Manager, Lateral Recruiting

Job Description

We are a global law firm with a powerful strategic focus and real momentum. Our industry-focused strategy is seeing us take on pioneering work in places that others have yet to reach. Our shared values define our culture and our workplace. You will find us to be unusually collegial, team-oriented, and ready to innovate. We work seamlessly across practices, offices and around the world. This elimination of boundaries has allowed us to evolve into a law firm that works as hard for its culture as it does for its clients.

The Lateral Recruiting Manager will be responsible for attracting, recruiting, and retaining top-tier intellectual property professionals, including experienced attorneys, patent agents, and technical advisors. The primary responsibility is to manage and streamline all stages of the IP lateral recruiting lifecycle, ensuring a seamless and strategic approach to talent acquisition. This role requires a deep understanding of the legal and IP markets, excellent project management skills, and the ability to cultivate strong relationships with candidates, partners, and internal stakeholders.  

The role will require presence in the office from time to time pursuant to the firm’s hybrid work policy.

Additional responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Develop and implement strategic recruiting plans tailored to the firm’s IP lateral hiring needs, including lawyer, patent agent, and technical advisor roles

• Proactively communicate and collaborate with team leadership within the IP Group regarding experienced hiring needs

• Source high-caliber lateral candidates through direct outreach, networking, agency partnerships, and strategic use of online platforms

• Establish and maintain a pipeline of strong IP candidates to meet current and future hiring needs, with a special focus on technical talent

• Stay informed on market trends, including competitor movements and compensation benchmarks, to inform sourcing strategies and recruiting tactics

• Foster partnerships with top universities, particularly in engineering and life sciences departments, to build a pipeline of qualified technical advisors and patent agents

• Lead the Patent Agent Pipeline Program to source graduate-level talent from Electrical Engineering, Life Sciences Ph.D. programs, and related fields to join as Technical Advisors, with a pathway to patent agent roles

• Collaborate with firm management in the negotiation of hire compensation, utilizing market trends and conditions that may affect compensation, bonuses, etc. 

• Ensure the regular maintenance of, and contribution to, applicant databases for purposes of applicant tracking, NALP reporting, OFCCP reporting, and reference checking 

• Work closely with the greater Legal Recruiting team to assist with ad hoc projects as needed 

Other duties 

Please note this job description does not cover or contain all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

Qualifications and job-related skills: 

• Bachelor’s degree is required 

• Minimum of seven years of recruiting experience in global law firm or legal professional services environment preferred 

• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise regarding lateral lawyer recruitment activities 

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal 

• Excellent organizational and analytical skills   

• Ability to demonstrate leadership skillset that promotes