Job Description

Practice & Client Relationship Manager

Practice Management and Marketing Department

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective and strong New York roots. Our clients look to us to bring a distinctively high degree of quality, intensity and creativity to resolve legal challenges effectively and cost efficiently. We believe in hiring talented and dedicated individuals as members of our administrative community. We draw on the strength of our culture and structure to deliver the best of our firm to our lawyers and clients through true collaboration.

The firm is seeking a full-time Practice & Client Relationship Manager to become a senior member of the integrated Practice Management and Marketing Department. The role has two parts – working closely with the Practice Group Leaders of a premier practice group of the firm and managing a small number of client teams in close cooperation with the respective partners who manage those key client relationships globally (Client Team Leaders). The Practice & Client Relationship Manager will be the “single-source” of knowledge about these clients, with an understanding of client developments, firm touchpoints and services in support of the client and opportunities to grow the relationship. The role will also work on other initiatives of the Client Relationship Program and, more broadly, the Practice Management and Marketing Department.

The Practice & Client Relationship Manager will report to the Director of Strategy & Operations – Investment Management, who leads strategic planning and operational execution for the firm’s global funds practice, and will work closely with the Director of Client Teams and other senior team members.

The successful candidate must be able to manage day to day activity on client teams and drive momentum in achieving the strategic goals of the practice group, including progressing granular action items and ensuring the Client Team and Practice Group Leaders are fully supported. The individual must be comfortable leading, managing and influencing in a non-hierarchical structure and will need to be proactive. The individual will also need to demonstrate knowledge of the practice area, the legal marketplace and competitive landscape, business development and talent management techniques, and the client base and prospective clients. Importantly, this position requires a driven, self-motivated and effective team player who works well in an environment that is collegial but also fast-paced.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Practice Management

-Strategic Planning and Financial Management

• Facilitate practice group planning, including developing an annual business plan and priorities, monitoring progress and suggesting and executing on proactive next steps.
• Manage regular practice meetings that are productive, action-oriented and focused on priorities to implement the agreed practice priorities.
• Proactively monitor the practice group financials, fee arrangements and related matters.

-Client Development and Market Prominence

• Manage proposals (from informal pitch meetings to structured Request for Proposal responses), hold prep and debrief meetings and participate in client presentations where appropriate, working alongside the Business Development team.
• Provide thoughtful and strategic input and guidance to the practice’s legal directory and awards submissions, working alongside the Business Development team.
• Work collaboratively with the firm’s Communications function to enhance reputation and market presence through thought leadership and media relations efforts.

-Talent and Knowledge Management Efforts

• Organize and develop practice group meetings, presentations and events, including substantive trainings.
• Coordinate with the Recruiting and Professional Development teams regarding hiring, onboarding, promotion, staffing and retention efforts.
• Working with lawyers in the practice and the Knowledge Management team, develop and maintain tools for information sharing and clients support (including matter tracking tools, practice intranet pages, databases of models, forms and other precedents).

Client Relationship Management

-Strategy and Client Team Coordination

• For each client, develop an active client team strategy, with the Client Team Leaders, that identifies business development opportunities, strategic priorities and financial targets; drive the implementation of the plan and the wider client team.
• Be the source of knowledge and information for the wider client team and act as the “connector”; proactively sharing client-related information real-time with the client team to enable them to support client’s needs and ensure consistent approach in client service.
• Develop a deep understanding of the client and client needs to help embed the firm and support the client, including by leading client research efforts, sharing relevant thought leadership and gathering and synthesizing information from various internal and external sources.
• Identify potential leads and support relevant pitch processes alongside the Business Development team.
• Manage regular client team meetings that are productive, action-oriented and focused on priorities to implement the agreed client strategy.

-Financial Management

• Manage financial health of client relationship – realization and leverage as well as spend on client relationship efforts, etc.
• Proactively manage fee arrangements and billing matters, working with partners responsible for billing and the Finance team.
• Assist in regular reporting to members of firm management on the client relationships.

-Client Development and Engagement

• Manage efforts around client entertainment, events, continuing legal education (CLE) programs and trainings.
• Work with other departments of the firm (Professional Development, Finance, Pro Bono, Inclusion, etc.) to identify appropriate value-added services relevant to client.
• Develop and, in some cases, conduct formal feedback interviews with client contacts, disseminate findings and deliver on action items.
• Enable the client team to assist with clients’ recruitment for key roles.

• Other duties relating to the Practice Management and Marketing Department’s initiatives.

Requirements:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in client relationship management, investor relations, account-based marketing or similar business development role in a law firm, alternative asset management firm or other professional services firm.
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of a law firm’s services.
• Excellent presentation skills, including experience in client-facing roles.
• Excellent written and oral communication.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain strong relationships, especially at a senior level across a matrix model organization, and clearly articulate messages to a variety of audiences and influence at a senior level.
• Must be highly organized, proactive and able to tolerate ambiguity; ability to work under pressure and manage conflicting priorities.
• Ability to proactively engage with others, building collaborative relationships across client service teams and related initiatives/departments.
• Comfortable making decisions independently, yet informs and consults others regularly on relevant matters.
• High level of emotional intelligence and discretion.

Preferred

• Experience working at or with law firms
• Advanced degree (JD, MBA)

TO APPLY:

A resume and cover letter are required to apply for this position. Please tell us your salary requirements and where you saw this position posted. Send required materials to:

Taria Yarborough

Sr. HR Generalist

Human Resources

tkyarborough@debevoise.com

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