Practice Management Specialist

About Katten

Katten is a full-service law firm with approximately 700 attorneys in locations across the United States and in London and Shanghai. Clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services turn to Katten for counsel locally, nationally and internationally. The firm’s core areas of practice include corporate, financial markets and funds, insolvency and restructuring, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, structured finance and securitization, transactional tax planning, private credit and private wealth. Katten represents public and private companies in numerous industries, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals.

Summary for the Practice Management Specialist

The Practice Management Specialist is responsible for supporting the daily operations, administration and management of specific legal practice groups to drive the strategic and profitable growth of the firm. This position works collaboratively with practice and department leadership and business professional teams on key projects to ensure coordination, effective engagement with firm resources and high quality execution of strategic projects and initiatives at practice group levels.

The Practice Management Specialist will work proactively and collaboratively with lawyers and professionals across offices, practice groups and infrastructure departments, including Professional Development, Legal Recruiting, Marketing and Business Development, Finance, Information Technology. The Practice Management Specialist maintains professionalism and strict confidentiality in all client and firm matters.

This position may be located in our Chicago or New York office. Katten offers a hybrid work model, allowing the flexibility to work both on-site and remotely on a regular basis (KattenFlex).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include, but may not be limited to, the following. Other duties may be requested and/or assigned. Essential functions are primary job duties that an individual must be able to perform successfully with or without a reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Practice Operations and Administration

• Provide highest level of service to department heads, practice group leaders, attorneys and other timekeepers. Support the general daily administration and operations of the practice group, including organization, logistics and execution of department, practice group and partner meeting schedule and materials. Lead regular meetings with practice group leadership, keeping them informed on relevant firm and group issues and initiatives, as well as updates on overall practice performance. Work with practice group leaders and relevant professional services teams to set agendas for practice group meetings.
• Manage practice communications including meeting agendas, minutes, materials and correspondence. Maintain practice group administrative documents worksite. Support the implementation and maintenance of knowledge and matter management systems and manage practice group resources. Maintain content for practice group intranet sites, including resources, news and events and calendars.
• Identify and recommend process improvements to increase efficiencies across practice and firm operations.

Strategic Planning

• Support practice group leaders in the development of annual business plans for practice groups and associated presentations to firm administration. Track and report on execution of practice group business plan action items, maintain tracking spreadsheet and follow-up with leadership and accountable timekeepers. Manage reports and presentations on business plan progress and practice success metrics. Ensure that practice initiatives are in line with the goals and objectives of the business plan and the firm strategic plan.

Financial Analysis and Management

• Review and analyze practice group financial information, including attorney production and utilization, billings and collections, budgets and forecasting. Provide timely financial summaries to practice group leadership on group performance. Collaborate with Finance team members to respond to requests for financial information.

Administrative Teams

• Interact and collaborate with key administrative and operational teams on behalf of the practice group. Where appropriate, facilitate execution of firm-wide initiatives at the practice group or department level. Partner with the Marketing and Business Development, Professional Development and Attorney Recruiting teams on related projects and initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of four or more years of experience in a law firm, financial, professional services or corporate environment or equivalent combination of education and experience. Prior practice management, operations or client services experience is preferred.
• Computer proficient with knowledge and understanding in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. Ability to communicate with courtesy, diplomacy and discretion, efficiently follow written and verbal instructions, provide information and maintain effective relationships with a diverse group of attorneys, firm management, clients, staff and outside contacts.
• Excellent analytical, organization and project management skills requiring an aptitude for detail and accuracy, in order to perform the essential duties of the position.
• Exhibit high degree of initiative in managing multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, high-stressed, detail-oriented work environment utilizing excellent judgement, administrative abilities, and decision-making skills. Proactive with excellent troubleshooting, problem resolution, and follow-through skills.
• Dependable team player who exhibits a high degree of initiative, critical-thinking skills, and excellent judgment. Works collaboratively and cooperatively with others in a team-oriented environment. Ability to understand and support firm goals, services, culture and strategy. Highly motivated and strategic focus.
• Outstanding organizational, planning, and project management skills including record keeping, and data collection. Ability to compile and analyze data and furnish concise, detailed information in report format, written correspondence, e‑mail, or verbally.

In our Chicago office, the annualized salary range for this position is $65,000 to $85,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law.

We offer an outstanding benefit package which includes: medical/dental/vision, 401k with employer contribution, parental leave, transportation fringe benefit program, back-up care option, generous paid time off policy, and long-term and short-term disability policies.

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.