Practice Group Director-Antitrust/Competition

New York, Philadelphia, or Washington D.C. 

Summary

Premier, forward thinking, AM Law 50 Law Firm’s Global Litigation Team is seeking a Practice Group Director to direct and manage the business activities of its Antitrust / Competition practice, a component of the firm’s Global Litigation Team.

Working closely with Practice Group Leadership and others, the Director is responsible for business planning, internal operations, talent management and development, and financial planning and analysis for the practice, which includes lawyers in New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Paris, Brussels and Frankfurt. The Director will coordinate with other business services professionals as needed, including those in information technology, research services, human resources, finance, billing, project management, conflicts, recruiting, associate development, and, most frequently, marketing and business development.

The candidate selected for the role will have significant legal professional services experience, the ability to develop strong, trusted advisor relationships with professionals within the practices as well as within the firm generally, excellent organizational and communication skills, financial acumen, strong people skills, and a strategic mindset. Talented professionals will be given the opportunity to expand the portfolio of work for this role.

Essential Job Functions

Business Planning and Internal Operations

• With Practice Leaders, partners, and marketing and business development professionals, create annual business objectives focused on improving the practice’s marketplace position, talent base and financial performance.
• Advise Practice Leaders on operational decisions.
• Monitor internal operations and implement process improvements.
• Develop and enforce internal policies.
• Liaise with business professionals in other areas of the firm, often on behalf of Practice Leaders.
• Direct and coordinate group meetings and internal communications in support of practice objectives, including group retreats.

Talent Management and Development

• Develop an in-depth understanding of the capabilities of the practice’s lawyers, as well as gaps which can be corrected through education, recruiting, or additional (outside) resources.
• Coordinate timekeeper staffing on legal matters; assess workloads and monitor availability of timekeepers.
• Manage the evaluation processes for associates, patent agents and paralegals.
• Coordinate practice-specific education programs to support associate development.
• Play a central role in recruiting, onboarding and integration timekeepers at all levels. 

Financial Management and Analysis

• Create an annual budget of revenue and operating expenses; monitor and report to Practice Leaders, Litigation Team Leadership, and the finance team on performance against budgets.
• Analyze and report on practice performance, including utilization, revenue and profitability.
• Develop an understanding of the key drivers and trends affecting the practice’s financial performance.

Interactions and Challenges

The position will require occasional travel to other offices, and will sometimes require availability beyond normal business hours.

Qualificaitons

• A minimum of eight years of relevant law firm or professional services experience
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree; M.B.A. or J.D. preferred
• Developing or advanced financial analysis skills
• Strong organizational and communication skills