Practice Group Business Manager

Practice Group Business Manager

Location : Flexible and in any state where the firm has an office.

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, a national law firm, currently has an excellent full-time employment opportunity for a Practice Group Business.

We offer competitive compensation and an excellent benefits package plus a 35-hour work week.

Position Summary :

The Practice Group Business Manager (the "PGBM") will be responsible for assisting the Defense Litigation and Insurance Services Practice Group Leader(s) in managing the business and administration of the practice group(s) to drive strategic and profitable growth for the Firm.

This position will work directly with the Practice Group Leader(s) and the Head of Practice Services to manage the business and administration of the practice(s) to ensure well-coordinated operational support for the practice group and overall business management of the group.

The PGBM will engage in analysis and best practices and deploy applicable tools to evaluate and increase the revenue, control expenses, improve profitability and improve efficiencies of the practice group(s).

This PGBM is also responsible for supporting the Practice Group Leader(s) in implementing Firm-wide strategic initiatives at the practice group level.

The PGBM is responsible for supporting practice group members across offices and to improve connections and relations across practice groups.

This position must always maintain professionalism and strict confidentiality in all client and Firm matters while exercising sound judgment.

Essential Functions Include :

Communication

• Establish and maintain clear and consistent lines of communication with the Practice Group Leader(s), Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and other senior administrative team members.
• Establish and maintain clear and consistent lines of communication with practice group members across offices regarding all aspects of the practice group and the Firm.
• Regularly communicate with practice group members including those located in other offices to ensure clear communication and coordination.
• Prepare for and help conduct regular practice group meetings and other types of practice group gatherings and communications.

This includes working with the Practice Group Leader(s) to ensure practice group meetings have meaningful agendas and meetings result in actionable takeaways as well as monitor progress towards action items.

Strategic and Business Planning

• Proactively manage the day-to-day operational running of the practice including taking a hands-on approach to identifying and implementing appropriate actions to address needs of practice(s).
• Support implementation efforts through monitoring and reporting on progress of Firm-wide strategic projects and implementations in partnership with the Practice Group Leader(s).
• Work with Marketing & Business Development, Finance and other internal Firm resources to coordinate research and other aspects of preparing a business plan for the practice group as well as for individual attorneys.

Supervise and monitor implementation of the practice group business plan.

Work with the Director of Attorney Recruitment and Development to integrate new attorneys assigned to practice group(s).

Financial Management

• Identify opportunities for value-added pricing through alternative fee arrangements as well as opportunities to renegotiate client service level agreements for more favorable terms.
• Use diligent efforts to see that practice group members meet revenue and expense budgetary goals and expectations, including billable and investment hours.
• Act as liaison with Finance to generate and analyze financial reports and prepare appropriate summaries and briefings.
• Manage financial performance to ensure all key metrics are met and growth in revenue and profitability are supported.

Attorney Staffing, Development and Workload Management

• Gather and analyze economic data of the practice group and assess performance on an ongoing basis in partnership with the Practice Group Leader(s).
• Monitor attorney workload and utilization reports in order to identify productivity issues and counsel attorneys where appropriate.
• Develop and define appropriate strategies to manage and support the profitable growth of the practice group(s) and Firm.

Evaluate and implement improvements to the practice group(s)' structure.

Advise the Practice Group Leader(s), Chief Operating Officer, and the Director of Attorney Recruitment and Development on hiring recommendations and future timekeeper needs.

This includes working together with the Director of Attorney Recruitment and Development to map out a pipeline of recruiting needs in the practice group(s) including enhancement to the current capacity / service delivery needs and strategic recruiting to achieve vision of the practice including consideration of succession planning needs.

Work with the Learning and Development team on attorney trainings and development needs.

Management and Policy Compliance

• Review and approve new clients and matters as part of intake process and enforce related standards for the practice group, consistent with Firm guidelines in partnership with the Practice Group Leader.
• Monitor and enforce timekeeping and billing practices in partnership with the Practice Group Leader(s) and Finance team.
• Work with Practice Group Finance Administrator on WIP, billing, and collections issues.
• Work with Finance team, as needed, to help address write-off and write-down requests and expense approval requests that requires practice group input in accordance with established firm policies.

Qualifications and Prior Experience :

Education and Experience

• BA / BS required; JD preferred.
• Previous experience with an Insurance Services and / or Litigation Practice Group required.
• Strong financial acumen required.
• Five or more years' experience in an operational, supervisory and / or management position in a professional office setting required.
• Demonstrated experience in driving process and continuous improvements to systems and procedures to improve effectiveness of operational activities from inception to implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to think creatively and outside the box, challenge the status quo, introduce new ideas and apply innovative solutions.
• Self-motivated, strategic and analytical thinker with high level of initiative and attention to detail.
• Strong ability to influence, lead and drive change across practice area(s).
• Exceptional organizational skills with keen time management skills to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the Firm, both internally and externally.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new technology quickly.
• Previous experience in law firm management required.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by employees in this position.

It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for this job classification.

As an EOE / AA employer, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran or disability status or any other factor prohibited by law.