Cleary Gottlieb is a pioneer in globalizing the legal profession. We have 16 offices in major financial centers around the world, but we operate as a single, integrated global partnership and not a U.S. firm with a network of overseas locations. The firm employs approximately 1,100 lawyers from more than 50 countries.

Since 1946 our lawyers and staff have worked across practices, industries, jurisdictions and continents to provide clients with simple, actionable approaches to their most complex legal and business challenges, whether domestic or international. We support every client relationship with intellectual agility, commercial acumen and a human touch.

The Practice Operations Manager ("POM") is expected to provide significant operational, strategic, and organizational support to the firm's Litigation Practice Group (“PG”) working closely with the Practice Group Leaders (“PGL”) and Sub-Practice Group Leaders (“Sub-PGLs”) to manage the business, operations, and administration of the PG. The POM will play a key role in supporting the development and execution of the PG’s goals, collaborating with PGLs, Sub-PGLs and senior support professionals within the group to ensure alignment with the firm’s broader objectives. In addition, the POM is expected to take a proactive role in coordinating, managing, and overseeing all aspects of PG operations. 

Organizational Support

• Manage Group: Support the PGLs by managing PG-related tasks, issues, projects, and meetings on their behalf, either independently or initially, so PGLs may focus on leading the PG and practicing law, while ensuring critical, time-sensitive matters are prioritized and less urgent items are managed appropriately to avoid burdening the PGLs. Identify opportunities for process improvement and implement strategic solutions to optimize the practice group’s operations. workflow, and overall effectiveness.
• Serve as PG Point of Contact: Serve as key point of contact for the PG on behalf of the PGLs and draft and/or coordinate the drafting, finalization, and distribution of PG communications on behalf of the PGLs as needed.
• Organize PG Meetings: Keep meetings efficient by gathering information, agendas, and materials ahead of time and summarizing key points for the PGLs and ensuring all meeting attendees are as prepared as possible.
• Manage Information Flow: Oversee the tracking of all practice-specific data, and synthesizing this information for PGLs, ensuring that only relevant and actionable information is presented to support decision-making and drive progress. Stay apprised of developments in other PGs and across the firm to identify key information that may be useful to the PGLs.
• Support Group Performance: Help the PGLs optimize the profitability and business aspects of the PG by reviewing and analyzing financial information; stay apprised of activity and timekeeper utilization levels in the PG; and help the PG evaluate alternate staffing and pricing models to enhance profitability when necessary.

Strategic Support

• Strategic Planning: Work closely with key stakeholders to drive the development and execution of a long-term strategic business plan, present quarterly updates to the Partners on progress against stated goals to ensure the practice group meets its targets. Identify potential barriers to continued BD growth—whether related to staffing, expertise, PR, profitability, or other factors. Outline these challenges in the Strategic Business Plan and work alongside Partners to develop and implement effective solutions.
• Subcommittee Liaison: Collaborate with Sub-PGLs to track key initiatives, challenges, and opportunities ensuring that subcommittee goals align with broader priorities of the practice and the firm.
• Strategic Business Development Liaison: Act as a liaison to support business development initiatives, contributing substantive insights for pitches, presentations, and client-facing materials, meetings, events, and other client interactions.
• Matter Profiling and Experience Tracking:  Work with practice group knowledge resources to create and oversee matter and experience information tracking processes to ensure accurate, current information is available for knowledge sharing and business development efforts.
• Industry Awareness: Stay informed on PG-related developments and share insights with the team. Monitor trends and key initiatives at peer law firms to ensure Cleary remains a leader in client service and operational excellence.
• Client Service: Collaborate with BD to track feedback from current and prospective clients, ensuring regular updates from Partners on client insights from active and closed matters. Identify opportunities to showcase our strengths and integrate client-suggested improvements into the Strategic Plan, related processes, procedures, and technology solutions.
• Content Curation: Review and implement any key changes to internal and external information channels such as Cleary360 resource pages, practice sites, external website, pitch, and marketing materials.

• Bachelor’s degree required. Candidates possessing an MBA or JD will be given additional consideration.
• A minimum of 5+ years of experience influencing and working closely with executive level leaders. Law firm or professional services experience preferred, and experience working in litigation group is a plus.
• Ability to cultivate effective partnerships across diverse PG and departments, drive decision-making processes, and ensure successful implementation of initiatives.
• Ability to work strategically and collaboratively across PGs and other departments of the firm.
• Impeccable managerial, organizational, and interpersonal skills with the ability to meet multiple and fast paced deadlines.
• Exceptional written, presentation and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Sharepoint
• Strong financial literacy and numeracy skills, with the ability to analyze data and metrics effectively. Excellent demonstrated judgment and diplomacy in working with diverse groups to address complex issues.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion in all professional matters.