Latitude Partner & Office Leader (Non-Practicing Attorney)

About Latitude

Latitude directly employs and provides high caliber attorneys and other legal professionals to legal departments and law firms nationwide. Our specialty is providing our clients practice-specific contract attorneys who have served as associates, counsel, and partners in Am Law firms and/or as in-house counsel in large corporate legal departments. We also assist many of our clients with permanent positions, including general counsel searches. Our clients range from Fortune Global 500 companies and Global 100 law firms to high-growth privately-held companies, major non-profits, government entities, and boutique law firms.

All Latitude Partners are former law firm partners or senior in-house counsel with extensive community ties, practice experience and professional relationships in their respective markets. Our mission is to be the preeminent high-end flexible legal talent company in the world. Currently, the company has offices in multiple cities across the United States and more than 5,000 attorneys in our talent pool (including attorneys in all 50 states). In 2024, the National Law Journal recognized Latitude as both the #1 attorney staffing company and the #1 legal recruiter in the United States.

The Role:

We are looking for individuals to launch and manage local offices in specific cities (see below) in the United States as officers and equity business partners. Although this role has a heavy business development component, it is not a commissioned sales job. It is instead far more entrepreneurial. As a Latitude Partner, you would be responsible for building and launching a local Latitude operating company that you co-own in your city. Latitude provides the capital, established infrastructure, training, and a supporting corporate team so that you aren’t starting from scratch.

This unique model has fueled Latitude’s incredible growth over the past few years. In the past we’ve brought on Partners who are all either former law firm partners or senior in-house counsel with extensive professional networks and community ties. Which lets them hit the ground running. Over time we’ve noticed two traits among the most successful candidates.

First, being willing to put yourself out there. Whether it’s through local bar association events, national conferences, or online platforms like LinkedIn, successful Latitude Partners are in constant contact with decision makers at law firms and legal departments. They spend a ton of time introducing Latitude to busy people. Which isn’t as easy as you might think. Successful Partners are incredibly persistent and unafraid of constant rejection.

Second, being hyper-responsive to client demands outside of normal working hours. Latitude’s clients often rely on us to provide talent at the last minute, which means requests can come through at all hours of the day and sometimes on weekends. How quickly you respond can make all the difference. Successful Partners are energized by the possibility of new business and don’t need to be reminded to follow up promptly.

Being a Latitude Partner is not for everyone. It is demanding and requires an incredibly heavy focus on business development. This role requires a high degree of persistence, resilience and responsiveness; if you do not enjoy moving fast, multi-tasking, interacting with attorneys, or responding to client needs with a sense of urgency, then this role will not be appealing to you. You’ll need to expand and maintain strong relationships with your professional peers in your local market (and nationwide), have the patience and grit to build a business, and the confidence and risk tolerance to be rewarded as an equity business partner based on the financial performance of your operating company – which is driven by your ability to attract clients and provide them with consistently top-tier talent and exceptional client service.

Opportunity:

• Launch, lead, and manage your local operating company
• Serve as Latitude's ambassador and client relations leader in your geographic market and with your network nationwide
• Oversee numerous high-end peer-level attorneys working on assignment with legal departments and law firms (but no involvement in their legal work)
• Build on your years of legal industry experience and established relationships in the industry
• Serve sophisticated clientele of senior in-house counsel and law firm partners

Responsibilities:

• Become the go-to trusted legal talent advisor, career connector and legal talent resource for legal department and law firm decision-makers
• Develop and manage client relationships
• Propose on-point candidates to your clients, negotiate and close deals
• Log and track key performance indicators to help you, your team and the Latitude corporate team understand areas of commercial opportunity
• Serve as Latitude's company leader and brand ambassador in your local market
• Maintain world-class levels of client and candidate satisfaction and strong financial performance

Requirements:

• Prior experience as a successful lawyer (preferably a partner) in a well-respected law firm that serves legal departments, or as a senior in-house counsel, is highly preferred. However, we are also open to considering other attorneys who have demonstrated significant success in attracting legal department clients.
• Strong business development aptitude. Prior proven success in law firm client development or experience in any sales role is highly desirable.
• Strong existing relationships with senior decision-makers (e.g., CLOs, GCs, DGCs, Heads of Legal Ops) in the legal departments of large companies, and partners and execs at leading law firms, in your local market.
• Outstanding references and background check.
• This is a very time-intensive, full-time executive and client service position. While it offers flexibility and the ability to frequently work from a home office (WFH) if desired, you must be able to frequently travel locally to meet with clients and prospective clients (e.g., at client offices, restaurants, at professional events, etc.). Occasional national travel is also required (e.g., legal conferences, partner meetings, etc.).

Location:

We are looking for interested candidates who reside in and have deep ties (including multiple years working in the local legal industry) in Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., or San Diego. Other cities may be considered on a case by case basis.

Timing:

Our next class of Latitude Partners has a target start date in January 2025.

Compensation:

The total compensation for the Latitude Partner role is largely dependent on the financial performance of the market since the main long-term financial benefit is equity (and the cash flow – i.e., profit distributions – that result when the market is profitable). The expectation is that the total earnings for Latitude Partners would be $200,000 to $400,000+ per year as the Latitude Partner successfully develops and scales the market to size; getting into this range can be expected to take 12-24 months if successful given the fly-wheel nature of building a new market.

There is no profits cap; the Latitude Partner co-owns the operating company and so receives a percentage of profits (in addition to base salary, bonuses and benefits). Building a new market takes time; this is a long-term business opportunity.

• Equity. The Latitude Partner is an equity member (co-owner) with a significant stake in the operating company. Cash flow to the Partner from this equity stake is intended to far eclipse the Partner’s salary and other W2 compensation if they are effective.
• Base Salary: The base salary is intended to be a minimal part of the financial value of this opportunity to the Partner; the financial upside in this role is in the equity. The starting annual base salary for this role is $150,000. Base salary is based on multiple factors including but not limited to work experience, qualifications, location, and the amount of equity granted. The base salary goes down in subsequent years – the salary is merely a bridge to profit distributions.
• Bonuses & Incentive Compensation. This position also includes bonuses and incentive compensation based on financial performance. Similar to base salary, the bonuses and incentive comp go down in subsequent years – they are intended as a bridge to profit distributions.
• Benefits: A full benefits package, including group medical, dental, and vision insurance, and complimentary group life, LTD and AD&D insurance. A qualified 401k plan is also available.

Confidentiality & How to Apply

If you are interested in this role, you may apply online and/or you are welcome to directly email Latitude CEO Ross Booher in confidence at rbooher@latitudelegal.com. Interested candidates may then be asked to complete a sales exercise that enables them to hit the ground running as a Latitude Partner.

FAQ:

Q: What other legal jobs do you have?

A: If you’re interested in working with Latitude but do not think this particular role is the right one for you, we encourage you to explore our other open opportunities or fill out a General Application by visiting us at https://latitudelegal.com/jobs/

Q: My current legal team needs help. How can I see some Latitude candidates for my legal team?

A: The fastest way is to submit the very short form on our website contact page. A member of our client services team will be back in touch with you very fast to learn more about your need so we can provide you with on point candidates to consider.

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Thank you for your interest in Latitude!

Latitude is an Equal Opportunity Employer.