Lateral Integration Manager

WilmerHale is a leading, full-service international law firm with 1,000 lawyers across 12 offices in the United States and Europe. Our lawyers work at the intersection of government, technology, and business, guided by principles of quality, excellence, diversity, and collaboration.

About the Role

This role will collaborate with sponsoring partners and the Clients & Markets team to facilitate the seamless onboarding and strategic integration of new lateral partners and select senior lawyers from industry, academia, and government. The focus is on ensuring incoming partners and senior lawyers experience a smooth transition, are strategically positioned for practice growth, and become fully embedded in the firm’s culture, operations, and business development platform. This position develops and executes a best-in-class integration program for legal talent, ensuring each new hire receives the support and resources needed to become a productive member of the firm. The role requires high engagement, organization, project management, and professionalism, fostering a positive, solution-oriented approach.

Responsibilities

• Drive firmwide integration efforts for lateral partners and senior lawyers, with a focus on marketing and business development interests.
• Lead all aspects of integration planning, cross-functional coordination, internal relationship building, and practice growth.
• Serve as a key internal point of contact for new laterals from pre-arrival through the first 18 months, coordinating access to marketing and business development resources.
• Collaborate with leadership, lateral lawyers, and business professionals to identify integration priorities and develop tailored strategies for success, working with teams such as Clients & Markets, Finance, IS, HR, Legal Personnel & Development, Conflicts/New Business, and Practice Management.
• Build trust-based relationships with lateral partners and senior lawyers to understand and shape their practice interests, needs, and growth goals, supporting client relationship migration where appropriate.
• Coach lateral lawyers on marketing and business development tactics, advising on leveraging firm resources for client transitions, business growth, and internal collaboration.
• Prepare and co-manage integration plans with input from laterals and their Clients & Markets support teams.
• Convene integration teams and stakeholders regularly to discuss progress, address needs, and remove obstacles.
• Plan introductions and support lateral hire visits to other firm offices for business development purposes.
• Prepare action items for lateral partners and act as an accountability partner to support integration efforts.
• Maintain collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders to facilitate coordination and communication.
• Coordinate with department and firm leadership to track and report on success metrics.
• Handle special lateral integration-related projects and duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of eight years of experience in a law firm or professional services environment.
• Direct and substantial experience with business development, lateral recruiting, and/or attorney development.

Skills

• Strong independent thinking, execution, and mature professional judgment.
• Demonstrable experience successfully managing project teams and securing stakeholder alignment.
• Strong multitasking and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and changing criteria.
• Ability to deliver world-class service with a “can-do” attitude across all communications and interactions.
• Strong analytic, organizational, and initiative-driven skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including professional presentation, drafting, editing, grammar, and proofreading.
• Extensive working knowledge of Microsoft Suite; familiarity with Foundation and InterAction is preferred.
• Ability to handle sensitive matters and maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to manage high-priority initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
• Openness to technological change, including generative AI, and adaptability to new tools supporting efficiency and innovation.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with company match and profit-sharing options.
• Paid time off and holidays.

Pay

The hiring range for this position is $164,900 - $206,100 annually, with final compensation based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

Schedule

This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule.