Key Responsibilities:

Relationship Management
• Develop and maintain strong, strategic relationships with law firm billing departments to foster collaboration and trust.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external law firm billing departments, facilitating clear communication and collaboration on legal matter accounting.
• Act as a liaison between internal legal teams and outside counsel to ensure seamless information flow.

Accountability & Performance Evaluation
• Monitor and assess the performance of outside counsel against established service level agreements (SLAs) and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Conduct regular reviews of outside counsel engagements, including feedback sessions and performance evaluations, to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
• Implement strategies to enhance the quality and efficiency of outside counsel services.

Engagement Oversight
• Collaborate with internal legal teams to understand their needs, project scopes, and to identify suitable outside counsel for specific matters.
• Ensure alignment of outside counsel services with business objectives and legal requirements by conducting needs assessments and regular checkins.
• Manage the onboarding process for new outside counsel, ensuring they understand our expectations and procedures.

Cost Management
• Analyze billing practices, scrutinize invoices, and manage legal spend associated with outside counsel, identifying opportunities for cost savings and efficiency.
• Negotiate fee structures, billing terms, and other contractual arrangements with outside counsel to maximize value.
• Develop and implement budgetary controls and processes for outside counsel expenditures.

Compliance & Risk Management
• Ensure that outside counsel adheres to company policies, compliance requirements, and best practices in risk management.
• Monitor changes in laws and regulations that may impact the engagement of outside counsel and communicate relevant updates to internal teams.
• Conduct due diligence on outside counsel to assess their capabilities, areas of expertise, and risk profiles.
Training & Development
• Facilitate training sessions for internal teams on best practices for managing outside counsel relationships, including communication and performance feedback.
• Keep internal stakeholders informed about changes in outside counsel practices, capabilities, and offerings through regular updates and workshops.

Market Insights
• Stay updated on industry trends, legal market dynamics, and competitive practices related to outside counsel management.
• Conduct market research to identify potential new law firms for engagement based on evolving needs, emerging legal issues, and shifts in the legal landscape.

Reporting & Analytics
• Prepare and present regular reports on outside counsel performance, engagement metrics, and legal spend to senior management and stakeholders.
• Utilize data analytics to identify trends, performance gaps, and opportunities for improvement in outside counsel relationships.

Required Technical and Professional Expertise

• Bachelor's degree in Law, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Proven experience in vendor or relationship management, preferably within a legal context.
• Strong understanding of legal services, law firm operations, and the legal industry landscape.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to analyze financial data and legal billing practices effectively.

Preferred Technical and Professional Expertise

• Familiarity with legal technology systems for RFP, Matter Management, and e-Billing, etc.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple relationships and projects simultaneously.
• Proficient in using relationship management software and tools.