Practice Manager, Investment Funds

Gibson Dunn•Washington, DC

3d•$230,000 - $280,000

About The Position

Gibson Dunn is hiring a Practice Manager to support the day-to-day operations and strategic priorities of its Investment Funds practice. The position may be based in any US office and acts effectively as the practice’s chief operating officer, turning practice leadership’s direction into coordinated action and follow-through while helping the group operate efficiently across offices and borders. The Practice Manager supports practice leaders through strategic planning, reporting, meeting management, talent management, pipeline development, productivity initiatives, practice-specific education and training, and collaboration with firm departments. The role is part of a growing practice management team and works with firm leadership, Practice Leads, other Practice Managers, and a range of business services teams. Responsibilities span strategic execution, cross-office coordination, talent and group stewardship, business operations and data, coverage across US Transactions practices and industry groups, and cross-functional partnership and process improvement. The role reports to the Firm’s Deputy Chief Legal Operations Officer under the Chief Legal Operations Officer, and takes daily direction from the Practice Leads.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least seven years of experience directly related to the duties or skills described, including at least three years of management experience.
Law firm experience required.
Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
Exceptional verbal and written communication and people skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
Collaboration and facilitation skills for working with departments and enabling them to work together.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, delegate, and manage resources effectively.
Strong leadership skills to help lead and develop a large, geographically dispersed team.
Initiative and critical-thinking skills, including independent judgment and decision-making in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, detail-oriented environment.
Creative approach to issues and willingness to consider alternatives and collaborate with leaders to develop and execute plans.
Strong time-management skills and ability to work under pressure and coordinate multiple tasks concurrently.
Excellent organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail, including the ability to manage projects with changing priorities.
Flexibility and ability to balance priorities and tight deadlines.
Ability to build and maintain relationships with department personnel, firm management, attorneys, and staff.
Strategic focus and ability to understand and support firm goals, services, culture, and strategy while representing the firm professionally.
Understanding of and willingness to stay current on legal market trends, news, and innovations.
Strong knowledge of the legal industry, relevant laws and regulations, and best practices and standards.
Ability to independently solve problems involving technical issues and coordination with attorneys, non-attorney staff, and administrative departments.
Ability to manage multiple projects and tasks, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Juris Doctor (JD).
Experience supporting a transactional practice in a practice management or comparable role.
Familiarity with an investment funds or asset management practice.

Responsibilities

Execute strategic priorities set by practice group leadership, translating direction into coordinated action and driving initiatives through completion.
Plan and deliver priority initiatives, coordinating the people and resources required.
Coordinate cross-office and cross-practice projects and keep stakeholders aligned.
Identify and execute initiatives to improve legal service delivery, staffing, and operational processes.
Connect attorneys and teams across offices and borders to foster integration across the Investment Funds practice.
Support onboarding and integration for new partners and lateral attorneys.
Support talent planning in coordination with Human Resources, Professional Development, and Recruiting, including assessing recruiting and senior talent pipelines and identifying gaps.
Promote healthy utilization, free-market balance, and attorney engagement by monitoring capacity and helping lawyers find appropriate staffing and new-work opportunities.
Support attorney reviews and performance tracking in coordination with Human Resources.
Support associates through mentorship, review support, and career guidance.
Coordinate education and training programs for associates and partners with Professional Development.
Provide operational insight into business performance, market trends, and internal efficiencies.
Provide data and analytics to inform practice group performance and decision-making.
Keep the practice and its leadership informed by serving as an information conduit.
Track practice-specific data, including deal collection and reporting, targets, and client outreach.
Provide practice management coverage across US Transactions practices and industry groups as departmental needs and priorities evolve.
Partner with and support associates across US Transactions groups, contributing to their engagement, development, and experience.
Provide flexible practice management support across US Transactions groups as priorities shift.
Partner with Knowledge Management attorneys, AI attorneys, Business Development, Professional Development, Marketing & Client Development, Communications, Recruiting, Technology, Human Resources, and Office Administration.
Collaborate with Knowledge Management, Legal Operations, and Technology to improve workflows and implement scalable solutions.
Support Business Development with operational insight aligned to practice group priorities.
Identify process improvements, drive their execution, and coordinate the practice’s efforts with the firm.