Legal Operations Manager, Outside Counsel and Spend Management

Your CareerThis role will support Palo Alto Networks’ legal department by optimizing outside counsel management and spend. This individual will manage outside counsel engagements, including selection, onboarding, performance evaluation, and billing review. They will also maintain legal technologies and processes for e-billing, matter management, and spend analytics. This role will report into the Director, Head of Legal Operations and collaborate with internal legal teams, finance, and outside counsel. Your ImpactOversee quarterly and annual budget planning with Finance across legal practice areas.Collaborate with stakeholders to forecast and budget legal spend.Develop and implement strategies to reduce outside counsel spend while maintaining quality.Implement a top-tier law firm panel program (preferred vendor panel) and a spend optimization strategy with outside counsel.Manage onboarding for new firms, selection, and performance evaluation of outside counsel.Negotiate and manage outside counsel billing rates and alternative fee arrangements.Oversee e-billing, ensuring accuracy and compliance, including invoice review and processing.Develop and maintain legal spend analytics and reporting to identify trends, cost drivers, and savings opportunities.Implement and manage legal technology solutions for outside counsel management, e-billing, and spend analytics, including systems implementations, training, and user support.Stay current on industry best practices for outside counsel management and legal spend optimization.Train internal legal teams and outside counsel on billing guidelines, e-billing processes, and relevant topics.Drive continuous improvement in legal operations processes and systems.Develop strong, collaborative relationships with cross-functional partners.