Business Manager

A leading UK law firm with a network of offices from the South Coast to Scotland, working together as one national team. An innovative practice and the first top 100 law firm to achieve “Gold Standard” Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm. The lack of barriers between departments, a real lack of hierarchy, zero tolerance for arrogance and pomposity makes Shoosmiths a fantastic place to work.

Our Real Estate group is one of the largest real estate teams in the UK, advising an impressive range of clients including commercial and residential developers, investors, major corporate occupiers and banks/funders. Offering exceptional market knowledge the team holds an outstanding reputation with clients and the market generally. “Clients are full of admiration for this team, noting it combines outstanding technical expertise with a “very” responsive service” (Chambers).

To provide high quality management support, ensuring all of the day to day activities of Practice Group management are handled in a coordinated and timely fashion with appropriate communication across all teams. The role is critical in supporting the Practice Group Head and partners in the practice to deliver against strategic plans, follow up on actions and ensure all day to day activities are addressed.

• Support the implementation of the practice strategy and the development of future strategy.
• Drive financial discipline in the Practice Group and individual teams, monitor financial performance and KPIs and report regularly on financial results, providing insight to increased efficiency and profitability
• Review legal adviser hours regularly and support effective utilisation across teams, highlighting areas for improvement and propose solutions as appropriate;
• Work closely with the finance team to actively support and monitor Practice Group performance against budget, providing guidance on improvement actions that need to be taken;
• Support the annual budget and reforecasting processes, playing a key role collecting projections and quantifying costs;
• Ensure proactive and effective internal communication across all teams in the Practice Group
• Provide support with client management, service delivery, client partner performance, preparation of estimates and contribute to pitches;
• Play a proactive role in all annual management tasks ensuring they are addressed in a timely and complete manner, these will include but are not limited to, partner review meetings, partner appraisals, review of one to one meetings, promotions and business planning.
• Play a proactive role in monitoring inductions, training, supervision and regulatory compliance;
• Support and facilitate the development of practice standards, adherence by all stakeholders and internal audit to measure compliance;
• Build strong working relationships with all partners and legal advisers in the Practice Group;
• Attend Practice Group partner meetings and ensure follow up of agreed actions;
• Liaise with recruiting Partners and HR to support lateral recruitment activity for the Practice Group;
• Support the oversight of the administrative/secretarial function in the Practice Group;
• Identify and share best practice in approaches and processes across the Practice Group learning from other areas of the Firm and externally
• Work collaboratively with business support functions and the Business Manager community to share best practice and support and promote firm wide projects

• Business experience in a law firm or other professional service organisation
• Candidates should have a proven track record of supporting a broad stakeholder group.
• Prior success leading, inspiring and delivering through matrix teams in a professional services or partnership environment. 
• Financial expertise and be skilled at grasping and articulating the business drivers that underpin drivers for profitability and efficiency
• Project management skills
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills
• Gravitas to support the Practice Group Head and other key stakeholders in leading a large business area will be essential.
• Creative in approach to issues with an ability to implement pragmatic solutions and ensure completion

Shoosmiths is a committed Equal Opportunities employer promoting equality of opportunity. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.