Global Head of AI Business Development

A&O Shearman; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global law firm is seeking a Global Head of AI Business Development to enhance their AI client offerings. This role focuses on strategic planning, client engagement, and team leadership within the AI sector. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in marketing and business development, relevant experience in professional services, and a passion for AI technologies. This position requires individuals who are proactive, analytical, and capable of leading teams to success.

Benefits

Occupational pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Health and wellbeing services

Emergency back-up care support

Qualifications

• Relevant marketing or BD experience in professional services or technology environment.
• Significant experience at senior manager level or above.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for AI and emerging technologies.

Responsibilities

• Drive BD across global AI practice to pursue opportunities.
• Develop and execute global marketing strategy for AI services.
• Lead and motivate the BD team and lawyers.

Skills

Marketing

Business Development

AI technologies

Communication

Leadership

Job description

Overview

Job description

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE

A&O Shearman stands as the global leader in artificial intelligence (AI). We lead the market globally both in the deployment of AI and in advising our clients on AI. This two-handed approach is unique among law firms. Our excellence in one feeds our excellence in the other. On the AI advisory side, we have leading AI experts in all major jurisdictions globally, across the full AI risk spectrum and all relevant specialisms. We advise on a broad range of complex AI matters around the world, including AI risk management (for which we are known for our innovative governance solutions), regulatory compliance, AI transactions (where we are shaping novel contract protections for AI risks), AI disputes, export controls, antitrust, and all aspects of the AI value chain. This includes advising on data licensing for AI, AI transformation projects, AI infrastructure projects, complex international trade matters, AI licensing and collaboration matters, and AI governance. Clients of the group include leading AI developers, the largest corporates in the world across all sectors, the world’s biggest financial institutions, and governments. We have advised two G20 sovereigns on their national AI strategy. On the AI product side, we have a proven track record in building, deploying and governing AI solutions for ourselves and our clients. Our proprietary AI solutions have picked up awards around the world. We are the only law firm with a dedicated team of data scientists and developers building AI solutions for the industry. Bringing these together, our AI advisory practice is so effective because we leverage the experience acquired through building and deploying AI systems within the sector. Clients love that we are intimately familiar with technical concepts and the nuances that these create for legal risk. As we continue to expand our AI capabilities, deepen client relationships and extend our market leadership, we are seeking a visionary Global Head of AI Business Development (BD) to drive the next phase of our growth.

ROLE PURPOSE

This newly created role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of our AI client proposition at the firm that is setting the standard for excellence and innovation in the legal industry. The successful candidate will be a proactive, commercially minded and instinctively curious individual with a genuine passion for AI technologies.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic planning and execution

• Drive BD across our global AI practice to pursue common client and market opportunities.
• Develop and execute a global marketing strategy to promote growth and increase market share for our AI services and solutions. Proactively monitor trends in the market (both technological and commercial) along the entire AI value chain, and proactively suggest marketing campaigns bringing together our leading experts in relevant areas.
• Analyse client needs and competitor activity to identify opportunities for the firm.
• Devise and implement a programme of AI-focused BD activity aligned to the firm’s overall strategy.
• Ensure that AI BD strategies are aligned across regions and offices to maintain a consistent global approach.
• Oversee the processes and resources involved in creating pitches and other BD material for our AI advisory practice, to ensure consistency, efficiency and strategic insights.

Client and market engagement

• Focus on AI product and advisory proposition development to deliver imaginative, commercial client solutions.
• Drive growth and make connections with related parts of the business to ensure a compelling, coordinated and client-centric AI offering.
• Establish and nurture strategic partnerships with key market stakeholders, including clients, technology partners and industry bodies, to enhance the firm's AI market position and expand its network.
• Work with the Global Head of Client Listening to implement a systematic client-feedback process for AI products and services.

Internal AI fluency and capability building

• Design and deliver internal marketing, training and resources to build AI fluency, education and capability across the partnership.
• Empower partners to confidently sell the firm’s AI capabilities to clients, even if they are not AI specialists.
• Support internal knowledge sharing and best-practice initiatives, leveraging our experience in building and governing AI solutions.
• Assist with the preparation of internal and external presentations, reports and strategic documents that reinforce our position as trusted AI advisers.

Driving change

• Act as a catalyst for change by identifying areas for improvement and driving initiatives in BD that foster innovation and growth in the AI space.
• Engage with key stakeholders to build support for AI-driven change initiatives and ensure alignment with the firm's strategic goals.

ROI

• Ensure that BD resources are directed towards considered and value-additive AI BD activity aligned to business plans.
• Measure and report on the effectiveness of AI BD initiatives and make data-driven decisions to optimise performance.
• Create a measurable roadmap with KPIs such as revenue targets, pipeline growth and brand-awareness metrics.

Team leadership

• Lead by example, acting as a role model for others in the team.
• Motivate, develop and inspire both the BD team and lawyers to deliver business goals and drive change in the AI space.
• Allocate BD resources effectively and proportionately to support the firm’s AI strategy.
• Encourage a collaborative and inclusive team environment that values diverse perspectives and ideas.
• Champion the firm’s commitment to inclusion in all AI initiatives and team interactions.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Relevant marketing or BD experience in professional services and/or a technology environment.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for, and understanding of, AI and emerging technologies.
• Significant relevant experience at senior manager level or above.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Outstanding interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Proactive, creative, tenacious and resilient; adopts a growth mindset and encourages others to do the same.
• High attention to detail and strong client focus.
• Ability to meet deadlines, juggle multiple projects and deliver under pressure.
• Capacity to anticipate workload, balance conflicting priorities and manage stakeholder expectations.
• Professional, proactive, inclusive, good-humoured and enthusiastic approach to all work and interactions.
• Occasional travel may be required.

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 (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 youre 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.