Commercial Pricing Manager, Americas

Job Description

The role

Clifford Chance US LLP is seeking a Commercial Pricing Manager - Americas to support its Corporate Product Groups, with a particular focus on M&A transactions. The role will serve as a trusted commercial adviser to partners and key stakeholders across the Americas, providing strategic pricing advice, commercial insight and profitability analysis across a broad range of transactions and client engagements.

The Commercial Pricing Manager will play a central role in shaping the commercial strategy for client engagements, advising on fee arrangements, pricing models, client proposals, competitive positioning, matter profitability and commercial negotiations. The role will support the Firm in winning strategically important mandates and driving sustainable, profitable growth. Responsibilities will include supporting pitches and panel appointments, assessing commercial opportunities and risks, developing innovative fee arrangements, analysing financial performance and helping partners and matter teams optimise the commercial management of client relationships and matters.

Based in the Firm's New York office, the Commercial Pricing Manager will report to the Head of Commercial Pricing, Corporate Products, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Global Product Group Associate Director.

Responsibilities:

• Provide commercial pricing support to US-based Corporate partners, with M&A transactions forming a major area of focus, while contributing to the priorities and initiatives of the wider global pricing team.
• Act as a trusted adviser to partners and senior stakeholders, helping to formulate pricing strategies, develop negotiation approaches and support client negotiations on behalf of the Firm.
• Develop robust pricing models and commercial strategies for legal matters at the proposal stage and throughout the matter lifecycle, including for pitches, panel appointments and panel pricing arrangements.
• Support the development, implementation and ongoing review of client and matter rate strategies, including annual rate-setting and rate-renewal exercises.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the commercial position of current and prospective matters, balancing client value, competitiveness, profitability and risk.
• Work with partners and matter teams to design tailored and innovative fee arrangements that reflect client objectives and support commercially sustainable outcomes.
• Provide clear and timely commercial analysis throughout the matter lifecycle, including scenario modelling, matter economics and profitability analysis; monitor key matters and fee arrangements, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and recommend appropriate actions to matter teams.
• Coordinate the local pricing committee process, preparing high-quality submissions for local and global pricing committees and promoting adherence to the Firm's commercial standards, pricing governance and approval requirements.
• Collaborate closely with global pricing colleagues on initiatives and projects, contributing to knowledge-sharing, best practice and the development of pricing tools, governance frameworks and processes in response to evolving client expectations and market developments.
• Build effective working relationships across Business Development, Finance and other Business Professional functions to deliver coordinated commercial support.
• Strengthen commercial awareness among partners, fee earners and Business Professionals by delivering targeted pricing training and influencing pricing decisions on strategic matters and panel arrangements.

Qualifications

Your experience

• At least five years of relevant pricing or commercial experience, preferably within a law firm or other professional services environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or a related discipline required; a relevant advanced or professional qualification is preferred.
• Demonstrable experience of scenario modelling, developing pricing proposals and applying the commercial levers required to deliver client value and financially sustainable outcomes.
• Strong understanding of pricing principles, matter economics and commercial risk, including the key drivers of law-firm profitability, such as recovery, leverage and utilisation.
• A global mindset and the ability to operate effectively across regions, cultures and time zones.
• Proven ability to build trusted advisory relationships with senior stakeholders and influence decisions and outcomes with confidence and credibility.
• Advanced Excel skills and the ability to analyse, interpret and communicate insights from large and complex data sets.
• Strong commercial judgement and negotiation skills, with the ability to protect value and profitability while supporting constructive discussions with clients and procurement teams.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement, make effective recommendations and take ownership of work with appropriate autonomy.
• Ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work to demanding deadlines.
• Excellent organisational, client-service, problem-solving and analytical skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex commercial concepts clearly and influence senior stakeholders with confidence and gravitas.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to work effectively within a global, matrix organisation.
• Ability to comply with the Firm's Agile Working Policy, which requires employees to work from the office at least three days in each calendar week.
• Must be independently legally authorized to work in the United States.

Clifford Chance US LLP offers a comprehensive benefits and compensation package. Subject to the candidate's experience, the salary range for this role is $170,000 - $200,000. Actual salary will be commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and relevant experience.

Additional Information