Practice Group Manager – Middle East

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 the Middle East, the Practice Group Manager will lead the development and execution of a comprehensive practice management strategy across all regional offices. This role is central to advancing the firm’s strategic priorities, enhancing client engagement, supporting talent development, and elevating the visibility of Gibson Dunn and its lawyers throughout the region.

This role reports to the Firm’s Chief Legal Operations Officer, will take daily direction from the Partners in Charge of the Middle East Office and will work closely with the Firm’s other Practice Group Managers.

Responsibilities include:

Strategic Planning & Market Development

• Design and implement a regional practice management strategy aligned with firm-wide strategy and objectives.
• Collaborate with practice group leaders, project management team, marketing, business development and communication in preparing the strategy and the related programs and initiatives.
• Collect and analyze market intelligence to identify emerging trends, areas of focus, and growth opportunities and create plans to address them.

Client Development & Revenue Growth

• Establish and support partner-led revenue growth initiatives tailored to the Middle East market.
• Coordinate target client pursuit teams and identify cross-selling opportunities across practices and geographies.
• Develop and manage client appreciation programs to strengthen relationships and enhance loyalty.
• Partner with marketing, business development, and communications teams to support:
  • Rankings and awards submissions
  • Client updates and outreach
  • Engagement with litigation funders
  • Identification of growth opportunities within existing client relationships
  • Overseeing tracking of all practice specific data including pitches, targets, and client outreach
  • Develop agendas and drive follow-up for regular partner and group meetings.

Practice Operations & Project Management

• Ensure effective administration and project management of practice group initiatives.
• Oversee tracking and reporting of practice-specific data, including pitches, targets, client outreach, and staffing.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and lead execution of enhancements.
• Develop agendas and drive follow-up for regular partner and practice group meetings.
• Collaborate with business support departments to manage initiatives and support practice group strategies.

Profile Building & Thought Leadership

• Implement a systematic program to raise the profile of the firm and its lawyers through:
  • Managing publications and thought leadership content
  • Supporting participation in industry events and conferences
  • Engaging with clients and academic institutions on legal education and training initiatives

Talent & Professional Development

• Support the firm’s free market staffing system by helping lawyers identify appropriate matter assignments and new work opportunities across offices and practice areas.
• Collaborate with office and practice group leadership to manage talent pipelines, including:
  • Recruiting and senior talent assessments
  • Performance improvement plans in coordination with HR
  • Attorney review processes
  • Coordinating internal training and professional development
• Work with the professional development team to design and deliver practice-specific training and CLE programming.
• Work with office and practice group leadership to manage talent across the groups, including through regular assessments of the firm’s recruiting and senior talent pipelines, in coordination with HR performance development plans and the attorney review teams.
• Support pipeline development and productivity goals across the region.
• Partner with diversity and inclusion teams to support and promote DEI initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as an information conduit to support cross-departmental and cross-office initiatives and projects with a focus on increasing integration across offices in the region and the wider network.
• Maintain strong connectivity between regional efforts and global firm priorities.
• Work collaboratively with peers across departments to implement initiatives and support business strategies.
• Support initiatives and projects in collaboration with professional development, marketing, HR, and other firm departments in connection with diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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.
• Highly motivated, strategic focus: ability to understand and support Firm goals, services, culture and strategy in order to present self and the Firm in a positive, professional manner.
• Understands and stays up to date on current legal market trends, news, and innovations.
• Exhibits a high degree of initiative in managing multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, high-stressed, detail-oriented work environment.
• Strong knowledge of the legal industry, the relevant laws and regulations, and the best practices and standards.
• Ability to work independently to solve problems relating to both technical issues and situations involving the coordination of, and collaboration with, attorneys, non-attorney staff and different administrative departments.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and tasks, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines.

Experience

• A J.D., Bachelor of Laws, MBA or equivalent with strong academic credentials and hold a valid practicing certificate and/or active bar registration.
• Minimum of 5-7 years’ experience practicing law at a law firm and/or in-house.
• 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.

Locations:

Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh

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.