Practice Group Manager (Government Contracts/Labor & Employment)

Job Description

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with offices in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia that represents clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and transactional and corporate matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation and government-facing matters, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Job Summary

The Practice Group Manager will support the Government Contracts and Labor & Employment practice groups, two of the firm’s premier practices. The Practice Group Manager is responsible for the daily execution of business needs and operations of the assigned practice groups with a strong emphasis on its strategy, work allocation, financial performance, and lawyer productivity and development.  The Practice Manager will liaise with the Department Practice Director and Practice Group Leaders (“PGLs”) and will work with other firm legal and administrative teams to support the Department’s and practice groups’ goals associated with financial performance; pricing and project management; growth; talent development; diversity, equity and inclusion; human resources; technology and innovation; and other strategic areas of focus. 

The incumbent will work closely with the Talent & Inclusion (“T&I”) team, and liaise with the business development professionals supporting the assigned practice groups to provide well-coordinated and strategically-aligned support.

Job Responsibilities

Financial and Practice Reporting

• Work with the Department Practice Director, the practice groups’ Finance Partners, and the Finance Department, to develop and monitor financial reports for the practice group(s).  Collaborate with the finance team to make refinements and streamline monthly reporting.
• Review monthly financial reports with the Department Practice Director, PGLs, and Finance Partners and identify trends/developments that require attention and action.
• Monitor financial and other performance metrics of the assigned practice groups, including with regard to revenue, utilization, realization, and productivity.  Advise on steps to improve and achieve identified financial objectives.
• Participate in discussions regarding annual rate setting together with members of the Finance Department, the Finance Committee and the practices’ PGLs and Finance Partners.

Pricing and Project Management

• Collaborate with the Pricing and LPM teams, to monitor pricing, alternative fee arrangements, budget, and discounts for matters within the assigned practice groups with the objective of improving realization and driving profitability.
• Meet on a regular cadence with the practice groups’ Finance Partners, together with a member of the Finance Department, to identify and address performance issues and develop/share best practices.
• Escalate issues of concern to the Department Practice Director, the practices’ Finance Partners, and PGL(s) for the assigned practices.  

Business Planning and Budgeting

• As part of the annual business planning process, work with the PGL(s), Department leadership, and the assigned groups’ business development professionals to establish goals and objectives for the assigned practices for the coming year.

Recruiting, Integration and Promotion

• Liaise with the recruiting team (Strategic Growth Committee, partner recruiting team and associate/counsel recruiting team) to execute on approved growth initiatives for the assigned practice groups.
• Collaborate with the assigned business development professionals to support the integration of new lawyers into the practice group(s) and broader firm.  Work with the Professional Development (“PD”) team and T&I Partners to ensure that a robust plan exists to integrate lateral associates and counsel and first‑year associates into their respective practice groups.
• Support the PGLs with regard to the annual partner/counsel promotion process.

Lawyer Professional Development and Staffing

• Work with the PD team and the assigned practice groups’ T&I Partner(s) to coordinate the annual evaluation and Group Consensus Messaging process for the associates and counsel.
• Collaborate with the assigned practice groups’ staffing partners and T&I Partners to identify appropriate lawyers to staff the groups’ most significant client matters.  This will include working with staffing partners and practice managers across the firm to identify the best team to handle the matter(s).
• Liaise with the T&I Partners and team to en