Director of Knowledge Innovation

At Fried Frank, we’re a community of 800 lawyers and 500 business services professionals across New York, Washington, DC, London, Frankfurt, and Brussels. We advise leading corporations, investment funds, and financial institutions on high-stakes M&A, securities, regulatory matters, real estate, and litigation. Our culture is grounded in our core values — excellence, integrity and collaboration — and is designed to foster continuous learning, meaningful mentorship, and lasting professional growth. We are firmly committed to pro bono service and social justice, building on a proud legacy in civil rights. Our inclusive talent strategy is a core part of our broader talent management efforts and we remain steadfast in fostering a workplace where everyone has the opportunity to grow, thrive, and become their best professional and personal selves. Our business services professionals are integral to the firm’s success, driving innovation, operational excellence and exceptional client service across all areas of the firm. We offer competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, including comprehensive medical coverage, retirement plans and health and wellness initiatives designed to support your personal and professional wellbeing. We welcome passionate, driven individuals to join us, and be part of a team where you’ll be supported, inspired and empowered to build an exceptional career.

Position Summary:

The Director of Knowledge Innovation has firm-wide lead responsibility for the design, development, and deployment of knowledge innovation programs and AI-driven solutions across all practice areas. This role is the firm's senior-most leader for applied legal technology and AI strategy at the practice level, and is responsible for building and scaling a modern knowledge infrastructure that enhances the quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of legal service delivery at Fried Frank.

The Director oversees a team of Knowledge Innovation Counsels and Attorneys ("KICs" and “KIAs”) embedded across the firm's major practice areas — Asset Management, M&A, Litigation, Real Estate, Finance, and Tax — and reports directly to the Global Head of Innovation and Knowledge. The Director works closely with partners, practice group heads, and business services leadership to identify, prioritize, and execute knowledge and AI initiatives across the firm.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Directly oversee and mentor the firm's team of Knowledge Innovation Counsels and Attorneys (KICs/KIAs), setting strategic direction and annual goals, conducting performance reviews, and supporting professional development.
• Lead the design and deployment of AI-powered and technology-enabled solutions tailored to the specific needs of each major practice area, partnering with KICs/KIAs and practice group leaders to identify high-value use cases, scope solutions, and manage end-to-end implementation.
• Design and lead a comprehensive AI and knowledge innovation training program for attorneys and staff at all levels, developing tailored curricula for each major practice area to ensure effective and responsible use of AI tools in day-to-day legal work.
• Drive firm-wide adoption through targeted change management strategies — including demonstrations, office hours, written guidance, and feedback loops — fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement with respect to technology and knowledge practices.
• Establish innovation advisory committees in the major practice areas to establish priorities, oversee initiatives and evaluate new solutions.
• Design and oversee the firm's knowledge architecture — including the structure, taxonomy, and governance of knowledge assets, precedent libraries, and practice-specific databases — establishing firm-wide standards for knowledge creation, curation, tagging, and retrieval.
• Work closely with Research and Intelligence who will run the day-to-day KM operations of carrying out the knowledge architecture strategy.
• Work closely with Practice Group Directors/Managers in tracking usage and devising plans for increased adoption.
• Develop, implement, and continuously refine firm-wide AI policies, usage guidelines, and governance frameworks for the responsible and effective use of AI tools in legal practice, serving as a subject matter expert on AI capabilities, risks, and best practices.
• Monitor the evolving AI and legal technology landscape, evaluate emerging tools, and establish AI risk and quality standards — including protocols for attorney supervision, output review, and client disclosure considerations — making recommendations to firm and practice leadership on adoption.

Qualifications:

Education: J.D. required

Experience: 

• Substantive practice experience as an attorney at a large law firm (BigLaw experience required), with meaningful exposure to one or more of the firm's major practice areas, combined with a demonstrated track record of leading technology or AI initiatives at a law firm, legal department, or legal technology organization.
• 5+ years in a knowledge management, legal technology, innovation, or practice support role at an AmLaw 100/200 firm or equivalent, with director-level or senior leadership experience preferred, including proven experience designing AI-powered solutions, leading workflow redesign projects, managing teams of legal and knowledge professionals, and developing AI training programs for legal audiences.
• Experience documenting and mapping “as is” and “to be” processes, including defining ROI for process improvement initiatives.

Skills & Abilities:

• Deep understanding of AI tools and platforms as applied to legal practice — including large language models, generative AI, contract analysis, and workflow automation — combined with a strong grasp of AI governance, risk management, and the ethical considerations of AI use in legal services.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technology concepts into practical, attorney-facing solutions; excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present to diverse audiences from associates to senior partners; and proven ability to build trust and credibility with practicing attorneys.
• Strong familiarity with the dominant and emerging legal technology landscape and the ability to exercise sound business judgment, make well-reasoned independent decisions, and use data to measure program effectiveness and drive strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a distributed team; strong analytical and evaluative skills; and the ability to work under pressure managing relationships with a demanding, high-performing attorney clientele.