Washington, DC - Associate Director of Client Events

ABOUT US
For Business Professionals, Winston & Strawn presents an exciting opportunity to be a part of a leading global law firm. With our commitment to excellence, diversity, a collaborative work environment, and an emphasis on professional growth, Winston offers a platform for individuals seeking to advance their careers in a dynamic and rewarding environment. Winston is known for its collaborative and collegial culture. We believe teamwork is an essential component in providing high-quality legal services and we value the talents and skills of our entire business professional team.

POSITION SUMMARY
As the Associate Director of Client Events at Winston & Strawn, you will play a senior role in planning, executing and measuring high-impact client-facing events (both in-person and virtual/hybrid) that support the firm's strategic business development, client-relationship, and branding goals. You will manage a portfolio of marquee events and oversee event operations, vendors, budgets, and cross-functional stakeholders (attorneys, marketing, BD, communications, finance). You will help define event strategy, drive process improvements, and deliver superior client experiences with strong attention to detail, logistical execution, and post-event ROI measurement.

This role is critical in elevating the firm's client experience, deepening relationships, and differentiating Winston in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Through thoughtfully designed and flawlessly executed client events, you will play a direct role in supporting revenue growth, client retention, and reinforcing the firm's brand as a trusted advisor.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborate with BD/Marketing and practice-group leadership to define the event strategy supporting key clients, sectors and offices.
• Establish and champion best practices in strategic event planning and execution which translates across centers of excellence firmwide.
• Lead team of strategic client event team members in visioning the attendee experience to seamless execution and targeted connection to ROI measurement and follow-up connection.
• Lead the end-to-end lifecycle for multiple premier flagship and regional events: concept development, venue/vendor selection, budgeting, timelines, registration, onsite logistics, audiovisual/technology coordination, brand standards, post-event reporting and ROI analysis.
• Develop and manage event budgets, track expenses, reconcile invoices and collaborate with Finance.
• Oversee vendor/contractor relationships (venues, caterers, A/V, transportation, hotels, event design, signage, etc.), ensuring competitive pricing and service excellence.
• Manage registration/attendee systems, guest lists, invitations, communications, travel logistics, accommodations and attendee experience.
• Supervise onsite execution, including lead staffing, day-of event checklists, issue resolution, and ensure events run seamlessly.
• Partner with internal teams (marketing, digital, communications, operations, IT) to ensure event collateral, branding, registration platforms and hybrid/virtual event infrastructure are on-point.
• Implement metrics and analytics to evaluate event success (attendance, attendee feedback, conversion to business, budget adherence, ROI) and identify areas for improvement.
• Maintain an event calendar and integrate with broader BD/marketing calendar; ensure alignment across offices/regions.
• Develop and implement best practices, event process templates, checklists, and vendor/venue databases.
• Provide leadership to more junior event staff, providing coaching/mentoring, assigning tasks, and reviewing deliverables.
• Travel as required to support events at other firm locations or off-site venues.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or event certification preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive event management experience, ideally within a professional services environment (law firm, consulting, financial services) and with client-facing events required.
• This hybrid position requires flexibility to travel, work off-site, and support events that may occur after regular business hours.

COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrated ability to manage large scale, high-visibility events across multiple geographies and/or hybrid formats.
• Ability to conceptualize and deliver events that advance the firm's client engagement, retention and growth objectives - ensuring the client experience is seamless, memorable and aligned with the firm's brand of trusted adviser.
• Mastery of the full lifecycle: ideation, budgeting, vendor procurement, logistics, on-site/virtual management, follow-through/metrics.
• Strong financial mindset - builds and monitors event budgets, tracks KPIs/ROI, justifies spend, and uses insights to refine strategy.
• Thrives under pressure, adjusts to shifting requirements, maintains quality while handling multiple projects and deadlines.
• Elevates the event experience to reflect a leading global law firm - high quality, refined aesthetic, attention to detail, consistent with the firm's values of client service, teamwork and innovation.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication, adept at building relationships with senior leadership, consultants/vendors, clients; able to tailor messaging and manage guest experience at all levels
• Strong attention to detail and ability to foresee and solve logistical issues proactively.
• Proficiency with event registration and CRM systems, Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint), and familiarity with virtual/hybrid event platforms.
• Ability to analyze metrics, interpret data, and make recommendations for future events.
• Able to travel (domestic and possibly international) and work occasional evenings/weekends as required by event schedule.
• Leadership experience: supervising or mentoring staff, driving process improvements, proposing new ideas for client engagement through events.
• Provides leadership, guidance and development opportunities for event team members/coordinators, instilling best practices and ensuring smooth delivery.

BENEFITS

Winston offers comprehensive benefits that provide a full spectrum of coverage and support for our full-time employees and their families. Additional information about benefits and rewards can be found here.

SALARY

Illinois applicants only: The target annual salary range for this role is currently $155,000 - $205,000 based on a regular, full-time schedule. The amount of compensation offered will be determined by several factors, including but not limited to experience, qualifications, market data and internal equity. Total compensation includes a comprehensive healthcare benefits package, yearly retirement contribution, and may include an annual discretionary merit bonus.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. #LI-DC2