Senior Practice Manager
Company: Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Location: Los Angeles
Posted on: February 1, 2025
Job Description:
This is an exciting opportunity to work for one of the top law
firms in the U.S.! Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is looking for a
Senior Practice Manager to join our team in our Seattle or Los
Angeles offices.We offer a hybrid work engagement with three days
of remote work, and two days in-office.Practice Management (PM)
plays an instrumental role in helping our lawyers operate more
effectively and efficiently to drive revenue growth, better utilize
time spent on non-billable activities, facilitate the integration
of lateral hires, and foster a collaborative environment to
leverage all our business professional teams' capabilities to
support our lawyers in building their practices and serving
clients. The Practice Management Team comprises revenue enablers
who ensure operational efficiency; develop, drive, and execute on
PG/industry strategic vision; provide financial insights that drive
economic improvements; support client value initiatives; and
otherwise support each practice's business needs and operations.As
trusted advisors to the Practice Group Chairs (PGCs) and practice
leaders, the Senior Practice Manager must be a highly innovative
and collaborative self-starter, with demonstrated experience,
confidence, and professionalism in communicating with partners,
management, and timekeepers at all levels of the organization.To
perform at the highest levels and ensure the highest level of
operational efficiency for the practice groups, the Senior Practice
Manager must develop an unparalleled knowledge of the inner
workings of the Firm and provide timely and effective responses to
the Practice Groups, Industry Teams, and/or Investment Areas they
support. The Senior Practice Manager is expected to effectively
manage more than one practice group or industry team.At Davis
Wright Tremaine, you will find challenging assignments,
opportunities for professional growth and community involvement,
and a culture of inclusion. DWT fosters inclusiveness and
authenticity. Regardless of position, everyone here has a voice and
the support is unparalleled.On a typical day you will:Practice
Group Operations
- Manage the daily execution of business needs / operations of
the assigned Practice Groups, Industry Teams, and/or Investment
Areas, including developing and managing the practice operations
budget, establishing a consistent framework for Practice Group
meetings and communications, supporting Firm processes and
follow-up on initiatives/action items, etc.
- Serve as main point of contact and primary person responsible
for all operations related to the practice groups by working
closely with its attorneys and professionals, as well as the firm's
business departments including, but not limited to: Information
Governance, HR, Knowledge Management, Finance/Accounting,
Recruiting, Marketing, Business Development, Client Experience,
Professional Development, DEI, and Pro Bono.
- Drive efficiencies and process improvements and introduce
innovative approaches to improve the overall operation of the
practice group and infrastructure, driving improved service to the
Firm's clients and generating revenue. Work in tandem with other
departments to implement process improvements that will improve
service levels to the lawyers.
- Maintain practice-specific resources that pertain to lawyer-led
trainings.
- Guide attorneys on efficient use of technology to improve
service delivery, especially AI.Practice Group and Firmwide
Strategy
- Build a strategic vision for the practice group, industry
teams, and/or investment area.
- Collaborate with PG Chairs, partners and other business
operations departments to facilitate the development and execution
of Practice Group strategic plans with clear and achievable goals
focused on culture, revenue, profitability, growth and retention,
reputation, brand awareness, profile and competitive
differentiation.
- Support the firm's strategic value that "People Matter" by
building trust and credibility with partners, counsel, associates,
and direct reports including having an in-depth understanding of
professional aspirations, experiences, strengths, development
needs, and relevant personal circumstances.
- Track the group's talent pipeline and ensure forward progress
on succession plans, mentorship arrangements, etc.
- Collaborate with the Director of Practice Management to lead
the execution of the department's strategic goals.
- Collaborate with relevant business departments to provide
trainings on "soft skills" such as client relationship management,
business development, client feedback, etc.
- Provide operational and strategic support client teams for the
firm's top and fastest growing clients.People Management and
Development
- Manage and supervise managers, specialists and senior
specialists to assure they are executing on practice group strategy
and departmental strategic plan while providing excellent client
service.
- Work with Professional Development Partners (PDPs) to ensure
that each attorney in the group is fully utilized, with the
opportunity to work on a variety of matters and with a variety of
partners, while balancing development opportunities with client
needs.
- Work with Recruiting on needs assessments and lateral
recruiting initiatives.
- Ensure that all attorneys who join the Firm have an
unparalleled integration experience. Lead strategic lateral
attorney integration effort by developing and executing
comprehensive integration plans for new hires in collaboration with
Business Development, Recruiting, and practice group leadership.
- Liaise with Human Resources regarding medical leave, parental
leave, terminations, etc.
- Coordinate with Professional Development Team and Human
Resources regarding performance issues if directed by PGC to do so.
- Act as point person to facilitate problem solving and address
attorney concerns related to operational and strategic objectives.
- Track and report utilization data and proactively looks for
opportunities to even out workflow and flag underutilized and
overutilized associates.
- Collaborate with Professional Development department and
Professional Development Partners to manage a productive workforce
where work assignments are provided efficiently and equitably;
opportunities are allocated in accordance with Practice Group and
individual development goals; and performance issues are identified
early and addressed.
- Collaborate with Talent Acquisition Department to ensure
Practice Group size is adjusted to meet projected workflow demands.
- Keep abreast of case developments and potential leavers,
joiners and secondments of associates and paralegals to help with
future workload estimations and reporting to team leaders as
necessary/requested.
- Support PGCs and Professional Development in associate review
process, counsel/partner elevation, and/or share questionnaire as
necessary.
- Work closely with the Firm's Professional Development to
develop training content and ensure the appropriate development,
evaluation, and training of practice group attorneys. Recommend the
Firm's training resources, or other assistance as appropriate, to
meet identified development needs.Financial
- Analyze and report on Practice Group financials and other key
performance indicators to monitor timekeeper utilization,
performance trends, and overall practice revenue. Regularly provide
action items that further the profitable management of the Practice
to the Practice Group Chairs and Financial Partners.
- Work with Finance on tracking and managing alternative fee
agreements and other matter management reporting as necessary.
- Managing and approve Practice Group budgets and expenses.
- Analyze monthly AR and work with Financial Partner and
Collections team to collect outstanding revenue.
- In collaboration with the Revenue and Profitability team, help
practice groups and individual lawyers manage the economics of
their practices.Business Development
- Provide strategic guidance and PG specific information and
customization as needed to Business Development and Marketing
department on strategic initiatives; RFP and pitch responses;
targeted marketing collateral, accolades and recognition, etc., and
ensure alignment of resources.
- Work with business development and other staff departments to
promote client and group initiatives, including client training
programs and presentations (CLEs).
- Provide coaching on individual business plans as well as
coaching relationship partners on target client business
development plans.Join us if you have:
- College degree required; Master's degree in Marketing or
Business Administration or similar field, or JD preferred.
- 8+ years as a business professional in a professional services
organization preferred; law firm experience or prior experience as
a practicing attorney is a plus.
- Prior experience in a leadership role, managing people is
required; demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop team
members, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
- Demonstrated ability to develop professional working
relationships and create a consultative, advisory-type level of
trust with attorneys.
- Demonstrated understanding of the business of law, including
finance, sales and marketing, staffing models and industry
trends.
- Ability to work in a professional and collegial manner with
attorneys, paralegals and staff.
- Demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
is required.
- Strong writing skills and excellent grammar, spelling and
proofreading skills are required.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the
ability to maintain effective working relationships and communicate
verbally and in writing in a professional, courteous manner with
clients, firm members, and other business contacts are
required.
- Demonstrated ability to provide direction and guidance in
business plan development efforts - at the individual, practice
group and office levels.
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex request for proposal
responses is required.
- Experience negotiating sponsorship contracts is required.
- Demonstrated understanding of alternative fee arrangements in
the service industry (understanding of law firm pricing models a
plus) is required.
- Demonstrated ability to coach and develop business development
skills, both among staff and attorneys, is required.
- Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office Products required, i.e.
Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Excel; CRM technology a
plus.
- Ability to pay close attention to detail and be highly
organized and accurate is required.
- Ability to travel occasionally within the United States is
required.Who We AreDavis Wright Tremaine LLP is an AmLaw 100 law
firm with 11 offices nationwide. We are relentlessly committed to
client service and look for candidates who share that commitment.
At DWT, client service means having empathy for each client's and
each lawyer's work and personal pressures, business objectives, and
legal needs; anticipating their needs; and having the capabilities
and commitment to deliver what matters most to them.What's in it
For You?DWT offers competitive compensation in addition to ample
benefits including but not limited to:
- Choice of health and vision insurance plans.
- 2 paid volunteer days for qualifying community service
work.
- Dental plan.
- Fertility and adoption benefit.
- Paid sabbatical after 13 years of service.
- Tuition reimbursement.
- Commuter benefits.
- Retirement contribution.This job description intends to
describe the general nature and level of work being performed by
individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to
include all duties and responsibilities.Washington StateThe
annualized salary range for this position in Washington is $162,000
to $185,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on the candidate's
education, training, experience and other job-related factors
permitted by law. Full time employees may be eligible for a bonus,
health insurance with an optional HSA, long term disability, dental
insurance, vision care, telemedicine and virtual short term
solution based counseling services, life insurance, Healthcare and
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, subsidized backup care
and caregiving resources, 401(k), vacation, sick time, 11 paid
holidays each year and an employee assistance program. For
full-time employees, the initial vacation benefit is 15 days per
year and 11 days of sick leave per year, accrued bi-weekly.
Additional voluntary programs include: voluntary accident
insurance, voluntary life, voluntary disability, voluntary long
term care, and pet insurance. Commuter and Transit programs are
also available.CaliforniaThe annualized salary range for this
position in Los Angeles is $162,000 to $185,000. Actual pay will be
adjusted based on experience and other job-related factors
permitted by law. Full time employees may be eligible for a bonus,
health insurance with an optional HSA, long term disability, dental
insurance, vision care, telemedicine and virtual short term
solution based counseling services, life insurance, Healthcare and
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, subsidized backup care
and caregiving resources, 401(k), vacation, sick time, and an
employee assistance program. Additional voluntary programs include:
voluntary accident insurance, voluntary life, voluntary disability,
voluntary long term care, and pet insurance. Commuter and Transit
programs are also available.Davis Wright Tremaine provides
reasonable accommodations for those who need them to complete the
application or recruiting process and for employees who need
reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of
their positions due to a disability or for religious reasons. If
you need to request accommodation during the application or
recruiting process, please email .#LI-BR1
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Keywords: Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, San Bernardino , Senior Practice Manager, Executive , Los Angeles, California
Didn't find what you're looking for? Search again!
Loading more jobs...
