Description
Fox Rothschild seeks a dynamic and experienced Department Practice Director to join our team. This role is pivotal in building and expanding our practice management team, starting with the firm's Litigation department, and eventually expanding the function across other practice areas. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in practice management, with a proven track record of successfully leading and developing cohesive teams across multiple offices. Experience in a high-paced Litigation team is strongly preferred.
The Department Practice Director is a strategic partner to Department Leadership, responsible for overseeing the operational, financial, and talent-related functions of the department. This role serves as the primary liaison between attorneys and business professional teams, ensuring alignment with firm goals and driving performance across key areas such as revenue management, staffing, profitability, risk management and strategic planning. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is passionate about driving excellence and innovation within a large national law firm.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Departmental & Financial Management
Serve as the primary point of contact for Department Leadership on all operational and strategic matters.
Collaborate with the COO, CFO, and Finance to deliver data-driven performance metrics and financial reporting.
Monitor billable hours, realization rates, accounts receivable, unbilled time, non-compliant billing attorneys, pre-billed write-downs, and exception billing rates; identify and address performance gaps.
Partner with the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Client Operations and Compliance Officer on the setting and monitoring of billing rates and AFA approvals.
Lead profitability initiatives and provide insights into client and practice-level financial performance.
Evaluate expense requests, review monthly operational expenditures, and escalate issues and proposed solutions,
Coordinate and drive year-end billing and collections push.
Monitor compliance with all Firm policies and procedures.
Socialize and integrate firm-wide goals within the Department.
Risk Management
Ensure staffing appropriateness by jurisdiction and acumen.
Coordinate with the Office of General Counsel and NBI teams on client/matter risk assessments.
Oversight of new client and new matter intake and approval processes.
Talent & Staffing
Monitor utilization and capacity; identify skill gaps and hiring needs.
Support lateral recruiting and integration in collaboration with the Chief Growth Strategist and the Strategic Growth Committee.
Partner with Professional Development and other leadership to manage attorney performance through regular evaluation and feedback, including the annual cycle of compensation review and promotions.
Work with Professional Development and Human Resources departments on morale and retention issues.
Strategic Planning & Business Development
Develop and manage departmental and practice group (when appropriate) business plans with measurable goals.
Collaborate with Business Development to identify cross-selling opportunities and support go-to-market strategies.
Assist in managing the department's marketing budget and visibility initiatives.
Partner with KM/Innovation department on the use of solutions including artificial intelligence.
Work with Department and Firm Leadership in devising and implementing growth strategies.
Department Operations
Coordinate with Department Chairs, Practice Management Partners and others on strategic initiatives, partner development, and succession planning.
Support practice group steering committees and subcommittees.
Maintain documentation of processes, policies, and operational needs.
Training & Professional Development
Identify training needs and collaborate with Professional Development and other appropriate groups or committees to develop learning tracks and curriculum.
Oversee mentoring programs and development initiatives.
Communications & Culture
Facilitate internal communications, team-building events, Department, and practice group meetings.
Maintain intranet content and practice group resources.
ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS:
Other duties and projects, as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS (EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES):
Education:
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related field; MBA or JD seen as a plus.
Experience:
Minimum 10 years of experience in legal operations, practice management, or law firm administration.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex projects.
Ability to proactively identify problems, develop solutions and deliver results.
Strong financial acumen and experience with law firm profitability models.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a demanding environment.
Responsiveness, discretion, judgment, and virtual communication skills.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
This job operates in a clerical, office setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Sedentary work: Exertion of physical strength to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects up to 10 pounds. Work involves sitting most of the time. Walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties.
VISUAL ACUITY
Worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The salary ranges for this position apply to the respective listed locations. The salary range reflects a variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, education, licensure and/or certifications, geographic location, market demands and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for a position. Reasonable estimates of the current ranges for this position are:
New York: $300,000 to $350,000
Washington, D.C.: $275,000 to $315,000
For information on Fox Rothschild's compensation and benefits visit: Compensation & Benefits (foxrothschild.com) (https://www.foxrothschild.com/careers-for-staff/compensation-benefits)
DISCLAIMER
Fox Rothschild LLP is under no obligation to provide sponsorship for this position. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis now and in the future.
The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not a contract or employment agreement and is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all functions, responsibilities, or requirements the employee may be required to perform, and the employee may be required to perform additional duties. Additionally, management reserves the right to review and revise the job description at any time. Employment with the firm is at-will. Employees must be able to satisfactorily perform all of the essential functions of the position with or without a reasonable accommodation. If an accommodation request would cause an undue hardship or a safety concern, the individual may not be eligible for the position.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
