Senior Practice Innovation Lead

About Kirkland & Ellis

At Kirkland & Ellis, we are united in our ambition and drive to move forward. We share core values that help us achieve excellence: collaboration, talent empowerment, service, inclusion, respect and gratitude. Our people are our greatest asset, and we invest in the brightest talent and encourage a diversity of perspectives and strengths to create dynamic teams that operate at the pinnacle of their field. Our talented professionals show up every day knowing they will engage in meaningful work, continuous learning and professional development.
 
As one of the world’s leading law firms, we serve a broad range of clients with market-leading practices in private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions; investment fund formation and alternative asset management; restructurings; high-stakes commercial and intellectual property litigation; and government, regulatory and internal investigations. We handle the most complicated and sophisticated legal matters because we don’t just meet industry standards, we create them. We bring innovation and entrepreneurialism to every engagement and, as a result, have long-standing client relationships with leading global corporations and financial sponsors. With 6,500 employees (including more than 3,500 lawyers) operating from 21 offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we are one of the largest law firms in the world and a top financial performer.

Essential Job Functions

The firm’s Innovation team continues to grow, and is looking for experienced leaders excited by a day-to- Are you passionate about leading innovation and transformation in the legal industry? Do you have a strong background in project management, AI, and legal technology solutions? Do you enjoy building and managing high-performing teams and driving complex projects to successful outcomes? If so, you may be the ideal candidate for the Senior Practice Innovation Lead at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, the largest global law firm in the world.

As a Senior Lead, you will play a crucial role in leading the evaluation, implementation, rollout, and ongoing support of key AI and legal technology solutions for the Firm.  You will report to the Head of Practice Innovation and Transformation and work closely with Innovation leadership to manage initiation and execution of innovation projects, legal technology evaluations, attorney pilots, support team administrative management, and contribute to other team and firmwide strategic initiatives.

You will have the opportunity to work at the intersection of technology and law, driving meaningful change and impact across the Firm as well as the industry.  You will collaborate with firm practitioners, IT teams, Risk management, and Security teams to ensure alignment of AI solutions with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and security standards.  You will also manage relationships with external vendors and technology partners involved in the delivery and support of AI solutions.

You will be joining a leadership team dedicated to modeling and fostering a team culture of open, constructive communication and cross-team collaboration.  You will manage development needs for the team, including identifying and coordinating training opportunities.  You will also lead various team and sub-team administrative meetings and eventually assume direct, functional management responsibilities.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of technology and law, driving meaningful change and impact across the Firm as well as the industry.

If you are ready to help us revolutionize the legal industry, please apply online with your resume and cover letter.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (This list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented and changed as necessary.)

Team Development & Management

• The SA will be joining a leadership team dedicated to modeling and fostering a team culture of open, constructive communication and cross-team collaboration. The role will manage development needs for the team, including identifying and coordinating training opportunities. The role will also lead various team and sub-team administrative meetings and eventually assume direct, functional management responsibilities.

Product Evaluation & Proof of Concepts:

• The SA will support team and firm-wide initiatives and special projects focused on legal technology roll-out and change management, emerging technology assessment (e.g., GenAI) and other process improvements.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of attorney-focused pilots and product evaluations from start to finish, with minimal oversight, including defining objectives, scope, timeline, success criteria, and managing stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain project plans, manage resource allocation and drive cross functional teams to meet milestones and see projects through to completion while managing and escalating risks and issues appropriately.
• Collaborate with stakeholders in developing business cases and recommendations on selection of legal technologies and tools.

Implementation and Rollout of AI Solutions:

• Lead the planning, execution, and monitoring of projects related to the implementation and rollout of AI and legal technology solutions.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define project scope, objectives, and deliverables.
• Develop detailed project plans, timelines, and resource allocation strategies to ensure successful implementation within defined parameters.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks and issues, and implement mitigation strategies as necessary to ensure timely delivery and quality outcomes.
• Engage with an owner’s mindset, ensuring project completion across necessary input from various departments and stakeholders.

Subject Matter Expert (SME) Support:

• Serve as a subject matter expert for AI and legal technology solutions, providing ongoing support and guidance to internal teams and stakeholders.
• Actively support technology testing and POC activities to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of potential solutions.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in the AI and legal technology space to inform decision-making and solution optimization.

Vendor Management:

• Manage relationships with external vendors and technology partners involved in the delivery and support of AI solutions.
• Coordinate vendor selection, negotiation, and contracting processes to ensure alignment with project requirements and Firm objectives.

Communications and Change Management:

• Lead with a growth mindset around opportunities in emerging technology while understanding and identifying key risks; experiment with new and creative ways for delivering key information on projects to Firm colleagues.

Interface with Firm Practitioners and Support Functions:

• Collaborate with firm practitioners, IT teams, Risk management, and Security teams to ensure alignment of AI solutions with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and security standards.
• Act as a liaison between technical and non-technical stakeholders to facilitate effective communication and problem-solving.

Qualifications & Requirements

Required

• JD/LLM and/or MBA
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, business administration, or a related field. Advanced degree or relevant certifications preferred. Minimum of 5-7 years of relevant experience in project management either within Technology/the AI domain or within an emergent space with a demonstratable interest in AI/emerging technology. 
• Candidates will have 3 or more years of experience coordinating or supervising the work of others.  The SA should have an interest and aptitude for fostering the growth of high-performing teams and enjoy one on one team member engagement.  This must include an ability to identify and resolve conflicts and performance concerns directly, honestly, and respectfully.   
• This position requires a high level of collaboration with attorneys and other firm leadership; therefore, the ideal candidate must possess strong communication skills and interact with people at all levels with a high degree of accuracy, professionalism, and accountability. 
• Candidates must possess exceptional organizational skills, coupled with good judgement and the ability to independently define and make progress on action items.  Concurrently, they must demonstrate a commitment to consensus building and demonstrate an ability to stay aligned with and meet goals set forth by leadership.
• Strong understanding of emerging technologies such as AI/ML; demonstrated interest and excitement around the business impact of AI/emerging technology is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive complex projects to successful outcomes.
• Ability to work independently and lead execution of complex projects; our team works like a startup within a major organization, and we are looking for individuals who can take initiative and ownership and who thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred

• Experience with PMO design and management, multi-phased strategic planning, and leveraging common project management tools and frameworks.
• Knowledge of legal industry trends and practices is a plus.

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP.  To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."

The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in New York City. This range may differ based on your geographic location and cost of living considerations. At Kirkland & Ellis, we consider compensation more than just a base salary. We offer an exceptional range of flexible benefits including comprehensive healthcare, paid time off, and retirement. We also offer personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work.

Compensation:

► New York City: $290,000 -$350,000

Equal Employment Opportunity

All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Closing Statement

The www.kirkland.com job postings and recruiting mailbox are for candidates only. If you are a recruiter, search firm or employment agency, and do not have a signed contract with Kirkland & Ellis LLP ("K&E") and have not been asked specifically to submit candidates, you will not be compensated in any way for your referral of a candidate even if K&E hires the candidate. Direct contact with K&E employees in an attempt to present candidates is inappropriate and will be a factor in determining any future professional relationship with the Firm. #LI-Hybrid #LI-JN1