Chief Information Officer

Are you ready to shape the future of a global law firm's technology strategy and redefine how legal services are delivered through AI and innovation?

The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is the firm's senior-most technology executive, responsible for establishing and executing the firm's technology, innovation, and information governance strategy. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the CIO leads both the IT and Innovation functions, overseeing infrastructure, cybersecurity, cloud platforms, enterprise applications, end-user services, AI adoption, legal technology, data analytics, and practice enablement. The CIO plays a critical role in advancing the firm's vision for technology-enabled legal service delivery by leveraging AI and emerging technologies to enhance client service, increase efficiency, and drive competitive advantage.

As the executive accountable for the firm's technology ecosystem, the CIO ensures technology investments, operations, and innovation initiatives align with business objectives and client expectations. The ideal candidate is a forward-thinking executive who is equally comfortable discussing infrastructure resilience and AI-driven transformation. They must possess strong executive presence, strategic vision, and the ability to build trusted relationships across the partnership and business operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute an integrated technology and innovation strategy aligned with the firm's business objectives, client service priorities, and long-term growth goals.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to firm leadership on technology investments, operational effectiveness, risk management, and emerging technologies.
• Represent IT and Innovation with firm leadership, governance committees, and partner groups.
• Monitor legal industry trends and emerging technologies to position the firm at the forefront of innovation and AI-enabled service delivery.
• Assess the impact of AI and other disruptive technologies on legal services and firm operations.
• Lead the firm's Innovation function, including AI strategy, technology evaluation, deployment, governance, and adoption across practice groups.
• Partner with attorneys and business leaders to identify opportunities where AI and legal technology can improve efficiency, service delivery, and client outcomes.
• Oversee evaluation and management of legal AI solutions, legal technology platforms, and research tools.
• Establish governance standards supporting responsible AI use, client confidentiality, transparency, and risk management.
• Foster a culture of innovation and technology adoption across the firm.

Legal Technology, Data & Change Enablement

• Align technology capabilities with practice group and business needs to improve client service and operational effectiveness.
• Oversee legal research, knowledge management, data analytics, and business intelligence capabilities.
• Lead data integration and information management strategies that support informed decision-making across the firm.
• Oversee technology training, onboarding, user adoption, and change management initiatives to maximize value from technology investments.

Infrastructure, Operations & Service Delivery

• Oversee the delivery, reliability, and performance of infrastructure, cloud services, enterprise applications, and end-user technologies.
• Ensure technology environments remain secure, scalable, and aligned with firm needs.
• Oversee user support, onboarding, service delivery, and continuous improvement efforts across the technology organization.
• Lead major technology initiatives, platform migrations, office expansions, and other strategic projects.

Cybersecurity & Risk Governance

• Provide executive oversight of the information security function through the CISO, ensuring a strong security posture and compliance with client, regulatory, and insurance requirements.
• Promote a risk-aware culture that balances innovation with data privacy, information security, and client confidentiality.
• Ensure readiness for cybersecurity threats, incident response, data retention, and e-discovery requirements.
• Communicate cybersecurity and technology risks effectively to firm leadership.
• Lead technology budgeting, investment planning, vendor management, contract negotiations, and cost optimization efforts.
• Evaluate and manage strategic relationships with technology partners and service providers.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing technology and innovation team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, service excellence, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications & Experience

Required Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive technology leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a senior executive technology role such as CIO, Deputy CIO, CTO, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise IT operations and innovation functions within a legal, professional services, or similarly complex client-service environment. Am Law 100 law firm experience strongly preferred.
• Deep expertise in enterprise infrastructure, cloud technologies (Azure preferred), cybersecurity, endpoint management, and business-critical applications.
• Proven ability to deploy and scale AI technologies responsibly while balancing innovation, security, privacy, and governance requirements.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing multimillion-dollar technology budgets and complex vendor portfolios.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills with experience engaging executive leadership, boards, and partnership organizations.

Preferred

• Experience with legal technology platforms, Microsoft 365, Azure, legal research tools, and AI platforms.
• Experience with data integration, analytics, and business intelligence initiatives.
• Experience supporting global or multi-office organizations.
• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CISM, ITIL, PMP, or equivalent are a plus.

Core Competencies

• Strategic vision spanning operational IT and innovation.
• Executive presence and credibility with attorneys, partners, and C-suite leadership.
• Ability to lead transformational change and organizational development.
• Sound judgment in cybersecurity, AI governance, vendor management, and capital allocation.
• Strong collaboration across Finance, HR, Legal, and Operations.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Operational discipline, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to client service excellence.

This is a hybrid role and the salary ranges for this position vary depending on the geographic location and other factors such as experience, internal equity, market data, and job-related considerations. The range for this position is from $575,000 - $750,000, with offers contingent upon the various factors. The firm’s compensation strategy includes not just a base salary but also comprehensive benefits such as healthcare, paid time off, discretionary merit bonuses, life and disability insurance, retirement plans and tailored learning opportunities.

Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within our Firm and in the larger legal profession. We believe that diverse skills, knowledge and viewpoints make us a stronger firm. Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP maintains a policy of affording all employees and applicants equal employment opportunities without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity, gender expression or being transgender), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital or familial status, domestic violence victim status, ancestry, amnesty, citizenship status, ethnicity, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation will not be tolerated in any of the Firm’s offices or any other work-related setting. Qualified individuals with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation in order to apply for a position or to enable them to perform the essential functions of a position for which they are otherwise qualified. EEO.