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Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP · 1 day ago

Director of Lateral Growth

New York, NY

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

$280K/yr - $350K/yr

8+ years exp

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm seeking a Director of Lateral Growth to manage the Corporate Practice Group’s lateral partner growth efforts. The role involves collaborating with practice leaders to identify and integrate top legal talent while staying informed on market trends and recruitment strategies.

Law Practice

Hiring Manager

Raechel Reynolds

Responsibilities

Partner with corporate practice group leaders and other stakeholders to understand lateral needs and define candidate profiles to support the practice’s business objectives and growth

Act as a trusted advisor to corporate practice group leaders on growth initiatives including lateral hiring trends and market developments

Stay current on market trends and competitive intelligence in the legal industry to inform the firm’s recruiting and growth strategies

Identify client needs that could influence lateral recruitment strategies and opportunities

In partnership with the firm’s Lateral Partner Recruiting team, develop and manage lateral hiring priorities and candidate profiles for the Corporate Practice Group

Partner with the Lateral Partner Recruiting team’s implementation of lateral searches including developing relationships with search firms

In partnership with the business development and practice management teams, develop structured integration programs for lateral hires to ensure seamless transitions and alignment with the firm’s strategic priorities

Monitor the performance and retention of lateral hires, providing feedback and addressing any concerns as they arise

Analyze competitor strategies and client feedback to assess areas for potential growth

Collaborate with Marketing and Communications teams to enhance the firm’s external brand and recruitment messaging

Perform initial analysis on partner candidates to assess strategic fit, client synergies and potential conflicts

Ensure all Akin interviewers have a clear understanding of how a potential lateral partner fits into the practice and broader strategy and are emphasizing the right priorities in the interviews

Collaborate with Lateral Partner Recruiting team on interview schedules and internal messaging around candidate

Collaborate with Lateral Partner Recruiting and General Counsel teams to ensure conflicts issues are identified, communicated to partner sponsors and resolved as needed

Conduct Lateral Partner Questionnaire (LPQ) review with partner sponsors and candidates

Participate in interviews, distilling key information and identifying challenges to inform that recruitment

Develop partner business plans as appropriate

Draft Partner Admissions Committee, Management Committee and other supporting materials as appropriate

Develop and maintain recruiting-focused collateral for the Corporate practice

Provide ongoing support and coaching to lateral hires to ensure they are successfully integrated into the firm’s operations and culture, building relationships in support of their long-term success

Develop and manage metrics to track the success of lateral recruitment and integration efforts, including time-to-hire, and retention rates

Provide regular updates to key stakeholders on recruitment, onboarding and integration progress, as well as market trends

Qualification

Strategic business developmentLateral recruitment experienceLegal industry knowledgeRecruiting tools proficiencyProject management skillsCommunication skillsInterpersonal skillsOrganizational skillsAttention to detailTeamwork ability

Required

A minimum of eight years of experience in strategic business development and/or lateral recruitment, preferably within a law firm or professional services environment

Strong understanding of the legal industry, including the nuances of law firm practice areas in the transactional practices, partner structures, and market dynamics

Excellent communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong relationships at all levels

Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously

Advanced proficiency with recruiting tools, applicant tracking systems, and Microsoft Office Suite

Excellent interpersonal skills

Excellent written and oral communication skills

High proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Outlook and Excel. Experience in working with attorney recruiting databases required

Strong service orientation and an ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers; attorneys; office, firm and practice management; and outside business partners

Ability to work effectively and efficiently under pressure

Ability to think strategically

Ability to manage multiple projects with specific deadlines and adjust to changing priorities in a professional manner

Strong organizational and project management skills

Ability to maintain professional discretion, confidentiality and judgment

Ability to work independently and with a team

Ability to read, comprehend and follow instructions

Strong attention to detail

Ability to use critique of work to improve performance

Commitment to professional growth and development