Associate Director, Lateral Partner Recruiting & Integration - Transactional Practices

King & Spalding is a leading global law firm with a commitment to excellence, innovation, and the seamless delivery of legal services. We harness innovative technology and exceptional talent to meet the complex needs of our clients in a fast-paced and dynamic legal landscape. 

The Associate Director of Lateral Partner Recruiting & Integration will work closely with the Chief of Lateral Partner Recruiting & Integration, Practice Group Leaders, and the Partner Lateral Recruiting leads to support the strategic growth of the Corporate, Finance & Restructuring, and Real Estate & Investment Funds Practice Groups across the U.S. offices, through all aspects of lateral partner recruiting. Through executing the strategic lateral partner recruitment plans, the Associate Director will play a key role in the commitment to hire, develop, and retain the best legal talent that provides our clients with the highest quality work and service. The Associate Director will collaborate closely with executive leadership, Practice Group Leads, and Sponsoring Partners to shape and execute recruiting strategies Transactional practice groups and facilitate the seamless integration of new lateral partners, ensuring their successful transition and long-term engagement within the firm.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Lateral Partner Recruiting 

• Together with the Chief of Lateral Partner Recruiting & Integration and Practice Group Leads and Lateral Recruiting Leads, develop and implement strategies to identify, recruit and hire top lateral partners in line with the Firm’s strategic goals and hiring standards. 

• Proactively execute innovative sourcing strategies across the transactional practices that produce and maintain a qualified and diverse pipeline of potential target candidates, including by participating in meetings with key partners in the practice groups, building lists of potential candidates that fit the practice/firm profile and developing plans to recruit target candidates. 

• Serve as the primary liaison for candidates, search firms, and internal stakeholders, fostering strong relationships and representing the firm’s brand. 

• Develop and maintain search firm relationships to share the Firm’s goals, strategies and desired targets in various markets in order to create a robust candidate pipeline. 

• Direct the preparation and delivery of candidate interview schedules, pre-interview materials, and marketing collateral. 

• Work with Practice Group Leads on the drafting of interview talking points, practice summaries, memos in support of candidates to be presented to the Policy Committee and integration plans, ensuring consistency and strategic messaging. 

• Maintain and analyze market intelligence on lateral partner moves, leveraging data to inform recruiting decisions. 

• Manage collection of conflicts, diligence and Lateral Partner Questionnaires and analyze data for lateral leads and sponsors 

• Draft offer letters, compensation plans, and request pro formas to collaborate with internal stakeholders on developing candidate compensation packages. 

• Coach, develop and train recruiting coordinators, assign work and provide feedback to foster a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. 

Lateral Partner Integration  

• Work alongside Director of Partner Integration on integration plans for newly joined lateral partners, collaborating with Integration Partners and firm leadership. 

• Conduct regular touchpoints with lateral partners to monitor integration progress and address challenges. 

• Develop initiatives to enhance onboarding experience. 

• Partner with Human Resources to ensure all onboarding documentation and processes are completed seamlessly. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s degree required; JD strongly preferred. 

• Minimum 8 years prior experience; preferably as a transactional attorney or in law firm partner recruiting  

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence all levels of the organization. 

• Proven track record of managing complex projects and competing priorities in a dynamic, high-pressure environment. 

• Deep understanding of the legal industry and lateral partner market trends. 

• Ability to think strategically and maintain strict confidentiality. 

• Strong analytical, organizational skills, with the ability to multi-task and prioritize projects in a fast-paced, detailed, oriented environment. 

• Committed professionalism with a strong sense of ownership and has the ability to proactively follow up and follow through. 

• A proactive learner who has the flexibility to adapt to new systems and processes. 

The firm offers a generous total compensation package with bonuses and raises awarded in recognition of individual merit-based performance. All full-time Business Services employees may participate in King & Spalding’s comprehensive benefit program including health and wellness plan, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts and a health savings account, a 401(k) plan, profit sharing plan, and a substantial Paid Time Off (PTO) program.

Pay Transparency Range:

Full time annualized salary range:

New York: $175K- $230K

Chicago: $155K- $200K

Qualified candidates with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the following laws if applicable:  City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act.

King & Spalding LLP (K&S) is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees in full compliance with all state, federal, and local laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, age, disability or any other status protected by applicable law. 

We are proud of our remarkably cohesive culture, which now encompasses more than 2,500 lawyers and business professionals worldwide. We seek to attract and develop the very best talent to work with us.