Associate Director, Lateral Partner Recruiting & Integration- Transactional Practices

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 for 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 Develop and implement strategies with the Chief of Lateral Partner Recruiting & Integration and Practice Group Leads 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 transactional practices to produce and maintain a qualified and diverse pipeline of potential target candidates, including building lists of potential candidates that fit the practice/firm profile and developing recruitment plans. 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 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 drafting interview talking points, practice summaries, and memos to support 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 the collection of conflicts, diligence, and Lateral Partner Questionnaires, and analyze data for lateral leads and sponsors. Draft offer letters, compensation plans, and 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 the 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 of 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 and organizational skills, with the ability to multi‑task and prioritize projects in a fast‑paced, detail‑oriented environment. Committed professionalism with a strong sense of ownership and proactive follow‑up and follow‑through. A proactive learner who can adapt to new systems and processes. Compensation & Benefits Generous total compensation package with bonuses and raises awarded in recognition of individual merit‑based performance. Full‑time Business Services employees may participate in a comprehensive benefit program including health and wellness plan, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a health savings account, a 401(k) plan, profit‑sharing plan, and a substantial Paid Time Off (PTO) program. Pay Transparency: Full‑time annualized salary ranges – New York: $175K‑$230K; Chicago: $155K‑$200K. Equal Employment Opportunity 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. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr King & Spalding LLP