information cascading etc. Devised and implemented new and enhanced operational processes and collaboration spanning: onboarding and integrating new joiners, time entry, invoicing, client and matter opening, calls and emails, internal reports as well as data- and system-related tasks. Managed projects of all shapes and sizes, from “sprints” of a few weeks to complex multi-year schemes. Facilitated and undertook the analysis of financial performance monitoring, reporting and management. Reduced profit leakage through improved data analysis, financial reporting and disciplines (e.g. time recording, write-offs). Wrote various strategic and operational narratives e.g. annual report; business plans; executive reports/packs; financial and commercial presentations; business cases/bundles for senior recruitment, promotions and exits. Led the paperwork and process for confidential and/or strategically critical projects (e.g. senior hires, promotions, progressions and exits; research new services and delivery models; building or office moves). Acted as interface between client- and internal-facing teams e.g. HR, business development, L&D, PR and communications, internal accounting, IT, legal operations/transformation, DEI and internal operations. Escalated and advised on internal IT performance issues, liaising with executive leaders and resulting in firm-wide fixes and upgrades which also enhanced client experience, work product quality as well as colleague wellbeing and efficiency. Designing and implementing a new structure and workflow system for an Executive Assistant team. Business Strategy, Change Management Design, socialisation, drafting, launch and implementation of strategies liaising with senior leaders, coordinating the project team, securing internal engagement, setting OKRs and executing relevant activities. Led a strategic pillar and working group on digital and legal transformation which identified, explored and adopted several pieces of technology enhancing work effectiveness while saving many hours of time. Devised and led the set-up of a new cross-EMEA leadership team for Herbert Smith Freehills’ Finance Law practice, developing their strategic framework and driving actions which improved regional expansion and collaboration. Responsible for strategic research activities and recommendations (both commissioning and undertaking), for example into competitors, alternative client services and service delivery models. Investigated flexible talent pool and resourcing options to staff client work more agilely and profitably. Liaised regularly with peers in other divisions and geographies to share knowledge and experiences as well as to identify both collaboration opportunities and good practices to imitate, learn from, or tailor. Marketing, Business Development (BD), Communications, Client Relationship Management (CRM) 15 years plus track record overseeing day-to-day marketing and business development teams, strategies and campaigns, ensuring the respective divisions grew their client profile, relationships and revenues. Drafted, launched and implemented multiple marketing and business development plans and projects on divisional, sub-divisional, product/service, country and regional lines. Led marketing and BD globally and regionally for several priority products/services, encompassing all strategic and tactical activities plus working with leaders to coordinate multi-office internal groups. Instigated more thorough and proactive client follow-up as part of marketing activities to identify and convert opportunities arising from the campaigns into new sales and revenues. Bid management on dozens of responses to pitch requests (RfPs) and fee quotes (RfQs) across industries. Undertook numerous client feedback/listening interviews with senior clients in a variety of industries, generating new business and obtaining insights to feedback to customer/client teams to improve service. Responsible for the marketing and business development MI/reporting, budgeting and cost controls. Worked on close individual basis with senior lawyers on personal BD and CRM plans and coaching. Ideated, established and edited a new group-wide internal newsletter, collaborating with colleagues across multiple teams, which improved knowledge sharing and team morale. Redesigned divisional townhalls (e.g. frequency, content, speakers), increasing impact and engagement. De facto Account Director for a multi-million-pound client, driving the overall relationship, planning and executing activities which led to exponential revenue growth and diversification of the relationship. Leadership, Human Resources, Culture, People Deputy CEO 40-person business services group, led Operations, Tech/Data, Executive Assistant and Compliance/Conflicts teams. 20 years’ experience in leading, motivating and developing high-performing teams with full responsibility for recruitment; delegation and prioritisation; line, performance, and appraisal management; coaching, conflict resolution and troubleshooting; resource allocation, and budget ownership. Built out a new compliance risk and conflict/intake function including hiring and coaching a senior specialist through the process. Accustomed to forming and contributing to Executive-level and other leadership groups, as well as reporting to and participating in senior management decision-making discussions and meetings. Built, coordinated, and guided multiple teams comprised of colleagues across functions and geographic locations which successfully achieved their internal- or external-facing objectives. Provided support and leadership during a major restructuring of the marketing function at KPMG. Set up and managed KPMG UK’s Marketing Graduate Programme, including the interview and selection of candidates, coaching and mentoring, placement selection, performance evaluation and management. Took leading positions in Employee Forums and DEI initiatives (especially on race and gender equity), including helping to establish and scale a Race Leaders group within a practice group/division. 9 years as co-chair of an internal employee Family/Parenting DEI Network, leading its significant growth. CAREER HISTORY Senior Firm Manager, Sterlington LawOct 2024 – Apr 2025 Relocation from the UK to Spain and personal sabbaticalFeb 2024 – Oct 2024 Herbert Smith Freehills LLP (leading international law firm) Apr 2014 – Jan 2024 Practice Group Manager UK / US / EMEA, Finance and Banking Law Jan 2021 – Jan 2024 Business Development Lead, Disputes UK and EMEAApr 2014 – Jan 2021 KPMG LLP (‘Big 4’ accounting, audit, tax and advisory firm)Oct 2003 – Apr 2014 UK Head of Marketing, Risk Consulting / AdvisoryOct 2012 – Apr 2014 Various Marketing Roles, Risk Consulting / Forensic Accounting Oct 2003 – Sep 2012 The Audit Commission (UK government auditor/watchdog for public services)Aug 1999 – Oct 2003 Communications Account Manager Feb 2003 – Oct 2003 Marketing Executive and Events OrganiserAug 1999 – Feb 2003 QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING Chartered Institute of Marketing (Advanced Certificate) – London Metropolitan University MBA – Cardiff Business School Law LLB (Hons) – Cardiff Law School Multiple in-house & external training programmes, proficient in Microsoft Office Suite Project management leadership and foundations courses (including Agile and Waterfall basics certificates) Artificial Intelligence courses (foundational and business utilisation) Business process improvement/optimisation course Numerous in-house ‘soft skills’ courses on e.g. leadership; coaching and influencing; stakeholder engagement and relationship building, self-awareness; strategic planning and unconscious bias OTHER INTERESTS: Family (husband and father of two) Mental Health Mentor European languages (Spanish and French tutor at Herbert Smith Freehills) Sport and fitness Stoicism, military history, self-development, high performance and leadership