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Associate Director Litigation & Practice Delivery

Job ID: 8249

Updated: Jan 10, 2025

Location: Chicago, IL, United States

Category: Information Technology

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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. 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 over 6,500 employees (including approximately 4,000 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

This role is responsible for the delivery of technology solutions for Kirkland & Ellis legal practices including the Knowledge Management team, the Litigation & Practice Technology team, and other legal practices. Additionally, this role is responsible for collaborating with the Innovation team for proof-of-concept work and delivery of approved Innovation work. The breadth of this role includes participation in strategy development, roadmap development, solution architecture, supplier RFx and contract negotiation, and ownership of solution implementation and ongoing maintenance.

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

  • Roadmap development: Maintain awareness of the technology market, especially those aligned to the Legal Industry, and, in collaboration with stakeholders, the Innovation team, and Enterprise Architecture and other IT functions, develop and maintain a technology solution roadmap.
  • Portfolio Program Plan: Responsible for the development and maintenance of a Program Plan for each Portfolio, working in collaboration with the stakeholders and other performing parties.
  • Process and Operating Model Improvement: Collaborate with Kirkland process owners for the development, improvement, and tailoring of essential processes to satisfy business policy needs while also improving time-to-business-value of our POCs and solutions.
  • Innovation Proof-of-Concept: Collaborate with the Innovation team throughout the Innovation lifecycle and IT delivery lifecycle.
  • Technology implementation and ownership: Responsible for the successful development and execution of implementation projects, including project plans, and for the ongoing maintenance of implemented solutions.
  • IT Supplier Management: Understand market facing solutions and their applicability to the Legal Industry; collaborate on the RFx process, including contract negotiations; perform ongoing supplier and supplier solution management.
  • Functional ownership: Perform leadership and management of the Litigation & Practice Technology team, including responsibility for team roadmap, organizational design, and budgeting.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education, Work Experience, Skills

  • Client-centric mindset with strong executive presence, including strong listening, writing, and presentation skills.
  • Three (3) years of experience with legal industry practice technology and/or SaaS solutions.
  • Familiarity with AI based solutions in an enterprise or Legal Industry environment.
  • Ten (10) years of experience in leadership of technical product, IT, or services implementation roles.
  • 1 year of experience in proposal and solution development, and subcontracts development and negotiation, including negotiation of support terms and Service Level Agreements.
  • Experience in matrix organization and in managing service providers.
  • Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, information technology or equivalent experience.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

  • This job operates in a professional office environment. 

Compensation

The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in Chicago. 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 Range:

  • Chicago: $230,000 - $270,000

How to Apply

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

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