The Opportunity

Heads of eDiscovery and Legal Technology are responsible for building out Digital Legal Delivery service through the use of technology to support the increasingly complex and wide ranging workstreams the firm is working on and through collaborative cross-selling with other Practice Areas. This role will have individual or collective accountability for the performance of eDiscovery within Digital Legal Delivery.

Key Responsibilities and Relationships

• The Head of eDiscovery, UK, US & EMEA, Digital Legal Delivery (“Head of eDiscovery”) will fulfil a senior strategic role delivering eDiscovery services and client-facing leadership for the firm’s Digital Legal Delivery business, reporting to the Legal Technology lead.
• This will include having direct responsibility for the day-to-day management of the eDiscovery, Digital Legal Delivery, team in the region.
• This is a fee-earning role and there will be a billable hours target of 1 hour per day for the Head of eDiscovery.
• In this senior role they will work closely with the Digital Legal Delivery West Disputes Partner (“Partner”), the Legal Technology lead and other senior leaders in Digital Legal Delivery West to support them in achieving the strategic vision for Digital Legal Delivery West.
• The Head of eDiscovery will work with the Regional Disputes senior teams and the Head of Disputes, to always lead the legal and e-Discovery teams within Digital Legal Delivery to high professional standards, with a close eye on quality.
• They will also work closely with the senior Digital Legal Delivery eDiscovery team members in Asia and Australia to ensure global alignment to best achieve the strategic aims of the global business and to support matters around the globe.
• Clients/ Business Development
• Establish and maintain excellent working relationships with the local GHoPs, RHoPs, Partners and CRMs across the region, particularly in New York and London.
• Promote the full Digital Legal Delivery eDiscovery offering to them, in consultation and collaboration with relevant peer(s), to maximise the opportunity for the firm’s clients to benefit from Digital Legal Delivery services.
• Direct excellent client care and relationship management of internal and, where appropriate, external clients to ensure high levels of satisfaction with the legal services offered by the eDiscovery practice in the region.
• Work to further diversify the client portfolio for Digital Legal Delivery West in order to ensure that the business remains sustainable, profitable and responsive to client need.
• Contribute substantially to the firm’s overall value proposition and high standards of service delivery to Clients, assessed by Client survey/feedback and repeat business as appropriate. 
• Build own brand as a respected “voice” in the legal technology community through seeking opportunities to raise own profile and others in the team.
• Strategic Leadership
• Provide inspired leadership and clear direction to teams ensuring a collaborative approach to achieve the firm’s objectives and promote a positive perception of HSF and Digital Legal Delivery to clients.
• Lead and develop a culture within eDiscovery to support the attraction, development, performance and retention of the highest calibre employees.
• Develop a highly regarded team that strives to consistently deliver exceptional work
• Achieve high levels of employee engagement across teams within the portfolio and evidenced by 360 feedback.
• Manage change as it impacts the teams in a way that minimises operational and client delivery disruption.

Qualifications, skills and experience

• Have a track record of successfully leading an eDiscovery team. An ability to help deliver a high performance culture among a group of diverse, talented, technically excellent individuals will be crucial.
• Be a process-minded individual, demonstrating excellence in client service delivery for both internal legal teams and external clients, including managing the processes and delivery of work.
• Extensive experience of planning and managing complex eDiscovery matters and deep experience with eDiscovery technology (Relativity and Nuix desired), and eDiscovery review “best practice”, including the application and analysis of eDiscovery Analytics (TAR, Early Case Assessment, Clustering, Concept searching).
• Excellent understanding of the eDiscovery software market and the legal framework of eDiscovery, existing protocols, practices and relevant legal standards. Proven skills in operational business growth and planning, able to spot and develop new business opportunities.
• People management skills in a law firm or commercial legal environment managing team members in and out of region.
• Experience of resourcing, project managing and motivating large teams to tight deadlines.
• High level of attention to detail with the ability to step back and see problems, opportunities and trends.
• Strong creative and analytical ability, coupled with sound judgement to balance multiple factors and solve complex problems.
• Strong IT literacy, including and aptitude for learning (and becoming proficient in) the use of new and innovative software and IT applications.

  Please note, applications close Monday 3rd Ju2024 at 17:00PM.

Team

Digital Legal Delivery

Full time

Location

London

Contract type

Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

At Herbert Smith Freehills you will be part of a diverse, innovative culture where high performance, client focus and highly engaged people are our differentiator. People at our firm come from a range of backgrounds and bring a wide variety of experiences and perspectives to their work with us. We strive to ensure that our inclusive environment means you feel valued and able to perform at your best by being your authentic self at work. We know that our future success not only depends on being innovative and progressive in the changing legal market but, most importantly, on our people feeling highly engaged in meaningful work.

We understand that you have commitments and personal interests outside of work and we strive to create a working environment based on mutual trust and respect, in which you can perform at your best whilst maintaining sustainable balance across your life.