The Director of Practice Group Management (DPGM) in the US-IP practice group is responsible for Firm-wide intellectual property strategy, operations, and financial management. The DPGM assists in developing and implementing the strategic direction of the US-IP group and plays a key role in development, growth and performance of personnel and development including implementation of systems that facilitate IP practice group optimum performance. The IP Practice Group is comprehensive and encompasses patent, trademark copyright, and trade secret, as well as litigation, prosecution, and transactions. This position requires a combination of leadership, creativity, business development and project management skills.
Responsibilities and Duties:
Partners with practice group leadership and finance on preparation and implementation IP group strategic business plan including practice group financial targets, business development and operations.
Creates and tracks litigation and prosecution processing metrics and provides statistical reporting to practice group leadership and timekeepers.
Partners with Human Resources in the managing of IP business professionals and paralegals’ performance for entire US-IP practice group, including prosecution and litigation.
Executes and manages business development strategies.
Meets with the Practice Group Leader regularly to lead current client and prospective client initiatives, and ensure appropriate follow-up action items are completed.
Organizes and moderates Practice Group meetings.
Plans and coordinates Practice Group retreats with Business Development team.
Assists with the development of individual lawyer business development plans.
Oversees IP docketing protocols and system procurement, development and implementation in accordance with, or in excess of market standards.
Serves as a point of contact to lead operational processes and system/tool maintenance and changes, maintains best practices and standards and improves service quality and timeliness, productivity and cost effectiveness.
Creates standards and consistent operational practices across US-IP practice group for all locations.
Partners with practice group leadership alongside IT on IP technology procurement, maintenance, enhancements, upgrades and training.
Serves as an active member on various practice group and Firm committees (i.e., operations, diversity, training, technology, talent enrichment).
Ad hoc projects from Practice Group Leader.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
A Bachelor’s degree is required in from an accredited college or university. Bachelors in Business, Marketing or Communications. MBA preferred.
Ten or more years of experience working in an IP Practice Group in a similarly sized, multi-office professional services organization. Experience in business development is required. Must have at least five years of manager or director level experience.
Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills are required. Proven analytical and problem-solving skills. Detail-oriented, organized and have strong ability to lead others. Ability to multi-task and prioritize workloads. Ability to present ideas in a business-friendly and user-friendly language.
Salary is commensurate with years of relevant experience & geographic location. The range for this position is $134,000 - $285,000.
Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within our Firm and in the larger legal profession. We believe that diverse skills, knowledge and viewpoints make us a stronger firm. Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP maintains a policy of affording all employees and applicants equal employment opportunities without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity or expression or transgender status), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital or familial status, domestic violence victim status, ancestry, amnesty, citizenship status, ethnicity, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation will not be tolerated in any of the Firm’s offices or any other work-related setting. Qualified individuals with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation in order to apply for a position or to enable them to perform the essential functions of a position for which they are otherwise qualified. EEO.
As a global top 10 law firm, Eversheds Sutherland provides legal advice and solutions to an international client base which includes
some of the world’s largest multinationals.
