Lateral Integration Manager

WilmerHale; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 206,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match and profit‑‑

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

WilmerHale in Washington, DC seeks an experienced professional to lead the integration of lateral partners and senior lawyers with a focus on marketing and business development. You will coordinate cross-functional resources and ensure a seamless transition, embedding new hires into the firm’s culture and growth platform.

The role emphasizes project leadership, stakeholder alignment, and high-quality service.

Qualifications

• Minimum of eight+ years of experience in a law firm or professional services environment.
• Direct and substantial experience with business development, lateral recruiting and/or attorney development.
• Strong independent thinking and execution with professional judgment.

Responsibilities

• Drives firmwide integration efforts for lateral partners and senior lawyers, focusing on marketing and business development.
• Serves as main internal contact from pre-arrival through 18 months, coordinating resources.
• Collaborates to identify integration priorities and develops tailored strategies for success.
• Builds trust-based relationships and supports migration of incoming client relationships.
• Coaches laterals on marketing and business development tactics to leverage firm resources.
• Prepares integration plans with input from lateral and Clients & Markets teams.
• Convenes teams regularly to discuss progress and remove obstacles.
• Plans visits to other firm offices for business development purposes.
• Tracks progress and reports on select success metrics.

Skills

Independent thinking

Project management

Multitasking

Communication

Client service

Attention to detail

Confidentiality

AI adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Suite

Foundation

InterAction

Job description

WilmerHale is a leading, full-service international law firm with 1,000 lawyers located throughout 12 offices in the United States and Europe. Our lawyers work at the intersection of government, technology and business, and we remain committed to our guiding principles of providing quality, excellent legal and client services; developing diversity among our lawyers and staff and cultivating an environment that promotes an ambitious spirit, collaboration and collegiality by drawing on the extraordinary talents and dynamic experience of our lawyers. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of our clients and the communities in which we practice.

About the Role

This important role will work in concert with sponsoring partners and aligned members of the Clients & Markets team to facilitate the seamless onboarding and strategic integration of new lateral partners and select senior lawyers from industry, academia and government. This role ensures that incoming partners and senior lawyers experience a seamless transition, are strategically positioned to build a successful practice, and become fully embedded in the firm’s culture, operations, and business development platform. The focus is on maximizing these individuals’ practice growth, through both thoughtful individual pursuits, as well as continuous collaboration with relevant practice groups, initiative leaders, like‑minded lawyers and business professionals. This role is responsible for developing and executing a best‑in‑class integration program for legal talent. This role will ensure that each new hire receives the support and resources needed to effectively and efficiently become a productive member of the firm. This is a dynamic position, requiring a high level of engagement, organization, project management and professionalism. Demonstrates a strong commitment to professionalism by setting clear expectations and ensuring the delivery of high‑quality service. Fosters and reinforces a positive, solution‑oriented ‘can‑do’ approach across the team. Ensures effective support of internal departments, external clients, and vendors by modeling and requiring clear, courteous communication through electronic correspondence, telephone, and in‑person interactions.

What You Will Be Doing

• Drives firmwide integration efforts for lateral partners and senior lawyers, with a focus on marketing and business development interests. Leads all aspects of integration planning, cross‑functional coordination, internal relationship building and practice growth, while ensuring a cohesive process.
• Serves as a key internal point of contact for new lateral from pre‑arrival through the first 18 months at the firm; coordinates and provides updates and access to marketing and business development resources.
• Collaborates with leadership, lateral lawyers, and business professionals to identify integration priorities and develop tailored integration strategies to position laterals for success. This includes but is not limited to Clients & Markets, Finance, IS, HR, Legal Personnel & Development, Conflicts/New Business, and Practice Management.
• Builds strong, trust‑based relationships with lateral partners and senior lawyers while learning (and helping to shape) their practice interest and needs, targets and growth goals. Where appropriate, supports the migration of incoming client relationships.
• Informed by the lateral lawyers’ background and objectives, coaches these individuals on marketing and business development tactics to consider. Advises laterals on the best approach to leveraging firm resources to facilitate client transitions, business growth, and internal collaboration.
• Prepares integration plans with input and review from each lateral and their respective Clients & Markets support team. Co‑Manages those plans through successful completion, together with the involved Clients & Markets support team/s.
• Convenes integration teams and stakeholders regularly to discuss progress and maintain forward momentum, addressing needs and removing obstacles promptly.
• Plans introductions and supports lateral hire visits to other firm offices for business development purposes.
• Prepares action items for lateral partners and acts as an accountability partner in support of integration efforts. Anticipates next steps and follows‑up accordingly.
• Maintains collaborative relationships with relevant internal stakeholders to facilitate coordination and communication, and drive desired integration outcomes.
• Coordinates with department and firm leadership to track and report on select success metrics.
• Special lateral integration‑related projects and duties as assigned.

Tracking Code 2417-437 Job Description

What You Will Bring to this Position

• Strong independent thinking and execution, and mature professional judgment.
• Demonstrable experience successfully managing project teams and securing alignment with key stakeholders.
• Strong multitasking and project management skills and demonstrated capabilities to manage multiple deadlines and changing project criteria.
• Ability to deliver world class service and display a “can do” attitude with colleagues, internal clients, and external partners across all communications and interactions.
• Demonstrable analytic skills, organizational skills, initiative and vision.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, including professional presentation abilities, with impeccable skills with respect to text drafting, editing, grammar and proofreading.
• Extensive working knowledge of Microsoft Suite, Foundation and InterAction is preferred.
• Ability to handle sensitive matters and maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple high‑priority initiatives in a fast‑paced environment.
• Remains open to technological change as generative AI becomes more integrated into the firm’s practice, actively develop comfort with new tools, and adapt how work is performed to support efficiency and innovation.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of eight+ years of experience in a law firm or professional services environment.
• Direct and substantial experience and fluency with business development, lateral recruiting and/or attorney development.

Why Join Us

• A values driven firm that fosters collaboration and respect
• The hiring range for this position is $164,900 - $206,100 annually, with final compensation based on experience, qualifications and internal equity.
• This position is eligible for a Hybrid Schedule
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match and profit‑sharing options
• Paid time off and holidays

Our Commitment

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (WilmerHale) is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to compliance with all applicable laws prohibiting employment discrimination. It is our policy to take all employment actions and make all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, citizenship status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, disability, military status, status as a disabled or other protected veteran, or any other protected status under applicable law. WilmerHale will make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and otherwise as required by applicable law.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by employees in the position. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills for positions. The firm reserves the right at all times, in its sole discretion, to add or subtract duties and responsibilities, as it deems necessary. Job Location Washington, District of Columbia, United States Position Type Full-Time/Regular Salary 164,900.00 - 206,100.00 USD