Director, Practice Management (US Litigation)

Job Summary

Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm, advising clients on significant transactions and disputes. Our exceptional teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes. The Firm’s work is distinguished by a unique combination of precision and vision.

Based in New York, the Director, Practice Management (DPM) will be responsible for supporting day-to-day operations of the department, managing a team of Litigation-focused Practice Group Managers, and developing and implementing the litigation’s strategic initiatives in collaboration with practice group and firm leadership. Communicating, leading, and demonstrating emotional intelligence are important skills needed in this role, along with understanding the life cycle of a case and how attorneys practice in a law firm setting.

The DPM serves as a key part of the Firm’s business services function and joins a growing practice management team collectively responsible for supporting practice leaders in managing their groups, including through: (1) serving as information conduits to support cross-department and cross-office initiatives and projects; (2) engaging in strategic planning, reporting, and meeting management; (3) overseeing talent management; (4) supporting the Firm’s free market system, pipeline development, and productivity goals; (5) developing practice-specific education and trainings; and (6) collaborating on initiatives and projects with various firm departments, including Professional Development, Marketing & Client Development, Knowledge Management, Communications, Recruiting, Diversity, Career and Alumni Services, Technology, Human Resources, and Office Administration.

This role reports to the Firm’s Chief Legal Operating Officer, will take daily direction from the Department Leads and will work closely with the Firm’s other Practice Group Managers.

Responsibilities include:

• Ensuring effective administration, business operation, and project management of various firm and practice group strategic priorities and initiatives, promoting the positive visibility of the firm, its practice groups, and lawyers across offices/geographic regions.
• Managing and supporting litigation practice group managers (“PGMs”) to partner with marketing, business development, and communications teams in supporting the Firm’s business development efforts, including rankings and awards submissions, client updates, litigation funders, and identification of targets for existing clients.
• Overseeing the tracking of all practice-specific data, including pitches, targets, client outreach, and staffing, while supervising litigation-related PGMs.
• Working with the practice management team and practice group leadership to develop strategic business goals, objectives, and tactics in alignment with firm strategy.
• Collaborating with the practice management team to keep efforts integrated within the firm and vice versa.
• Developing agendas and driving follow-up for regular partner and group meetings.
• Working collaboratively with peers across the Firm’s business support departments to manage initiatives and support business strategies as determined by practice groups.
• Collaborating cross-functionally with professional development and diversity departments to support and promote attorney development and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Supporting the Firm’s free market system from both an associate and partner perspective, helping lawyers identify appropriate staffing for matters and opportunities for new work.
• Collaborating with practice group leadership to manage talent across the group, including regular assessments of the Firm’s recruiting and senior talent pipelines, coordinating with Human Resources on performance improvement plans, and working with attorney review teams.
• Working with the professional development team to develop practice-specific educational trainings and CLE programming.
• Identifying opportunities for process improvement and driving follow-through on execution.

Qualifications

• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with the appropriate discretion.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication and people skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders. Collaboration and facilitation skills to work with various departments and facilitate their ability to work with each other.
• Ability to work independently and with a team, and to delegate and manage resources effectively. Strong leadership skills to manage and develop a large and geographically dispersed staff.
• Exhibit high degree of initiative and critical-thinking skills in exercising independent judgment and making decisions in managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, detail-oriented work environment.
• Creative thinker who is open to considering multiple approaches to issues and collaborating with other leaders to develop and execute plans.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment; ability to coordinate multiple tasks concurrently.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to work concurrently on a variety of projects with changing priorities. Have meticulous attention to detail.
• Flexible and able to multi-task, balancing priorities and tight deadlines.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with Department personnel, Firm management, other attorneys and staff.

Experience

• J.D., Bachelor of Laws, MBA, or equivalent with strong academic credentials.
• Must be admitted to practice and in good standing in the state of practice.
• A minimum of 5-7 years’ experience in Litigation required.
• Prior team development or management experience required.

 

 

Gibson Dunn will consider for employment qualified Applicants with Criminal Histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of local law.

Compensation & Benefits:

The annual compensation range for this position is $275-315k. The salary offered within this range will depend upon qualifications and other operational considerations.

Benefits offered for this position include health care; retirement benefits; paid days off, including sick time, and vacation time; parental leave; basic life insurance; Flexible Spending Accounts; as well as discretionary, performance-based bonuses.

Location:

New York

EEO Statement

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity for all partners, employees and applicants and, in accordance with the applicable federal and state laws, does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, color, religion, matriculation or political affiliation, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, ancestry, age, marital status or partnership status, family responsibilities, disability, medical condition, personal appearance, genetic information, predisposing genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses, arrest or conviction record, or on any other basis prohibited by law.