Lateral Integration Manager

Overview

A leading international law firm is seeking an experienced Senior Manager, Lateral Partner Integration to lead the onboarding and strategic integration of lateral partners and senior attorneys.

This highly visible role will collaborate with firm leadership, attorneys, and business development teams to ensure successful transitions, strengthen internal relationships, and support long-term practice growth.

The ideal candidate has extensive law firm experience, strong business development expertise, and exceptional relationship management and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead firmwide integration initiatives for lateral partners and senior attorneys.
• Serve as a primary point of contact from pre-arrival through approximately the first 18 months.
• Develop and execute customized integration plans focused on business development, client relationships, and practice growth.
• Partner with firm leadership, Marketing, Business Development, HR, Finance, IT, and other departments to coordinate integration efforts.
• Build trusted relationships with lateral attorneys to understand their practice goals and business objectives.
• Advise attorneys on business development strategies, cross-selling opportunities, and available firm resources.
• Facilitate client transitions, strategic introductions, and internal networking opportunities.
• Coordinate meetings, office visits, and relationship-building initiatives across practice groups and locations.
• Track integration milestones, deliverables, and progress while addressing challenges and ensuring accountability.
• Develop and report on integration success metrics and program effectiveness.
• Identify opportunities to improve lateral integration processes, strategies, and best practices.
• Manage special projects and additional integration initiatives as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in a law firm or professional services environment.
• Experience in business development, lateral integration, attorney development, lateral recruiting, or a related function.
• Strong understanding of law firm operations, business development, and attorney practice-growth strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with partners, senior attorneys, and firm leadership.
• Proven experience managing complex, cross-functional projects and competing priorities.
• Exceptional organizational, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong drafting, editing, and proofreading abilities.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality.
• Proactive, collaborative, and client-service-oriented approach.
• Advanced Microsoft Office proficiency; experience with Foundation and InterAction preferred.
• Adaptability to evolving technologies, including generative AI tools.