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Schedule: 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM

FLSA: Exempt

Position Type: Full-Time/Regular

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. We are currently seeking a Director of Lateral Growth who will be responsible for managing the Corporate Practice Group’s lateral partner growth efforts in the United States under the direction of the Chief Strategy and Growth Officer; Chief of Lateral Partner Recruiting; and Corporate Practice Group Leaders. This role requires experience in identifying and integrating top legal talent in alignment with the firm’s growth strategy and a thorough understanding of the markets served by the firm’s transactional practice groups.

The role will reside in the New York office with hybrid work capabilities.

Key responsibilities of this position include :

+ 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.

Qualifications (Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

+ 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

The anticipated base salary range for this position in New York is $280,000 to $350,000. The actual salary offered will be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, years of relevant experience, certifications or other professional licenses held, job-related knowledge and skills, business needs, and the location from which the work will be performed. Additionally, salary or hourly wages may be only part of the total compensation package, which may also include a full range of health and other insurance benefits, financial and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility), a discretionary bonus, and various paid time off benefits. Additional information about benefits and rewards can be found here (https://www.akingump.com/en/careers/business-services) .

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP participates in E-Verify for purposes of verifying employment eligibility

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