Manager, Client Development - Legal Directories & Rankings

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is seeking a Manager, Legal Directories & Rankings based in San Francisco. The successful candidate will lead the Firm's submission content strategy across major legal directories and collaborate closely with partners and practice groups.

Responsibilities include managing the submission calendar, developing matter narratives, and advising on directory processes. Candidates should have extensive legal marketing experience, exceptional writing skills, and a Bachelor's degree.

The estimated salary range for this role is $180,000 to $220,000.

Qualifications

• 6–8 years of legal marketing, business development, or directory submission experience.
• Familiarity with directories like Chambers and Legal 500.
• Ability to write clear narratives under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Elevate directories content strategy to enhance brand recognition.
• Manage directory submission calendar and deadlines.
• Collaborate with partners to develop matter narratives.

Skills

Legal marketing experience

Writing skills

Project management

Research proficiency

Critical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Simpson Thacher serves as a trusted adviser to the world’s most successful and innovative clients. This is a high-impact opportunity to partner with senior attorneys and Client Development & Engagement leaders, helping to showcase the Firm’s experience, deepen directories relationships and rankings, and drive strategic growth. You’ll be part of a dynamic team that values initiative, collaboration, precision and intellectual curiosity—and you’ll work closely with colleagues across all practices and our global Client Development & Engagement organization.

The Manager, Legal Directories & Rankings is a critical role within STB’s CDE function, responsible for leading the Firm’s submission content strategy across all major legal directories — Chambers, Legal 500, Benchmark Litigation, IFLR, and others. This role operates at the intersection of the Firm’s practice group CDE leads, Communications and client teams, and partner relationships, showcasing STB’s exceptional matter work into rankings that reflect our leading market position and meet the Firm’s high standard of excellence.

In this capacity, the Manager will report to the Firm’s Senior Manager for Awards & Recognition and work in close coordination with practice-aligned CDE leads across Banking & Credit, Capital Markets, M&A, Private Equity, Funds, Litigation, Energy & Infrastructure, and other core STB practices. This is a high-visibility, high-impact role with direct partner interaction and meaningful exposure to Firm leadership.

Responsibilities

• Elevate the Firm’s directories content strategy to help build brand recognition to contribute to the Firm’s overall growth strategy
• Own STB’s full directory calendar end-to-end: deadlines, submission drafts, referee outreach, researcher interviews, and results tracking across all ranked practices and geographies — US, Europe, and global
• Serve as the primary connective layer between CDE’s practice-aligned leads and the submissions process — ensuring that matter flow, client relationships and market narratives captured day-to-day are translated into compelling annual submissions
• Partner directly with STB partners, practice group leaders and CDE leaders to develop matter narratives, surface the right client referees, and position the Firm’s work in the context of what directories actually reward
• Manage the researcher interview process for select submissions from prep through debrief — preparing partners for calls, attending where appropriate, and documenting outcomes to inform future cycles
• Build and maintain a centralized matter and best practices database that functions as a year-round strategic asset, not a deadline scramble — integrated with CDE’s broader corpus and CRM infrastructure
• Track and benchmark the Firm’s (and competitors) rankings using Chambers’ BI tool; brief CDE leadership and relevant partners on results and trends;
• Advise and train CDE colleagues and partners on how directories work, what drives movement, and how STB’s work compares to our peers in key practice areas
• Coordinate with STB’s communications function on results announcements and internal visibility of ranking outcomes
• Build trusted relationships across the CDE team, practice teams, and firmwide departments to deliver coordinated and effective results

Required Skills And Experience

• 6–8 years of legal marketing, BD, or directory submission experience strongly preferred
• An in-depth familiarity with Chambers, Legal 500, Benchmark Litigation, IFLR and Law Business Research (LBR) methodologies including how submissions are evaluated, what moves rankings, and where firms typically leave points on the table
• Exceptional writer capable of turning complex, multi-party matters into clear, differentiated narratives under deadline pressure
• Good judgment, critical thinking, and the ability to problem solve
• Strong project manager who can run a high-volume annual calendar across a large, decentralized partner population without losing momentum or quality
• Credible and low-ego with partners — able to push back on insufficient matter detail, secure the right referees, and build credibility with senior attorneys, conveying importance of consistent engagement with rankings processes
• Familiarity with PE, M&A, funds, private credit and finance deal structures, as well as complex commercial, securities, antitrust and white collar disputes matters, is a meaningful advantage given STB’s core practice mix
• Experience working within a matrixed BD/marketing organization is a plus
• Advanced proficiency in internet research and equivalent resources

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required; JD a plus but not required

Salary Information

NY Only: The estimated base salary range for this position is $180,000 to $220,000 at the time of posting. The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job. This role is exempt meaning it is not overtime pay eligible.

Visa Sponsorship

Simpson Thacher will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

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EEO Statement

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is committed to a collegial work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. The Firm prohibits discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, marital or partnership status, sexual orientation, veteran’s status or any other legally protected status. This Policy pertains to every aspect of an individual’s relationship with the Firm, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, training and development, promotion, transfer, discipline, termination, and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment.