Manager Disputes LPM UK, US & EMEA

At Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, our ambition is to help you achieve your goals. Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why many are incredibly longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 100 years. We are where you need us to be, in the world's largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs. Our international footprint is extensive and committed. We are at our best tackling complexity and navigating change. We work alongside you on demanding contentious matters, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas, particularly in energy, ESG, infrastructure and resources. We're focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world, including technology and digitalisation.

All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition - which is to help you achieve yours.

The Opportunity

Primary Responsibilities:

• General Project Management: Support in the delivery of structured legal project management on large, complex or multi-jurisdictional engagements as efficiently and effectively as possible.
• Assist with the matter kick-off, scoping, planning and reporting for identified projects, including developing the project plan, project timeline, fee monitoring, supporting the management of external service providers, status updates, and tracking of progress against scope, timeline and cost parameters.
• Proactive, professional management of project change, scope and risk as the main point of contact for the internal partner and/or client.
• Assist on an ongoing basis with the population and maintenance of volume data and documentation on supported projects, maintaining an audit trail.
• Assist the senior team in developing solutions to specific client challenges through the utilisation of legal project management techniques, the firm’s technology and proper deployment and management of its resources.

Financial Management:

• Support the design, development and implementation of matter budgets and fee arrangements.
• Advise on the design of the financial matter plan to ensure the ability to track costs against complex budgets.
• Proactively monitor matter budgets against actual performance and present findings to key stakeholders, taking into account specific client requirements.
• Encourage compliance with financial disciplines on matters.

People Responsibilities:

• Effectively manage more junior LPM team members, undertake quality control of their work output and provide constructive feedback.
• Set clear objectives and deliverables for direct reports, support development and actively monitor and report performance.
• Encourage knowledge sharing learning and development.
• Deliver training and provide demos to the Associates, Senior Associates and business services teams on LPM technology and processes.

Technology, Process Improvement & Other Responsibilities:

• Understand the capabilities of our main LPM tools, advise creatively on possible solutions for matters in discussion with the legal team and implement accordingly.
• Assist the team with development of metrics and reporting tools to clearly illustrate trends and analysis of matter performance.
• Proactively identify areas of concern, success and opportunity.
• Capture relevant legal project management case studies as examples of best practice and prepare slide decks and tombstone data for including in pitches, debriefs and training activities.
• Draft pitch content for the Senior LPM Team for submission on client and panel pitches covering legal project management frameworks and principles, technology and process improvement.
• Provide any other assistance to the business on client matters and internal projects as required.

Qualifications, skills and experience

Essential:

• General Undergraduate degree or equivalent.
• At least 5 years post-degree experience in a law firm or other professional services firm.
• Comprehensive understanding of the legal process and typical work product in a law firm environment.
• Excellent personal time management principles.
• Determination, resilience and persistence.

Project:

• High level of attention to detail with ability to simplify complex concepts to effectively communicate information.
• An organised and practical mindset with the ability to see the big picture.
• Skilled at prioritising demanding workloads and working on projects as part of an international team.

Financial:

• Numerate, and able to convert complex/raw data into concise and actionable intelligence.
• An understanding of the financial framework of a law firm, remuneration models and key financial performance indicators.
• Strong analytical ability, coupled with sound judgement to balance multiple factors and solve complex problems.

People:

• Able to build relationships and become a trusted advisor at all levels of seniority, both internally and externally.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to summarise complex issues succinctly verbally and in writing and to liaise directly with clients, third parties and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Empathy and situational awareness.
• Confident training and presentation skills.

Technical:

• Strong skills with the Microsoft 365 Suite: Experience with Excel, PowerPoint, Word, PowerBI and SharePoint essential.
• Strong IT literacy, including an ability to rapidly pick up new systems.

Desirable:

• Degree or significant professional qualification in Law, Management, Finance or Business-related subject.
• Experience of using a Financial Practice Management System (e.g. Elite or Aderant Expert).
• Significant experience of using PowerBI and Power Automate tools for analysis and reporting.
• A strong understanding of law firm economics.
• Experience working with a combination of legal technologies, for example, collaboration software; automation and AI.

Team Business Finance

Working Pattern: Full time

Location: London

Contract type: Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion: We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.