Job Description

The Director of Practice Innovation & Knowledge Management (Director) is a senior firmwide leader responsible for transforming how the Firm delivers legal services through innovation, knowledge, and technology. Reporting to the Chief Technology Officer, the Director sets and executes the Firm's practice innovation and knowledge management strategy, with a mandate to improve attorney productivity, client value, and firm competitiveness.

This role leads three tightly integrated priorities: (1) practice innovation and AI-enabled service delivery; (2) modern knowledge management and intellectual capital strategy; and (3) client- and practice-facing innovation that drives measurable business impact. The Director is a trusted partner to practice leadership, a bridge between lawyers and technology, and a hands-on change leader who ensures initiatives move from concept to scaled adoption. The role has firmwide remit and inherits existing Practice Support Lawyers (PSLs) and Knowledge Management professionals.
Responsibilities

• Set and execute the firmwide practice innovation and knowledge management strategy aligned to the Firm's strategic, commercial, and competitive objectives.
• Develop and manage a multi-year innovation roadmap covering AI-enabled service delivery, legal process improvement, knowledge reuse, and differentiated client solutions.
• Establish governance, intake, prioritization, and portfolio management processes to ensure focus, transparency, scalability, and return on investment across innovation and KM initiatives.
• Partner with practice leadership, PSLs, and attorneys to identify high-value innovation and AI use cases and translate them into scalable solutions embedded in legal workflows.
• Lead the design, piloting, and firmwide rollout of AI-enabled and practice-facing technology solutions, ensuring responsible, secure, and ethical deployment in collaboration firmwide IT.
• Drive adoption and measurable impact of innovation and KM initiatives through training, enablement, engagement strategies, and ongoing tracking of usage, outcomes, and ROI.
• Lead and modernize the Firm's knowledge management function, including defining the KM operating model, governance, standards, and integration with innovation and AI efforts.
• Build and maintain the Firm's knowledge architecture and core intellectual capital assets, including taxonomies, metadata, precedents, playbooks, clause banks, practice guides, and experience content.
• Lead legal design, process improvement, and automation initiatives to improve attorney efficiency, client experience, and day-to-day workflow effectiveness.
• Act as a firmwide change leader, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and knowledge sharing across practices and offices.
• Identify and support client-facing innovation opportunities and advise partners and clients on evolving legal service delivery models and market trends.
• Lead, develop, and align PSLs and Knowledge Management professionals, setting clear priorities, expectations, and performance measures while partnering closely with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications & Experience
Required

• 10+ years of experience in practice innovation, knowledge management, legal operations, technology, or related leadership roles within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Demonstrated success delivering firmwide initiatives with measurable impact.
• Deep understanding of law firm practice workflows and economics.
• Proven ability to lead change and influence senior stakeholders.
• Strong people leadership and communication skills.

Preferred

• Juris Doctor (JD) and prior legal practice experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with AI-enabled legal tools and workflow automation.
• Expertise in modern KM concepts including knowledge architecture and reuse.
• Experience designing or scaling client-facing innovation initiatives.

Compensation Salary $170,000 - $300,000

The compensation salary for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors.

BENEFITS

K&L Gates offers our personnel a comprehensive suite of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time personnel include:

• Medical/Prescription Drug Coverage (including a Health Savings Account feature)

• Back-up Child/Elder Care and access to a caregiving concierge

• Dental Insurance

• Wellness Program

• Vision Insurance

• Pre-tax Commuting Benefits

• 401(k) Retirement Plan and Profit Sharing

• Business Travel Accident Insurance

• Short- and Long-term Disability Protection

• Pet Insurance

• Life Insurance (including Basic, Supplemental, Spouse, Child, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment)

• Health Advocacy Services

• Paid Time Off (25-30 days per year)

• Identity Protection/Restoration and Fraud Insurance

• Parental Leave (18 weeks of which 6 are paid; short-term disability may provide additional paid time off)

• Student loan refinancing options and access to a student loan concierge service

• Paid Holidays (12)

• Addiction Resources

• Family Building Benefits

• Breast Milk Delivery and Lactation Support Services

• Flexible Spending Accounts

• Employees also may be eligible to receive bonuses and certain expense reimbursements

• Employee Assistance Program

• Professional Development and CLE Credit Opportunities

• 529 Deductions

• Relocation

• Accident Insurance

• Employee Referral Program

• Critical Illness Insurance

• Hybrid/Remote Work Opportunities

• Hospital Indemnity Insurance

• Perks including: Technology, Entertainment, and Travel Discount Programs

• Bereavement Leave

• All other benefits (such as leaves of absence) required by law