Senior Competitive Intelligence Specialist

Akerman LLP•Orlando, FL

About The Position

Akerman LLP is seeking a Senior Competitive Intelligence Specialist to help drive the firm’s strategic growth through insight-led decision-making and market intelligence. This role sits at the intersection of competitive intelligence, market intelligence, and business strategy, responsible for transforming internal and external data into actionable, forward-looking insights that directly inform client development, go-to-market initiatives, and firmwide priorities. The Senior Competitive Intelligence Specialist reports to the Senior Competitive Intelligence Manager and will partner closely with the Competitive Intelligence team and the Marketing & Client Development functions to support targeting, positioning, and growth across key practices and industries. The ideal candidate will excel at synthesizing complex information, including market activity, client developments, financial and transactional data, and competitive intelligence, into clear, compelling narratives and strategic recommendations that inform decision-making at the firm level. Operating in a fast-paced, high-performance environment, this individual will act as a proactive strategic partner, anticipating needs, identifying risks and opportunities, and delivering leadership-ready insights that drive measurable business impact. This role will also contribute to advancing the firm’s intelligence capabilities by strengthening data-driven tools, processes, and an integrated, insight-driven approach across Competitive Intelligence, Marketing, and Client Development.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree a plus
5+ years of experience in competitive intelligence, market research, or business analysis (law firm or professional services preferred)
Demonstrated ability to deliver actionable insights and strategic recommendations, not just research outputs
Exceptional analytical, writing, and synthesis skills with strong attention to detail
Strong proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and data analysis tools
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-demand environment
High level of professional judgment, discretion, and client service orientation
Experience with tools such as PitchBook, S&P Capital IQ, Bloomberg Law, Lexis, Lex Machina, Westlaw, D&B, and similar platforms
Familiarity with CRM systems, financial data, and transaction/deal intelligence and GenAI tools
Ability to analyze company financials, M&A activity, and broader market dynamics

Nice To Haves

Law firm experience
Experience supporting business development, client strategy, or practice group initiatives

Responsibilities

Lead in-depth research and analysis across clients, prospects, industries, competitors, and legal market trends, delivering actionable insights that support firm strategy and business development initiatives.
Identify patterns, risks, and opportunities by synthesizing financial, transactional, regulatory, and market data into clear, actionable insights.
Serve as a strategic partner to the Marketing & Client Development department, supporting client strategy, market entry, and competitive positioning through insight-driven analysis.
Develop an understanding of stakeholder needs to tailor intelligence outputs.
Demonstrated commitment to ethical competitive intelligence practices, including lawful and appropriate research methods, sound source evaluation, confidentiality, and adherence to the firm’s professional obligations.
Prepare high-level strategic profiles and briefings in support of priority opportunities, including client meetings, pitches, RFPs, and leadership-facing initiatives, in partnership with the CI and Marketing & Client Development teams.
Identify and drive cross-selling and client growth opportunities aligned with firm priorities and industry focus areas.
Support go-to-market strategy development by aligning intelligence with firm capabilities and growth objectives.
Proactively monitor and synthesize market developments, competitive activity, client news, and regulatory trends, translating findings into business implications.
Evaluate and communicate the firm’s competitive positioning across key practices, industries, and geographies.
Develop market landscape analyses and competitive benchmarking to inform leadership decision-making.
Analyze complex datasets and research outputs, translating findings into clear, concise deliverables and visualizations.
Track and report on intelligence activities and outcomes to demonstrate impact, trends, and ROI.
Leverage and continuously improve use of research platforms, CRM systems, and emerging technologies (including AI tools).
Contribute to the evolution of the firm’s intelligence capabilities by enhancing methodologies, workflows, and best practices, and by supporting knowledge sharing across the Competitive Intelligence and Marketing & Client Development teams.
Take ownership of complex intelligence projects, managing scope, timelines, and deliverables to ensure high-quality outcomes.