What is Practice Development at Ropes & Gray?

Practice Development plays an essential role in the firm’s business, where our core business units are practice groups (PGs). Practice Development professionals, working in teams, are embedded within each PG and focus on driving and implementing firm and PG strategic priorities, where we serve as trusted advisers to the partners and firm leadership. We are also key advisors on behalf of PGs to other business support departments at the firm.

• Contributing to and overseeing the articulation and implementation of the PG’s strategic and commercial priorities.
• Managing and overseeing the core business functions of each practice group.
• Focusing PG talent and its alignment with firm and PG needs to drive strategies and offerings.
• Commercializing knowledge through product development, thought leadership campaigns, and external, as well as internal, profile-raising strategies.
• Focusing on PG performance metrics to identify actionable insights and measure practice imperatives.

Job Summary:

The Practice Development Manager (PDM) will serve as trusted advisor to the Practice Group Leaders ("PGLs"), Specialty Group Leaders (“SGLS”), partners, and Director of the Asset Management (AM) Practice Group.

The PDM will work directly with practice group (PG) leadership to set the strategy, drive accountability and ensure operational efficiency within the assigned practice group. In this role, the PDM will report to the Director of Practice Development and work closely with other departments (e.g., Finance, Attorney Development, Attorney Talent, BD, Marketing, HR, Knowledge Management, Office of General Counsel, etc.) to support the practice’s strategic vision, business operations, financial profitability, resource management, and plans of the AM Practice Group.

The ideal candidate will have AM and/or experience working in a large law firm or other professional services; exemplary leadership skills; at least eight years experience managing complex business operations and teams; proven track record of successful performance; outstanding communication skills (both verbal and written); experience working with colleagues on all levels; a positive, can-do attitude; strong organizational skills and attention to detail; as well as a willingness to pitch in and roll-up their sleeves to help the practice group achieve it’s business objectives.

Please note that occasional travel may be necessary.

Essential Functions:

• Collaborate with practice group leadership, partners and other key stakeholders to develop a vision and strategic practice group plan with clear and achievable goals focused on competitive differentiation, market/brand reputation, talent, and profitability.
• Support PG leadership with the daily operations of the PG, including preparing for, designing, and running substantive initiatives and meetings that maintain focus on PG priorities.
• Identify opportunities for improvement, innovation, and efficiency in business operations, matter management, infrastructure, methodologies, and develop solutions and plans for corresponding action.
• Relentlessly execute and track progress on initiatives in support of the firm and PG strategies.
• Focus on PG talent/needs by working with PGLs, partners and Attorney Talent to manage partner and counsel transitions that include: evaluating the overall talent needs for the PG; on-boarding and integrating lateral partners and counsel; preparing business cases for partner promotions; integrating promoted partners; planning for partner retirements/succession planning. Collaborate with partners to draft candidate sponsor memoranda, and integration plans.
• Work with PGLs and PG partners to identify and execute on knowledge management needs in collaboration with Legal Knowledge Management team.
• Collaborate with PGLs and PG partners to focus on innovation through product development and thought leadership campaigns. Partner with attorneys, Legal Knowledge Management, Business Development and Marketing teams to drive knowledge marketing product development and distribution.
• Work with the Business Development, Public Relations and Events teams to raise attorney profiles by: identifying speaking opportunities, conferences, sponsorships, and writing opportunities to further implement knowledge marketing efforts.
• Strategize approach for and oversee the preparation of various legal ranking submissions. Develop and oversee processes to track PG experience.
• Facilitate sharing of practice area developments and information with appropriate business support teams.
• Monitor current trends and best practices in legal and professional services management; communicate the impact of new innovations, developments, and regulations.
• Collaborate with Finance colleagues to analyze PG financial performance (revenue, profitability, realization, utilization, WIP, A/R); work with practice group leadership to drive performance, growth, leverage, realization, and profitability. Prepare and manage PG budgets.
• Manage Practice Development Specialists, Experience Analysts and Coordinators through coaching, mentoring and delegation of practice group projects and routine tasks.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Practice Development is part of a broader business support organization, where we are part of a collaborative work environment with smart, creative colleagues. Successful candidates will exhibit the following qualities:

• Exemplarily leadership skills.
• Ability to establish credibility with Ropes & Gray partners, to bring to bear the right mix of confidence, tact, and persistence in working with the firm’s lawyers.
• Confidence and professionalism to interact credibly and diplomatically with all levels in an organization, including partners and firm management - tailoring communications effectively for different groups and stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen, project management, analytical skills, and proven attention to detail.
• Ability to develop and successfully execute comprehensive project and operational plans from broadly stated objectives
• Desire to learn.
• Ability to identify and solve problems, work independently, and take initiative.
• Ability to compile and determine logical conclusions or recommendations based on data and information which is varied in content and format.
• Excellent presentation, writing and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to roll-up sleeves and get things done.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with people at all levels. Positive, can-do attitude.
• Ability to work collaboratively with professional staff in a multi-office environment.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain strict confidentiality of the firm's internal and personnel affairs.

Education and Experience Required:

• Experience in AM in a mid-sized to large law firm preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree. JD or MBA preferred, but not required.
• At least eight years applicable experience working in a mid-sized to large law firm or corporate environment in a similar field and/or as a practicing attorney.
• Candidate must have proven problem‐solving abilities, be able to work on multiple projects simultaneously, and take responsibility for designing and implementing goals.
• Prior people management experience, including coaching, mentoring and strong delegation skills.

NY COMPREHENSIVE TOTAL REWARDS PACKAGE

Ropes & Gray is proud to offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package to our business support team members. The firm also offers comprehensive health and well-being benefits, personal and professional development, career growth opportunities and a collegial and supportive culture. The anticipated pay range for this role is $135,000 - $202,000, which represents our good faith and reasonable estimate of the starting salary range at the time of posting. In addition, this role is eligible for a discretionary bonus based on performance. The actual offered rate for this position will be determined based on job-related, non-discriminatory factors, including qualifications and experience, geographic location, education, external market data and consideration of internal equity.