Associate Director of Knowledge Management, Senior KM Counsel - Finance

Latham & Watkins LLP; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 300,000 - 380,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

401(k) plan

11 paid holidays

PTO 23 days

Well-being programs

Professional development

Job summary

Latham & Watkins seeks an Associate Director of Knowledge Management, Senior KM Counsel, to lead KM strategy for the Practice Group and manage KM teams across Banking & Private Credit, Private Equity Finance, Restructuring, and Structured Finance. The role can be based in Los Angeles, New York, DC, or London with hybrid in-office options.

The candidate will shape KM programs, allocate resources, and interact with Practice Group chairs to advance knowledge initiatives and client value.

Qualifications

• JD or equivalent and active bar admission in at least one US state.
• Minimum ten years of progressively responsible practice management experience in legal or professional services.
• Minimum of ten years in a management role.
• Eight or more years as a practicing attorney with a leading international law firm, with finance transactions experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise KM colleagues including KM Counsel and KM Lawyers.
• Oversee engagement of lawyers in the Practice Group’s KM activities and strategy.
• Distill deal/matter data into market insights for internal and external use.
• Monitor legal, regulatory and market landscape and develop client-facing materials.
• Collaborate with Technology & Information Services to drive AI-based workflows.
• Protect confidential and proprietary information.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

People management

Legal industry knowledge

Education

JD or equivalent

Bar admission (US state or jurisdiction)

Tools

AI-based workflows

Knowledge management systems

Job description

About Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins is one of the world’s leading global law firms advising the businesses and institutions that drive the global economy. We are the market leaders in major financial and business centers around the world. Our investment in people, commitment to innovation, and focus on the future empower you to build an incredible career and thrive as an exceptional professional in a supportive culture. If you aspire to be the best, and work with the best, this is where you belong.

About The Role

The Associate Director of Knowledge Management (“KM”), Senior KM Counsel is an integral part of Latham’s Knowledge Management leadership team. Reporting to the Director of Global Knowledge Management and collaborating with the Firm's Practice Group Chairs, this role will be responsible for leading and developing KM team members, including KM Counsel and KM Lawyers, supporting practice groups including Banking & Private Credit, Private Equity Finance, Restructuring, and Structured Finance. The successful candidate will structure and oversee effective engagement by practicing lawyers in the Practice Group’s KM strategy, programs, and work product, while developing and executing the KM strategy for the Practice Group, establishing annual and ongoing priorities, ensuring adequate resourcing, and overseeing all aspects of the Practice Group’s KM activities and workflow. This role will be located in either our New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, or London office. Please note that this role may be eligible for a flexible working schedule that allows for a hybrid and in-office presence.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

• Leading, managing, and supervising KM colleagues assigned to the Practice Group, including KM Counsel and KM Lawyers (“KM Team”), providing them with guidance and supporting their growth and development to ensure consistently excellent performance
• Developing a framework for, and overseeing the implementation of, the involvement of practicing lawyers in the Practice Group’s KM activities, ensuring the appropriate allocation of workflow and responsibility between practicing lawyers and KM Team and providing recommendations on recruiting strategy for the KM Team
• Distilling extensive internal deal/matter datasets to prepare market insights for use internally and externally
• Continuously monitoring legal, regulatory, and market landscape, with a focus on the Firm’s data and experience; identifying emerging trends for practice leadership and leading the development of materials to communicate such information to members of the practice group, clients, and prospective clients
• Closely collaborating with other Technology & Information Services leadership, including the Legal Innovation team, driving the development and implementation of AI-based workflows to streamline the extraction and analysis of key provisions from Firm databases and operative documents
• Protecting and maintaining any highly sensitive, confidential, privileged, financial, and/or proprietary information that Latham & Watkins retains

We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Possess deep subject matter knowledge of finance transactions, including market standards, deal and matter structures, and regulatory frameworks relevant to KM resource development
• Exhibit a strong ability to quickly and fully understand the Practice Group’s strategy and priorities
• Demonstrate a strong ability to quickly build a deep understanding of the areas of expertise and the nature of services provided by Practice Group and the KM Team

And have:

• A JD or its equivalent
• Admission to at least one US State Bar or other jurisdiction in which the firm operates
• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible practice management experience in legal or other professional services environment
• A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in a management role
• A minimum of eight (8) years as a practicing attorney with a leading international law firm, with significant experience in finance transactions

Benefits & Additional Information

Successful candidates will not only be provided with an outstanding career opportunity and welcoming environment, but will also be provided with a generous total compensation package with bonuses awarded in recognition of both individual and firm performance. Eligible employees can participate in Latham’s comprehensive benefit program which includes:

• Healthcare, life and disability insurance
• A generous 401k plan
• At least 11 paid holidays per year, and a PTO program that accrues 23 days during the first year of employment and grows with tenure
• Well-being programs (e.g. mental health services, mindfulness and resiliency, medical resources, well-being events, and more)
• Professional development programsEmployee discounts
• Affinity groups, networks, and coalitions for lawyers and staff

Latham & Watkins is an equal opportunity employer. The Firm prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status (including veterans of the Vietnam era), gender expression, marital status, or any other characteristic or condition protected by applicable statute.

Latham & Watkins LLP will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO).

Pay Range

USD $300,000.00 - USD $380,000.00 /Yr.