Back to jobs
Head of Practice Management, US Global M&A and CapitalFreshfields · New York
Freshfields logo

Freshfields

company page ↗

Head of Practice Management, US Global M&A and Capital

🗓️ Posted 2026-09-01 New York Hybrid Legal
💰 Salary Not shared 📊 Market 16,666 GBP–29,166 GBP/mo

About the Company

Freshfields is a global firm with over 280 years' experience of anticipating change, setting new standards and shaping the future of law. In a complex world where new opportunities evolve quickly, we are a trusted, forward-thinking partner who can give clients the edge and help propel their ambitions. At Freshfields we are steadfast champions of our clients-that's why leading global companies turn to us when it matters most. We are proud to be recognised as a top-tier leader in the practice areas most important to clients around the world today. We bring bold thinking, deep expertise and the latest capabilities to help clients make critical decisions, prepare for new opportunities, and tackle unprecedented matters. When opportunities stretch across borders, we connect clients with experts and advisors from across our global team. We are deeply committed to making a positive impact for our clients, our communities and the people we serve, and we are transparent about our efforts to drive change. --- Freshfields has offices in Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, China, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America and Vietnam. Law Practice Specialties: Corporate & M&A, Banking & Finance, Dispute Resolution, Competition & Regulatory, Intellectual Property, Capital Markets, Energy & Infrastructure, Antitrust

About the Role

The Global M&A and Capital (GMAC) Department's lawyer population is comprised of associates reporting to partners across several sub-practice teams. The GMAC group is made up of M&A, Capital Markets, Private Capital, and Finance lawyers. The GMAC department also includes practice support functions, including paralegal support, practice resource attorneys, and knowledge professionals. The position reports directly to the Practice Group Leader and to the US COO. Role summary/purpose of job The US Head of Practice Management, Global M&A and Capital will serve as operational chief and trusted advisor to the US GMAC Practice Group Leader and will support all US GMAC partners. The person in the role will have primary responsibility for coordination of resources within US GMAC and will work directly with practice group leadership to drive operational efficiency. The role will liaise with global practice group leadership and regional and global heads of business services functions to support the practice group's goals associated with operations and resourcing; talent development; culture & inclusion; knowledge and innovation; and other areas of focus.

Responsibilities

  • ● Practice Support and Operations
  • ● Provide operational oversight of practice group support functions to ensure optimal delivery of legal services.
  • ● Collaborate with business services departments (e.g., Legal Recruiting, Learning and Development, Talent Development, C&I, HR, IT, Knowledge, Legal, etc.) to ensure appropriate support for the practice group.
  • ● Promote innovation within the team by providing direction and input into ways of working, resource management, and use of technology, including AI.
  • ● Provide input and collaborate on design and implementation of different operating models for resourcing.
  • ● Oversee practice group knowledge program and precedent management system.
  • ● Oversee development and delivery of practice group training programs.
  • ● Oversee paralegal program.
  • ● Talent Recruitment and Development
  • ● Support the Practice Group Leader and partners in building high performing legal teams, including development and tracking of associate milestone achievement.
  • ● Manage associate work allocation with the support of the practice management coordinator, balancing client needs, matter urgency, associate availability, seniority, skill level, development goals, and equitable distribution of both high-profile and routine work.
  • ● Administer junior associate staffing pools and rotation models so that associates receive broad exposure across matter types, partners, clients, and deal stages while maintaining continuity for matters and responsiveness to partners.
  • ● Monitor associate and counsel utilization on an ongoing basis, identify under- or over-utilization trends, and work with partners to adjust staffing, address excess capacity, protect against burnout, and ensure lawyers are receiving the right level of experience.
  • ● Work closely with Recruiting on lateral associate, counsel, and partner hiring, including advising on headcount needs, role requirements, market priorities, candidate profiles, interviewer selection, offer strategy, and practice-specific integration plans.
  • ● Partner with Recruiting and HR to oversee lateral attorney integration after hire, including onboarding, initial work assignments, partner and mentor connections, early feedback loops, and check-ins at key points during the first year.
  • ● Collaborate with Talent Development, HR and partners in delivery of annual performance appraisals.
  • ● Escalate utilization and performance issues. Work with partners, HR, and other business services departments to appropriately manage associate and counsel performance.
  • ● Facilitate professional development and career progression of associates and counsel, collaborating as appropriate with talent development committee, GMAC partners, and regional and global business services departments.
  • ● Support the Practice Group Leader in annual partner/counsel promotion process.
  • ● Internal Communications and Reporting