Job Description

We are currently recruiting for a Knowhow & LMS Platform Owner to join our London office.

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE

The core of the global technology department's mission is to provide stable, reliable, and secure platforms and services to our partners, staff and clients and fulfil our regulatory obligations across 30+ countries. To ensure that a consistent and standardised IT service is delivered to all offices, IT is managed and led as a global function, enabling all offices to benefit from complete systems integration and economies of scale. We have around 400 technologists based predominantly in the UK, Singapore and increasingly in the US.

Enterprise Architecture and Technology Platforms

To develop and maintain the firm's technology strategy and enterprise architecture. In parallel, own, improve and simplify the firm's key technology 'building blocks' by designing, building and managing the core technology platforms which are fundamental to delivering strategic business goals.

ROLE PURPOSE

Reporting to the Head of Knowledge Technology Platforms, the Knowhow & LMS Platform Owner is responsible for the operational management, development, and strategic direction of our global Legal Know How and Learning Management solutions. The role is responsible for managing and motivating a matrix team of skilled IT professionals and directing external third-party service providers.



The role will lead the design and delivery of the next generation of legal knowledge and learning solutions for A&O Shearman, ensuring a seamless migration from legacy platforms to a modern, AI-enabled knowledge ecosystem that allows lawyers across the whole firm seamless access to legal knowledge in the flow of work.



By leveraging data-driven insights and embracing new technologies, you'll champion the continuous improvement of our Legal Knowhow solutions, empowering lawyers globally to excel in their roles.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

Take ownership of the product strategy and roadmap for knowhow and learning solutions, ensuring execution and alignment with strategic objectives of the department and the wider firm. Act as primary point of contact for business users for knowhow and learning systems. Lead the design and delivery of the next generation of legal knowledge and learning solutions for A&O Shearman, ensuring a seamless migration from legacy platforms to a modern, AI-enabled ecosystem. Act as the strategic bridge between business leaders, legal professionals, technical teams, and vendors to shape requirements, address pain points, and communicate a clear product vision. Partner with cross-functional teams and the global knowledge community to identify opportunities to extend and improve our knowledge solutions and to anticipate evolving needs, identify innovation opportunities, and embed cutting-edge capabilities into our platforms. Define and manage product roadmaps across multiple workstreams, driving adoption of AI features such as intelligent search, summarization, and automated classification to enhance knowledge discovery and legal research. Act as the subject matter expert for knowledge and learning platforms, providing strategic guidance and thought leadership. Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with Partners, Global Heads of Knowledge and Global Heads of Innovation to ensure alignment with business priorities and deliver measurable value. Work with stakeholders across the firm to enable a more streamlined and simplified technology landscape ensuring user experience, accessibility and security is at the core of everything that we do. Lead and motivate a matrix team of skilled IT professionals and third-party service providers, ensuring delivery excellence and continuous improvement. Stay ahead of market trends and emerging technologies, representing the firm in industry forums and leveraging insights to inform platform evolution. Ensure compliance with security, regulatory, and operational requirements, while contributing to enterprise architecture and platform governance. Oversee performance management of team members, vendor performance reviews, and budget accountability, ensuring continuous improvement and innovation across the knowledge and learning. Contribute to the management of the knowhow & LMS platform budget and benefits delivery, developing estimates and tracking performance against plans.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

ExperienceProven experience (5 + years) as a Product Manager in knowledge, learning or legal tech platforms, preferably within the legal, professional services or regulated industry sectors. Demonstrable evidence of developing strategy and delivering legal knowledge solutions to the Practice and to clients preferably within the legal or professional services sector. Knowledge and understanding of existing Knowledge Management processes and best practices, including where there are shortcomings, bottlenecks and frustrations in processes or technology. Detailed understanding of legal workflows and working practices in a law firm context and how they might vary across different legal practices and different geographies. Knowledge of IT strategic planning, design, and operations processes. Strong project management and problem-solving skills, with the ability to plan, prioritize and deliver on time and within budget. Demonstrates a strong professional interest in technology, automation, artificial intelligence, and data-driven decision-making within the legal sector. Literacy in AI technologies (LLMs, embeddings, RAG, Agents) and how these can be applied to in knowledge management workflows. Have an understanding, or willingness to learn, the capabilities of existing Legal technology solutions such as M365, MS Teams, iManage and Search and how they can be integrated so that we can use them to solve the business challenges faced by our lawyers. A passion for innovation and user-centric design, with the ability to identify and implement new ideas and solutions. In-depth knowledge of data quality, metadata management, and related disciplines. Experience in a variety of roles that evidence an ability to challenge and embed new working practices whilst leading a can-do culture focusing on curiosity, collaboration, learning and development. Demonstrable experience managing SaaS-based applications, preferably within a legal or professional services context. Strong vendor management skills and experience negotiating contracts. Knowledge of current IT and data market trends and technology innovations.

PersonalHigh level of personal credibility, impact and influence with proven ability to work effectively and persuasively at all levels Excellent industry knowledge (understanding the work and needs of individual lawyers and practice groups and the potential opportunities and cross-overs in developing, adapting and deploying different technologies). Proven business acumen and ability to understand how they add value to the function, firm or clients. Promotes the firm's values at all times, and is comfortable working within a large and complex, matrixed environment with multiple stakeholders and interest groups. Proven leadership qualities, with a track record of guiding teams towards achieving strategic objectives. Excellent presentation, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and sustain strong client and colleague relationships in a global matrix organisation


Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.



We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.



We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.



Our approach to hybrid working seeks to combine and maximise the benefits of effective remote working with the benefits of being in the office. Our current hybrid working arrangements require office based working for a minimum of 60% of your time (

i.e.

three days per week for a full time role) in accordance with our hybrid working policy.

Additional information - External

A&O Shearman is a global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 28 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world's most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.



We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world's leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.



Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to an inclusive environment, and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.



What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.