Data-Driven Practice Management Leader

KAHANA & FELD LLP; Carlsbad (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

KAHANA & FELD LLP in California is seeking a Firmwide Director or Senior Manager of Practice Management to advise the COO, practice leaders, and firm leadership on staffing, utilization, and matter management.

You will provide data-driven insights, lead initiatives, and coordinate across practice groups to enhance efficiency and profitability, while collaborating with Talent Acquisition and IT to align resources with client and carrier expectations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s and law degree required; equivalent experience in law firm management, legal operations, professional services, project management, or practice management may be considered.
• Prior experience supporting insurance defense practice areas strongly preferred.
• Prior experience in a law firm, legal operations, professional services, or business operations environment required.
• Strong understanding of practice management, matter staffing, attorney utilization, workload and capacity management, operational reporting, and cross-functional business processes.
• Demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships with attorneys, practice leaders, firm leadership, and professional staff at all levels.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, prioritization, and project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple practice group priorities, competing deadlines, and complex stakeholder expectations in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to proactively identify operational challenges, assess alternatives, and develop practical, timely, and sustainable solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex projects within a collaborative, matrixed organization.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with attorneys and senior firm leadership.
• Exceptional executive presence, judgment, and presentation skills.
• Strong ability to influence stakeholders, build consensus, and drive accountability without relying solely on direct authority.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, advanced formulas and functions, data analysis, data modeling, visualization, and dashboard development; demonstrated ability to analyze complex datasets and translate findings into clear, actionable insights for firm and practice leaders.
• Exceptional analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize complex quantitative and qualitative information and translate findings into clear, practical, and actionable recommendations.
• Sound independent judgment, tact, discretion, and ability to appropriately handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Experience with iTimekeep, Intapp, financial reporting systems, workflow platforms, dashboards, and other law firm technology preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and leverage technology and data tools to improve processes, reporting, efficiency, and decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic liaison to the COO, practice leaders, and other firm leaders on practice management, operational, staffing, and resource matters.
• Partner with practice leaders to develop, execute, and monitor practice goals, strategic initiatives, and operational priorities.
• Review matters and consult with practice leaders regarding staffing, team composition, and attorney assignments throughout the lifecycle of a matter and an attorney’s experience with the firm.
• Monitor partner-to-associate ratios, attorney capacity, client needs, and firm business requirements to proactively identify practice areas and offices requiring additional attorney resources.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition and firm leadership to anticipate hiring needs and develop proactive attorney recruitment and staffing strategies.
• Monitor attorney workload, utilization, capacity, and productivity; identify trends and recommend resource adjustments or other appropriate interventions.
• Monitor compliance with matter budgets, billing requirements, client and carrier expectations, and internal operational standards.
• Collaborate with practice leaders, practice managers, and professional staff departments to support practice objectives and ensure effective execution of firm initiatives.
• Partner with practice leaders and practice managers to align matter management practices with client and carrier guidelines, expectations, and requirements.
• Identify, assess, and resolve operational issues; elevate matters requiring senior leadership attention and decision-making.
• Lead the implementation of practice management initiatives, training programs, and process improvements, including identifying skill gaps and coordinating with the Professional Development team and practice leaders.
• Establish and promote consistent execution of firmwide practice management processes, procedures, and standards.
• Provide cross-functional stakeholder coordination and communication support for practice management activities and initiatives.
• Support new-hire onboarding and lateral integration by coordinating with appropriate stakeholders and overseeing role-level support, where applicable.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the practice management team, including practice managers and practice management assistants.
• Collaborate with the Innovation and Emerging Technologies team to identify, evaluate, and implement technology, tools, and resources that enhance attorney and paralegal effectiveness and support practice-specific needs.
• Partner with the COO and relevant stakeholders to develop and enhance reporting that enables firm and practice leaders to make informed, data-driven decisions regarding practice, matter, staffing, and financial management.
• Support compliance with firm policies and operational requirements, including time-entry and other attorney productivity and administrative standards.
• Drive continuous process improvement, documentation, and standardization, including the development and maintenance of policies, procedures, workflows, and best practices for the Practice Management function.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Skills

Practice management

Staffing optimization

Data-driven decisions

Financial management

Project management

Communication skills

Relationship-building

Excel dashboards

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree or JD

Tools

iTimekeep

Intapp

Financial reporting systems

Workflow platforms

Dashboards

Job description

KAHANA & FELD LLP in California is seeking a Firmwide Director or Senior Manager of Practice Management to advise the COO, practice leaders, and firm leadership on staffing, utilization, and matter management.

You will provide data-driven insights, lead initiatives, and coordinate across practice groups to enhance efficiency and profitability, while collaborating with Talent Acquisition and IT to align resources with client and carrier expectations.