IP Litigation Practice Manager

Steffan & Co., Incorporated; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 153,600 - 192,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Profit sharing

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

Steffan & Co., Incorporated is seeking a very senior Practice Manager to support its Intellectual Property Department and IP Litigation Practice in Boston. This leadership role reports to the Department Director and requires 4 days on-site per week with occasional travel if based in DC or New York.

You will manage workloads, allocate tasks to attorneys and staff, and guide a team of paralegals and technology specialists across offices.

Qualifications

• Experience leading practice management in a law firm or professional services.
• Demonstrated ability to manage workloads and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead practice management within a law firm for IP and IP litigation.
• Allocate workloads across associates, counsel, and staff; monitor utilization.
• Directly manage 12 direct reports: 6 paralegals and 6 technology specialists.
• Coordinate across offices to ensure resources meet client needs.
• Partner with HR and firm leadership on performance reviews and policy.

Skills

People management

Law firm operations

Workload balancing

Stakeholder communication

Job description

• Open in Boston, Washington, DC, or New York.
• If based in DC or New York, you will be required to travel to the Boston officeevery other month

About the Role

• The wonderfullong-tenured Practice Manager retired after40 years, so the team values stability and consistency.
• The IP Manager is based in Boston.
• This is a very senior leadership position reporting to the Department Director.
• Position requires 4 days on-site a week.

Key Responsibilities

• Practice management leadership within a law firm (consulting firms with comparable practice management functions will also be considered).
• Workload allocation is a major component of the role:
  • Assign work to associates, counsel, and other legal professionals.
  • Monitor utilization and prepare workload summaries for firm leadership/executives.
• Manage a team of 12 direct reports:
  • 6 Paralegals
  • 6 Technology Specialists (primarily located in Boston and New York)

Ideal Background

• Priorexperience in practice management at a law firm is strongly preferred.
• Open to candidates from consulting firms with relevant practice management experience.
• Litigation experience is more important than IP experience—IP experience is not required.
• Minimum 3+ years of people management experience.
• Not a typical 9–5 role.
• Occasional issues arise outside normal business hours that require timely responses and decision‑making.

We are partnering with a prestigious international law firm to identify an experienced Practice Manager to support its Intellectual Property Department and IP Litigation Practice. This is an excellent opportunity for a strategic, operationally focused leader who enjoys managing people, balancing attorney workloads, and partnering with firm leadership to drive practice operations.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative professional with experience in legal or professional services practice management who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and enjoys developing attorneys and professional staff while ensuring the practice operates efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Manage attorney staffing and workload allocation across multiple offices, balancing billable and pro bono assignments while supporting attorney development.
• Partner with practice leadership to align work assignments with attorneys’ experience levels and career growth objectives.
• Coordinate attorney coverage during absences and assist with workload planning related to leaves of absence.
• Support onboarding, orientation, and ongoing professional development programs for associates, counsel, and lateral hires.
• Prepare productivity reports and operational metrics for department leadership.
• Assist with strategic initiatives, departmental planning, and special projects.
• Coordinate department meetings, retreats, and other administrative initiatives.
• Support business development efforts, including pitches, RFP responses, CLE programs, lateral integration, and client events.
• Directly manage a team of paralegals and technology specialists, including performance management, coaching, workload allocation, hiring support, and professional development.
• Foster collaboration across offices and ensure resources are utilized effectively to meet client needs.
• Partner with Human Resources and firm leadership on employee relations, performance reviews, and policy administration.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a law firm or other professional services environment.
• Minimum of 3 years of direct people management experience.
• Experience with practice management, attorney staffing, legal operations, or similar leadership responsibilities is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success managing workloads, projects, and competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship‑building skills.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving abilities.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment when handling confidential matters.

Why You’ll Love This Opportunity

• Join a highly respected international law firm with a collaborative and people‑focused culture.
• Play a key leadership role in influencing attorney development and department operations.
• Competitive compensation ranging from $153,600 to $192,000, depending on experience.
• Outstanding benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), profit sharing, generous paid time off, and professional development opportunities.