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Head of Pricing

On-site in London·Added 3 days ago (last checked 27 Oct)

Our summary

Work mode
On-site, London
Contract
Permanent
Experience
Senior level

Skills

The role

We are recruiting for an experienced Head of Pricing to lead the firm's pricing function in our London office. The role will shape and deliver the firm's pricing strategy, provide commercial leadership on client and matter pricing and ensure pricing decisions support client value and sustainable profitability.

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Reporting into the Chief Financial Officer, the Head of Pricing will act as a trusted adviser to senior leadership and Partners, and will lead on pricing governance, rate strategy, alternative fee arrangements and the continued development of pricing capability across the firm.

What you'll do

The key responsibilities of this role are set out below and there may be others which are not listed. You may be required on occasion to work outside our normal working hours of 9:30am to 5:30pm.

Pricing strategy and leadership

  • Lead pricing activities, overseeing the development of firmwide pricing strategy aligned with the firm's commercial objectives, client strategy and market positioning.
  • Act as the firm's senior pricing adviser, providing clear recommendations and constructive challenge where appropriate to senior leadership and Partners.

Partner, client and matter pricing

  • Lead pricing support for significant client opportunities, panel appointments and complex or sensitive pitches and matters.
  • Advise Partners on rate strategy, fee structures, matter profitability, value propositions and negotiation approaches, including discussions with clients and procurement teams.
  • Ensure key pricing decisions are supported by robust financial modelling, market context and risk assessment.
  • Oversee approaches to matter scoping, budgeting, fee monitoring and post-matter review to improve pricing outcomes.

Alternative fee arrangements

  • Own the firm's approach to alternative fee arrangements and innovative pricing models, including fixed fees, retainers, subscriptions, success fees and risk-sharing arrangements.
  • Ensure alternative fee arrangements are commercially robust, appropriately scoped, approved and monitored, and align client and firm objectives.

Rate strategy and pricing governance

  • Lead rate setting, annual rate reviews and the management of client-specific and standard rates, taking account of market conditions, profitability and firm strategy.
  • Lead the firm's pricing governance framework.
  • Maintain pricing policies, approval authorities and escalation processes, and prepare clear recommendations for senior leadership and the Board.
  • Work with the wider Finance department, Client and Markets and other teams to coordinate pricing governance with related firmwide processes.

Pricing centre of excellence

  • Champion pricing excellence and a strong commercial mindset among Partners, lawyers and business services teams.
  • Develop consistent pricing standards, methodologies, guidance, tools, templates, playbooks and best-practice materials.

Team leadership and strategy

  • Lead and develop the Pricing team, setting clear direction, maintaining consistency of approach and high standards of delivery and service.
  • Set the pricing strategy, shaping direction and influencing key initiatives in line with firm priorities.
  • Shape and deliver the team's strategy for utilising AI to improve automation and efficiency.

Candidate profile

Candidates for this position must have:

Pricing expertise

  • Significant senior-level pricing experience; comparable experience in a law firm or complex professional services environment.
  • Deep understanding of legal services pricing, rate management, matter economics, profitability and alternative fee arrangements.
  • A strong track record of advising Partners and senior leaders on complex, high-value or strategically important pricing matters.

Strategic and commercial capability

  • Strong strategic thinking and commercial judgement, with the ability to balance profitability, competitiveness, client value, risk and long-term relationships.
  • A detailed understanding of the economic and market drivers affecting international law firms and their clients.

Leadership and influence

  • Exceptional communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to advise and constructively challenge senior leadership and Partners.
  • Proven experience of leading, managing and developing a high-performing pricing or commercial team.
  • The ability to build consensus across a partnership and work collaboratively with stakeholders who may have differing priorities.

Professional and technical skills

  • Advanced financial analysis and modelling capability, with the ability to turn complex information into clear recommendations for non-financial audiences.
  • Strong project and programme management skills and the ability to manage competing demands under pressure.
  • Experience developing pricing frameworks, methodologies and training for senior audiences.
  • Experience using AI-enabled tools to enhance performance and team effectiveness.

Business Services Development

We offer a variety of learning and development opportunities to members of our Business Services team, including sessions open to everyone on topics ranging from personal impact and resilience to written communication. We also run a series of development programmes for supervisors and managers, as well as various bespoke team and one-to-one sessions.

Our Network of Networks

The firm has eleven employee networks run by employees and supported by partners. Collectively, we form a Network of Networks, and our aim is to foster a spirit of inclusion, both amongst the networks and the firm more widely. We work collaboratively to create a more open minded and inclusive work environment.

We strive to make people feel comfortable about bringing their authentic selves to work.

Each network offers an informal support mechanism for employees with shared backgrounds, perspectives or interests and hosts a number of exciting formal and informal events throughout the year, which are open to everyone. They're a great way to meet new people in the firm, as well as to celebrate difference and learn about a variety of experiences and perspective

Hiring process

We anticipate this being a two-stage process:

1st interview - Barbara Gibbes (Chief Financial Officer) and [to be confirmed]

Short-listed candidates will be asked to prepare a commercially Practical assessment - focused pricing case study for discussion during the 2nd interview

2nd interview - [to be confirmed]

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are barrier-free and as inclusive as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments for people who have a disability or long-term condition. If you have any questions or require any adjustments to be made to one or both of the application or interview processes, please contact the Recruitment Team.

We are a Disability Confident Committed employer and will offer an interview to applicants with a disability or long-term condition who best meet the minimum or essential criteria for our Business Services roles. If you would like to apply through the Disability Confident 'Offer An Interview' commitment, please apply via our online application form and not via LinkedIn. You are disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a 'substantial' and 'long-term' negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. For more information about the Disability Confident scheme, please see the government website here.

We welcome applications irrespective of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, belief or marital status.

The purpose of this description is to provide guidance in relation to the general requirements of the position referred to. It is by no means an exhaustive list of the responsibilities that will be involved.

Any offer of employment with us is subject to the firm's receipt of a satisfactory report from its third party screening and vetting provider in respect of the successful candidate. Your adviser will be able to explain how this process works in practice in the event of any questions.

At Slaughter and May, we take the protection of your personal information seriously and we are committed to safeguarding the privacy of the personal information that you share with us, or is collected by us, during the course of our interactions with you. Our Recruitment Privacy Notice ("RP Notice") supplements, and should be read alongside, the firm's Privacy Notice.

These privacy notices are always available to view within the Legal and Regulatory section of our website.

About Slaughter and May

Industry
Legal

In their own words

About the company & team

Slaughter and May is a leading international law firm, recognised throughout the business community for its exceptional legal service, commercial awareness, and commitment to clients. We advise across the spectrum of legal matters including high-profile, ground-breaking, and complex transactions, contentious matters and all aspects of risk. We deliver innovative and bespoke solutions to our clients, domestically and internationally. We provide clear legal advice that spans the globe whilst tackling the cultural nuances between jurisdictions. Our lawyers understand how to coordinate and manage matters in the jurisdictions most relevant to our clients.

Excellence is central to everything we do, and it remains one of the first words mentioned when others are asked about the firm. We are very proud of that reputation. One reason we are known for excellence is because we have always been guided by a set of values that have been an implicit part of who we are and how we operate.

Our four core values are:

1. The highest standards;

2. Independence of thought;

3. Collective endeavour;

4. Respect for all.

They are not simply a list of characteristics. They are part of a framework, as they demonstrate our commitment to our four stakeholder groups (Our clients; Our people; The firm; Society).

At Slaughter and May, with over 1,400 partners and staff worldwide, everyone's contribution is valued, and we all enjoy an open, friendly and supportive environment. We have an underlying sense of pride in who we are and what we do, and our inclusive culture gives rise to a unique diversity of thinking, which is critical to our success and helps maintain our position as a true market leader.

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