Practice Manager

Practice Manager
Practice Management and Marketing Department
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective and strong New York roots. Our clients look to us to bring a distinctively high degree of quality, intensity and creativity to resolve legal challenges effectively and cost efficiently. We believe in hiring talented and dedicated individuals as members of our administrative community. We draw on the strength of our culture and structure to deliver the best of our firm to our lawyers and clients through true collaboration.
The firm is seeking a full-time Practice Manager to become a member of the Practice Management team. The Practice Manager will be responsible for working closely with one to three practice or industry groups at the firm, to help accomplish the practice or industry group’s goals and to lead the operation aspects of running the group. Responsibility areas are wide-ranging and include: (1) client development and market prominence, (2) practice group strategic planning and management, (3) knowledge management, (4) talent development, (5) financial management, (6) cross-practice efforts, collaboration and teamwork. The role will work closely with Practice Leaders of the respective group as well as the other partners, counsel and associates in the group.
In this role, the Practice Manager will report to a senior member of the Practice Management team and will work closely with the Chief Marketing and Practice Management Officer and the Practice Leaders and other partners in the respective practices. The Practice Manager will be part of a high-functioning, closely knit group of approximately 10 Practice Managers; will collaborate with, and in some cases supervise, Business Development team members (subset of Marketing) also aligned to the respective practices; and will work closely with other Marketing teams and professional staff throughout the firm.
The successful candidate must be able to drive momentum in achieving the practice’s strategic goals by proactively suggesting initiatives, identifying opportunities and progressing granular action items. The individual will demonstrate knowledge of the practice area, the legal marketplace and competitive landscape, business development and talent management techniques, and the client base and prospective clients. Importantly, the individual will work on cross-practice initiatives, progressing the practice’s efforts in the context of the firm’s overall goals. The individual will be comfortable leading, managing and influencing in a non-hierarchical structure and will need to be proactive. This position requires a driven, self-motivated and effective team player who works well in an environment that is collegial but also fast-paced.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Client Development and Market Prominence
  • Through research and an understanding of the firm’s offerings, match emerging client needs and market trends with the firm’s offerings, thereby identifying potential leads
  • Manage proposals (from informal pitch meetings to structured Request for Proposal responses), holding prep and debrief meetings and participating in client presentations where appropriate, working alongside the Business Development team
  • Participate in the firm’s client team initiative, ensure follow-up on initiatives to grow specific client relationships and to pursue new relationships
  • Provide thoughtful and strategic input and guidance to the practice’s legal directory and awards submissions, working alongside the Business Development team
  • Work collaboratively with the firm’s Communications function to enhance reputation and market presence through thought leadership and media relations efforts
• Practice Group Strategic Planning and Management
  • Prepare the practice’s annual business plan and priorities, monitor progress, suggest and execute on proactive next steps
  • Manage regular practice meetings that are productive, action-oriented and focused on priorities to implement the agreed practice priorities
  • Prepare for regular reporting to members of firm management
  • As needed, participate in the practice’s matter coding and conflicts checking process

• Financial Management
  • Proactively monitor the practice’s financials and key metrics
  • Proactively manage fee arrangements and billing matters, working with partners responsible for billing and the Finance team
  • Assist with matter fee estimates and legal project management efforts
• Talent Development
  • With lawyers in the practice and with Professional Development, identify associate morale and retention initiatives
  • Organize practice meetings, trainings and events, including developing and leading trainings
  • Assist in monitoring utilization of lawyers in the practice and identify professional development opportunities and other talent needs
  • Coordinate with the Recruiting team and Professional Development team regarding hiring, onboarding and promotion efforts
  • Coordinate with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team and others in the Talent function on firm and practice-level diversity and inclusion initiatives
• Knowledge Management
  • Working with lawyers in the practice and the Knowledge Management team, develop and maintain tools for information sharing and clients support (matter tracking, practice intranet pages, databases of models, forms and other precedents)
  • Assist with developing practice training events for associates
• Cross-practice efforts, collaboration and teamwork
  • Work collaboratively with members of the Practice Management and Marketing Department (and others at the firm) to share best practices and to drive cross-practice/industry initiatives, broad-based client development efforts and firm strategic initiatives
  • Collaborate, mentor, develop and, in some cases, help to manage Business Development team members for the respective practice; responsibilities include: involving in practice meetings as appropriate, providing guidance and direction on marketing materials, pitches, and research; share substantive knowledge of practice; providing ongoing feedback and input to annual reviews (Business Development team members have a solid reporting line to the Director of Global Marketing Services or other senior member of the Business Development team)
• Other duties relating to Practice Management and Marketing Department’s initiatives and broader firm initiatives

Requirements:

• Minimum of seven years of experience practicing as a lawyer in top-tier law firm and/or in a practice management, client relationship management, business development or professional development role in a law firm; or similar experience in an alternative asset management firm or other professional services firm
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of a law firm’s services
• Excellent presentation skills, including experience in client-facing roles
• Excellent written and oral communication
• Proven ability to establish and maintain strong relationships, especially at a senior level across a matrix model organization, and clearly articulate messages to a variety of audiences and influence at a senior level
• Must be highly organized, proactive and able to tolerate ambiguity; ability to work under pressure and manage conflicting priorities
• Ability to proactively engage with others, building collaborative relationships across teams and related initiatives/departments
• Comfortable making decisions independently, yet informs and consults others regularly on relevant matters
• High level of discretion

Preferred

• Experience working at or with law firms
• Advanced degree (JD, MBA)

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other legally protected category in accordance with U.S. law.
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