Litigation Practice Group Business Manager

Totum Partners; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Totum Partners in London is seeking a Business Manager for its leading disputes practice to oversee operations, financial performance, people matters and strategic projects in close collaboration with the Practice Group Leader and partners.

You will coordinate across Finance, HR, Recruitment, Technology, Knowledge, Marketing and Business Development to ensure issues are addressed at the right level and partner time is used effectively.

Qualifications

• Experience within a litigation or dispute resolution practice group.
• Understanding of matter economics, resourcing and pressures of running disputes.
• Ability to work credibly with partners and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day operational support to the Practice Group Leader and partners, resolving routine issues.
• Review financial, people and operational reporting, track the practice budget and highlight areas requiring action.
• Monitor capacity, matter staffing and workflow across the group, taking account of changing demands.
• Coordinate with HR and Recruitment on resourcing, performance reviews and onboarding.
• Oversee matter opening, client onboarding, billing, pricing and financial reporting linked with Finance.
• Support management of complex or multi-jurisdictional disputes, coordinating workstreams and deadlines.
• Lead implementation of new systems and processes within the practice.
• Manage practice support and input from secretarial and other business services teams.
• Support preparation and delivery of the practice business plan, annual budget and internal communications.

Skills

Litigation knowledge

Operations management

Budget & financial tracking

People management

Strategic project delivery

Job description

A highly-regarded professional services firm has an exciting, newly-created Business Manager opportunity for its leading litigation and dispute resolution practice. This is a broad role covering practice operations, financial performance, people matters and the delivery of strategic projects. Working closely with the Practice Group Leader and partners, the successful candidate will bring structure and clear oversight to a busy disputes practice.

The role will suit someone who understands how litigation teams operate, including the demands of complex, long-running and multi-party matters. You will coordinate support across Finance, HR, Recruitment, Technology, Knowledge, Marketing and Business Development, making sure issues are addressed at the right level and partner time is used effectively.

The role

• Provide day-to-day operational support to the Practice Group Leader and partners, resolving routine issues and escalating matters that require leadership input.
• Review financial, people and operational reporting, track the practice budget and highlight areas requiring action.
• Monitor capacity, matter staffing and workflow across the group, taking account of changing demands across litigation matters.
• Work with HR and Recruitment on resourcing, employee relations, performance reviews, development, lateral hires and onboarding.
• Oversee matter opening, client onboarding, billing, pricing, write-offs and financial reporting, working closely with Finance and matter partners.
• Support the management of complex or multi-jurisdictional disputes, helping teams coordinate workstreams, reporting and deadlines.
• Lead the implementation of new systems, processes and wider firm initiatives within the practice.
• Manage practice support and coordinate input from secretarial, paralegal and other business services teams.
• Support the preparation and delivery of the practice business plan, annual budget, partner meetings, internal communications and selected business development activity.
• Maintain oversight of risk, compliance and regulatory requirements across the group.

About you

Previous experience working within a litigation or dispute resolution practice group in the legal sector is essential. This could have been gained in a practice management, business management, operations or legal project management role.

You will need a practical understanding of matter economics, resourcing and the pressures involved in running disputes. The role requires someone who can work credibly with partners, challenge where needed and bring together colleagues from different business services teams. You should also be comfortable moving between detailed operational work and longer-term planning.

As a responsible business, it is important that we represent the diversity of our people, our clients and our communities. We believe that the firms that thrive are those with the most diverse team; that's why we work so hard to source the best talent from the broadest pool possible. As an equal opportunities employer we strive to accommodate anyone who may have specific needs. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the selection process, please talk to a member of the recruitment team so that any required adjustments can be made in advance.