Practice Group Manager - M&A​/PE

Summary

The Practice Group Manager (PGM) for M&A and Private Equity Global Practice Group (GPG) plays a critical role in developing attorneys across offices and managing the attorney talent pool. The PGM leads and develops the workflow facilitation process, evaluates and manages capacity within the M&A and Private Equity GPG, and creates rubrics and frameworks to assist the GPG in developing its attorneys.

The manager collaborates with the Director of Practice Support, learning and development team, and other stakeholders to ensure effective workflow traction, meet the GPG’s goals, and support professional development for all attorneys. The role requires a hands‑on, collaborative approach across a complex scope of associate and partner needs, balancing workloads, sourcing work across offices, maximizing resources, and building required skills.

• Build key relationships with leaders, partners, and associates in the GPG to understand business development goals, recruitment strategy, performance management expectations, and formal training program creation.
• Act as a liaison and advocate to facilitate workflow and evaluate associate capacity and skill development needs for staffing purposes. Assess associates across offices to ensure workload balance, eliminate disparate hours, and align skill development with rubrics and career goals.
• Supervise weekly workflow check‑ins with associates, flag/address bandwidth or staffing issues, and engage the appropriate billing, handling partners, or leaders.
• Lead the development of rubrics for skill development and career steps, and oversee progress among GPG associates.
• Serve as a liaison for other administrative departments and existing resources (Learning & Development;
  Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Knowledge Management; Marketing and Business Development; Accounting; Finance, etc.) by providing information, data, and key metrics to guide firm‑wide and practice‑specific initiatives.
• Identify over‑ and under‑utilized associates, staff attorneys, and summer associates, and assess skill development needs.
• Collaborate with Global Practice Leaders (GPL), Staffing Partners, and leadership to oversee attorney performance appraisals, annual compensation adjustments, and ensure consistency across the group.
• Support GPL in reviewing and developing presentation memoranda for internal partnership candidates.
• Manage proposals and client engagement projects in coordination with the business development team to align with practice area strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with Learning & Development to ensure effective onboarding of first‑year and lateral associates.
• Provide needs assessments for lateral and first‑year associate hires for GPG leadership, coordinate with Legal Recruiting, and support onboarding and integration.
• Assist in supporting the mentoring program for the GPG.
• Design morale and retention objectives in collaboration with Learning & Development.
• Develop, support, and encourage a culture of service excellence, including responsiveness, process improvements, and collegiality.

Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. If a salary range is available, it will be provided in the Target Salary Range section. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at

$185,000 to $260,000 if located in Illinois or New York

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to carry out the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements below. The requirements listed are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email  (current employees should contact Human Resources).

• J.D. and at least four years of practice experience, preferably at a peer law firm. Prior experience in staffing, professional development, or…