Managing Director

Summary

The Managing Director, in collaboration with and in support of the firm’s strategic initiatives, provides internally and externally facing support to improve key client relationships. Responsibilities include interacting directly with clients to ensure consistent team performance and discussing any billing or collections issues, managing group administrative tasks such as conflicts, billing, collections, hiring, training, and knowledge content, overseeing pitch and proposal activity, monitoring WIP, billing, collections, and profitability metrics, coordinating with billing teams for timely and accurate invoicing, working with collections on tracking payments and allocations, tracking and reporting on key financial KPIs, and implementing process improvements to enhance efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Matter & Financial Management
• Oversee pitch and proposal activity, matter opening, budgeting, and compliance with client guidelines.
• Monitor WIP, billing, collections, and profitability metrics for the partner’s portfolio.
• Cook with billing teams to ensure timely and accurate invoicing aligned with client requirements.
• Work with collections on tracking payments and allocations.
• Track and report on key financial KPIs, proactively identifying risks and opportunities.
• Operational Leadership
• Serve as the primary liaison between the partner and internal business teams (finance, billing, administrative support, marketing, etc.).
• Lead and coordinate a multi-disciplinary team to deliver exceptional client service and operational excellence, including International where involved.
• Implement best practices for matter management, workflow optimization, and resource allocation.
• Client Service & Relationship Support
• Ensure compliance with client outside counsel guidelines and reporting requirements.
• Support client-facing administrative needs, including status reports, budgets, and performance metrics.
• Partner with the firm’s pricing and legal project management teams to develop and maintain alternative fee arrangements and matter plans.
• Process Improvement & Technology
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce administrative burden.
• Leverage firm technology platforms for matter tracking, reporting, and collaboration.
• Train and mentor team members on best practices and tools.
• Strategic
• Involved in strategic planning process.
• Ensure strategic plan outlines actions to achieve Firm performance goals.
• Monitor plan execution and regularly report on progress against plan to Practice Group Leader and Firm Leadership.
• Adjust plan to ensure it remains relevant in light of changing market dynamics, economic climate and business trends.

Qualifications

• Superior communication skills coupled with demonstrated ability to present complex information to senior leadership.
• Demonstrated leadership skills to include problem solving, planning, negotiating and decision-making for effective management.
• Proven dedication to assisting the firm in delivering exceptional client service both internally and externally.
• Ability to serve as a strategic advisor.
• Must be able to demonstrate and adhere to confidentiality and to interact with tact and resourcefulness.

Skills

• Ability to be innovative, creative and operate in a proactive manner with a broad range of professionals.
• Ability to demonstrate and adhere to confidentiality and to interact with tact and resourcefulness.
• Proven dedication to assisting the firm in delivering exceptional client service both internally and externally.
• Ability to serve as a strategic advisor.

Benefits

Our employees are expected to embrace and uphold our firm values as a part of our DLA Piper culture. We are committed to excellence in how we represent our clients and develop our people. Our employees are expected to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and third parties. They are expected to produce deliverables, answer phone calls, and reply to correspondence in an efficient and responsive manner. They are expected to provide timely, accurate, and quality work product. They are expected to successfully meet deadlines, expectations, and perform work duties as required. They are expected to foster positive work relationships. They are expected to comply with all firm policies and practices. They are expected to engage in both physical and sedentary activity, such as (a) working at a computer for extended periods of time, including on-screen reading and typing; (b) participating in digital/virtual conference calls; (c) participating in meetings as needed. They are expected to perform all other duties, tasks or projects as assigned. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k).