Senior Legal Project Manager – Client Lead

The role

Legal Project Management (LPM)

We have established a market-leading Legal Project Management team. Those who join our award-winning team become integral to shaping a rapidly evolving area of law essential to the firm's growth strategy.

As a Senior Legal Project Manager – Client Lead, you will be a core member of the Client relationship team for one of the firm's most significant clients. You will work closely with the Global Relationship Partners (GRPs) and Client Development Manager (CDM) to successfully implement the Client strategy and play a leading role in dealing with the complex dynamics, internal communications, and organisational aspects of one of our most international and strategic Clients. Whilst we have an established team of LPM professionals, this is the first LPM role of its kind within Clifford Chance centred around a client relationship, and so it presents an exciting new challenge for an experienced Project Manager to break new ground.

You will oversee a portfolio of legal matters (projects) to ensure alignment with our Client strategy and the firm's strategic objectives. Throughout the portfolio, you will proactively plan and deploy efficient solutions, such as LPMs, Legal Technology, and best practices.

You will enhance the Client experience by deploying practical portfolio and project management best practices.  You will track matters, work with Partners, monitor resourcing and budgets, and integrate efficient solutions throughout the portfolio. You will bring new ideas, creativity, and expertise to an evolving role in a rapidly changing legal market. The successful candidate will be resilient and engaging and bring the gravitas of a subject matter expert to support the GRPs. The successful candidate will have strong commercial acumen and the ability to engage successfully with Partners across our network to influence positive outcomes for the portfolio.

Who you will work with

You will establish strong relationships with the GRPs, CDM, Finance and Legal Project Management colleagues, and Partners across our network.

What you will be responsible for

You will take the lead across a complex global portfolio of legal matters (projects) to ensure delivery of the portfolio in line with positive financial outcomes as agreed with the GRPs and establish yourself as the central point of contact for information in relation to the portfolio, working alongside the GRPs as an integral part of the client team.

You will work closely with the GRPs and CDM to understand the Client strategy, devise and implement methods and processes to enhance efficiencies and ensure consistent and accurate quality of data across the portfolio. You will take a leading role to practically implement the outputs of agreed processes to achieve desired outcomes. You will demonstrate a strong understanding of the financial metrics which are key for this unique portfolio.

You will oversee the portfolio, proactively collaborating with multiple matter Partners, lawyers, and LPMs across the firm to ensure the successful delivery of each matter in alignment with our Client strategy and firm objectives. You will develop and maintain successful relationships with Partners across the portfolio, becoming their first point of contact, deeply understand Client needs and Partner pain-points, implement practical solutions to address these needs, and showcase your influencing skills by embedding efficient service delivery models.

What you will do

Portfolio Management: 

• Oversee the management of a diverse portfolio of legal matters (projects), ensuring the efficient allocation of resources and technology in alignment with Client strategy.

• Proactively manage data requirements across the portfolio, ensuring GRPs have clear and ready access to accurate data points, and use data across the portfolio to influence positive outcomes for the portfolio.

• Take the lead in relevant meetings and address Client and Partner requests for data, information, and portfolio updates.

Portfolio Budget Management: 

• Work with Finance/CDM colleagues to support the scope and budget planning process.

• Provide the GRPs with relevant insights to inform budget or investment decisions.

• Plan and execute a Client reporting strategy that will enable the firm to demonstrate the full value and impact of the services delivered to the Client.

Collaboration: 

• The GRPs will provide strategy direction and guidance and be your key sponsor for this role. You will work alongside the GRPs as a critical member of the client team.

• Collaborate closely with matter Partners, lawyers, LPMs, and relevant functions to ensure seamless coordination and execution of the Client strategy.

• Assign LPM responsibilities and tasks for specific matters to the appropriate resources within the LPM function.

Performance Monitoring: 

• Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and accruals, manage the portfolio against agreed budgets and scope, and implement value-based Client reporting.

• Evaluate and report on the portfolio's performance, using KPIs to assess success and identify areas for improvement.

Client Relationship: 

• Develop strong relationships with Client stakeholders, understanding their needs and expectations and ensuring the delivery of high-quality services to delight our Clients.

• Ability to work directly with Clients, positively representing Clifford Chance.

Portfolio Analysis: 

• Conduct periodic analysis of external market trends and developments to inform our Client strategy and help maintain our competitive advantage.

• Continuously seek opportunities to optimise the portfolio by considering new tools, resources, and working methods and make recommendations to the GRPs, as appropriate.

Portfolio and Matter Planning: 

• Coordinate with Finance/CDM colleagues to assist matter Partners in preparing annual scoping and forecasting. Engage with the Client and its processes and procedures to implement annual scoping across the portfolio.

• Work with LPMs to establish and oversee a new matter onboarding process. Including influencing matter Partners and lawyers to adopt service delivery models to increase efficiencies.

Portfolio Risk Management:

• Identify common risks or issues, such as resource constraints or location, and provide solution-focused recommendations to mitigate risks to the GRPs.

• Capture lessons learned to enhance future risk management. Analyse common issues and root causes, applying practical and scalable solutions across the portfolio.

Your experience

Proven Legal Project/Portfolio management track record and experience working with senior Partners and Clients, preferably within a legal or professional services environment.

Strong understanding of legal processes and the ability to manage complex legal matters. Strong understanding of key financial concepts and metrics inherent in law firm client relationship and matter evaluation.

Commercial acumen: Ability to communicate complex commercial concepts clearly and persuasively to stakeholders.

Excellent analytical, organisational, and problem-solving skills.

Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain strong Client relationships through honesty and transparency

Proficiency in using portfolio management software and tools.

The ability to align teams towards common goals and foster a culture of collaboration.

Demonstrate active listening by understanding what someone said, implied, and intended.

The ability to be resilient and remain focussed on the task at hand.

Ability to build trust and close working relationships with senior stakeholders.

How we will support you

We invest in training and supporting professionals throughout their careers and developing their skills and experience.

We offer assistance and funding for industry-recognised accreditations and qualifications. The nature of the work and interaction with the team will drive continuous on-the-job learning.

LPM colleagues are based in all major offices, and they will provide support and guidance as you join the global LPM community.

Who we are

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.

Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance is the world's largest fully integrated law firm committed to leadership and innovation in legal service. We are global market leaders in all major areas of legal advice, and a significant element of our strategy is to attract and retain the best people by investing in, developing, and nurturing our talent.

Clifford Chance is committed to delivering our Clients' best-in-class legal services. We recognise that achieving this relates to the quality of our legal advice and how we provide our advice to Clients, which is why efficient and effective service delivery is critical to our strategy. We apply innovative technology, embed a culture of continuous improvement, and deploy efficient resources to improve outcomes for our Clients and the firm.

Hybrid Working

This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.

What we offer including our broad range of benefits and working environment

When you join Clifford Chance, you will have access to a broad range of benefits to support you across many aspects of your personal and professional life including financial, wellbeing, lifestyle, and family friendly benefits. For more information on what we offer specifically in the UK, please visit our What We Offer page on our career site.

Equal opportunities statement

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society. 

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. 

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.