Client Relationship Manager

Position summary

The Client Relationship Manager is a client‑facing role supporting the development and advancement of the firm's strategically important client relationships. The role partners closely with Client Relationship Leaders (CRLs), Practice/Industry Group Leaders (PG/IGLs), and client teams to help drive a coordinated, informed, and commercially focused approach to client engagement.

Reporting to the Director of Client Development – Financial Institutions, this position requires a strong client relationship manager who combines sound judgment, collaboration skills, and commercial awareness to support partners and client teams.

Job duties and responsibilities

Key Client Support

• Manage a select portfolio of financial institution clients, partnering with CRLs, PG/IGLs, and client teams.
• Lead and influence the development and execution of client growth plans aligned to client priorities.
• Plan and execute strategies to strengthen client relationships and expand work across practices, industries and geographies, in partnership with the CRL and client teams.
• Lead client prep meetings with lawyer team, including presenting relevant research points and working with the lawyers on messaging that emphasises our value-add.
• Develop and analyze external and internal client relationship reports, leveraging key internal functions from graphics to pricing team.
• Lead coordination and strategic positioning for panel appointments, re-panel processes, and pitch preparation; follow up with client contacts/lawyers post-pursuit to obtain feedback on outcome, and analyze post-pursuit feedback to inform future relationship and business development strategies
• Drive strategic client team meetings, oversee relationship mapping initiatives, and assist partners in maintaining key client connections.
• Monitor and evaluate progress against client plans and metrics on key financial institution clients to support reports for leadership.

Client Insight and Analysis

• Partner with the Strategic Intelligence Team to build knowledge of assigned clients, including business performance, industry dynamics, and competitive positioning.
• Synthesize client insights and feedback into clear, actionable, and strategic recommendations for CRLs and client teams, exercising independent judgment in evaluating business opportunities, relationship risks, and client development strategies.
• Lead and advise on strategic client initiatives such as events, thought leadership, secondments, and feedback programs.
• Lead the collection and interpretation of client feedback, advising partners and client teams on relationship strategies, service improvements, and opportunities to strengthen client engagement.

Collaboration and Team Contribution

• Collaborate with Director of Client Development – Financial Institutions to provide client development best practices and CRL/lawyer coaching across the firm.
• Partner cross-functionally with Marketing and Business Development Department to support client activity.
• Contribute to knowledge-sharing and best practices across the Client Relationship Team.
• Act as a trusted strategic adviser to partners and collaborate with teams across the firm to properly leverage skillsets and drive efficiencies.

Job duties and responsibilities included are not exhaustive and may be supplemented asnecessary.  Reed Smith reserves the right to revise or modify job duties and responsibilities at any time. 

Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree required

Experience: 5-8 years' demonstrated experience in business development, account management, marketing, or a position focused on growing business, ideally in a professional services environment.

Skills:

• Client service mindset
• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple deadlines
• Ability to deliver impactful and timely service with little supervision
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong networking skills – ability to think about how, when and where to connect the right people to specific opportunities
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to build strong relationships with all levels of lawyers, with the confidence to challenge and coach them on client development best practices
• Highly proactive, self-motivated, organized and resourceful
• Dependable, courteous and a strong team player
• Strong critical thinker – one who can think fast and act with precision
• Strong diplomacy, listening and influencing skills
• High degree of poise and professionalism 
• Ability to work successfully in virtual teams and manage workload across different time zones
• Ability to use independent judgment and discretion and adapt to changing work situations
• Ability to create and maintain a respectful, inclusive and supportive team environment across functional and geographic boundarie
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Additional information

Supervisory responsibilities: None, but may provide informal guidance or mentoring as appropriate through work with junior team members. 

Equipment used: Personal computer and other office equipment such as telephone, calculator, copier, scanner, etc.

Essential job functions

• Personal computer and other office equipment such as telephone, calculator, copier, scanner, etc.
• Ability to use computers, telecommunications, and digital collaboration tools to perform core job responsibilities. 
• Ability to communicate effectively. 
• Ability to maintain attention to detail while analyzing complex information, managing multiple priorities, and applying sound judgment to strategic decisions. 
• Travel for meetings and training as required.
• Ability to work extended hours as required to meet project, client, or business needs.
• Flexibility to adjust working hours, including early start times occasionally, to support collaboration with international stakeholders in EMEA.

Working conditions

You will be required to work in the office at minimum 4 days per week. Occasionally called upon to work hours in excess of your normal daily schedule. The details of your weekly schedule will be discussed further with your direct supervisor.

Pay ranges
This represents the presently anticipated low and high end of Reed Smith's pay range for this position. Actual pay may vary based on various factors, including but not limited to location and experience.

• Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and Pittsburgh – $140,000 to $156,000 annually
• Chicago and Philadelphia – $150,000 to $167,000 annually

Employee benefits overview

Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Medical Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Virtual Health Services
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Accident Insurance
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability Coverage
• Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Lyra Health Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid Family Leave (for eligible Exempt and Non-Exempt staff)
• Transportation Benefit
• Back-up Child Care Services
• College Coach Program
• Pet Insurance
• Paid Sick Time (for Exempt staff)
• Paid Time Off (available to all full-time, non-temporary employees)

Reed Smith offers a challenging work environment, business casual dress code and a total compensation package that includes a competitive salary, flexible benefits program, tuition assistance, and generous 401(k) plan.

Reed Smith is an Equal Opportunity Employer with Core Values of Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork & Respect, Innovation, and Impact. Reed Smith also provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with law, including in the application and interview process.

Qualified candidates only. No search firms.