Director, Practice Operations - Litigation

Job Description

At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us.  Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place.

We are seeking a Director, Practice Operations - Litigation to join the firm.  The Director, Practice Operations will manage business operations for their assigned Practice Area (the “Practice Area”) with the aim of enhancing Practice Area performance in line with the firm’s strategies and priorities. Although this role will not manage people, the Director will be responsible for partnering with Firmwide teams across functions and geographies in order to implement holistic solutions.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Practice Area Leaders, Practice Group Leaders, Chiefs and their teams (Finance, Client Growth, HR, Pricing, Matter Management, Technology, etc.) Other Practice Area Business Managers/Practice Administrators, Office Managing Partners, Directors of Administration

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Advises the Practice Area Leaders and Practice Group Coordinators on strategic business and operational plans
• Develops financial models and data analyses for both business-as-usual scenarios and new initiatives; formulates various scenarios and solves business problems by intelligently analyzing numerous sources of data
• Creates variance analyses to explain differences in performance, comparing historical results against budgets and forecasts
• Develops and updates the Practice Area’s business plan and budget to ensure the effective implementation of the Practice Area and Firm strategy
• Oversees improvements of operational and financial performance by analysing key performance indicators at Practice Area and Practice Group level, ensuring alignment with planned targets (including cost management, staffing and margin contribution)
• Responsible for appropriate resourcing model, headcount planning, staffing, and talent pipeline (including training and performance management) leveraging support from, and in collaboration with, other Firm functions (Finance, Human Resources, Client Growth, Technology, Matter Planning, etc.)
• Manages interactions with the Client Growth Team making sure that go-to-market and service delivery is appropriate for clients in priority markets and industries
• Monitors and ensures effective implementation of client growth and development plans leveraging support from other Firm functions
• Organizes internal Practice Group engagement activities and meetings fostering positive and open communication

ADDITIONAL DUTIES
• Leverages services provided by the Firm’s shared service centers, specialist functions and offices across the organization to drive excellence and efficiency
• Oversees projects and leverage available resources to perform administrative tasks for the Practice Group

EXPERIENCE SKILLS REQUIRED
• Equivalent of 4 to 10 years’ of previous experience in administration and leadership for a professional services firm. Specific experience with financial models and budgets.
• Masters degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in a professional services environment; must have the equivalent of a college level degree in a business administration related field
• Proficiency in law firm operations
• Ability to lead and collaborate within a matrix structure, successfully navigating and engaging resources across teams
• Strong skills in financial planning and data analysis, ideally in a professional services environment
• Understanding of the elements of law firm profitability at practice area, client, matter and timekeeper level
• Business sense and good judgment in problem solving
• Experience coordinating people in different locations and cultures
• Ability to manage multiple operations with continual attention to detail (including accuracy with numbers)
• Strong oral and written communication skills. Effective communication at all organizational levels
• Experience with business management, including an understanding of the challenges of operating in different markets globally
• Keeps informed and knowledgeable regarding key developments in all relevant areas and demonstrates the ability to develop substantive authority in relation to their field of responsibility
• Ability to move through a variety of tasks requiring different approaches, knowledge, and expertise, with agility of mind and capacity for analysis and synthesis
• Demonstrates the ability to identify issues, and to anticipate requirements and potential consequences; distils a range of possibilities by thinking in a considered, prudent manner

ADDITIONAL ABILITIES REQUIRED
• Travel may be necessary
• This job operates in an office setting and is largely sedentary, requiring the routine use of a computer and other standard office equipment.  The ability to open file cabinets, lift files, bend and stand on a stool may also be required

Compensation Salary $164,000 - $329,000

The compensation salary for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors.

In accordance with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered.

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in more than 40 offices. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S. based law firms in the world.  We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world. 

The industry recognition the firm has garnered emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.

For more information or to view other job opportunities, please click here to go back to our careers page.

Notice: We participate in E-Verify in certain Firm locations for purposes of verifying employment eligibility.

BENEFITS

K&L Gates offers our personnel a comprehensive suite of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time personnel include:

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Firm is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm that employment decisions shall be based on merit, qualifications and competence. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person’s race (including traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as afros, braids, locks, and twists), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, gender, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, familial status, domestic violence victim status, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all aspects of employment including, without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, assignment, and dismissal. In addition, it is the Firm’s policy to provide an environment that is free of prohibited harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is based on sex, race, age, disability, ethnic background, or any other category protected by law (including the categories listed above). The Firm complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact askHR@klgates.com.