Deputy Chief Information Officer

The Deputy Chief Information Officer (Deputy CIO) serves as the operational anchor of the firm's Information Technology organization. Working in close partnership with the Chief Information Officer, this leader assumes responsibility over day-to-day technology operations, enabling the CIO to focus on artificial intelligence, technology strategy, knowledge management, innovation, and firm-wide digital transformation.

This is an externally visible, high-accountability role for a seasoned technology executive who brings both the operational discipline to run a complex, geographically distributed IT environment and the strategic acumen to position the firm for continued growth. The Deputy CIO directly leads the day-to-day operations of the firm and serves as the CIO's principal delegate across vendor relationships, budgeting, compliance, and staff development.

The ideal candidate has deep experience in legal technology environments and is energized by the unique operational demands of a top-tier AmLaw 100 firm — where speed, confidentiality, and service excellence are not optional.

• Exercise independent authority over IT operations across all 26 firm offices, ensuring consistent, reliable, and secure technology services for approximately 1,800 users.
• Serve as acting CIO in the CIO's absence, maintaining decision-making continuity across all IT functions.
• Establish and enforce operational standards, SLAs, and performance metrics across all four director-led teams.
• Drive IT incident response, business continuity planning, and disaster recovery across the firm's global footprint.

• Provide direct leadership, mentorship, and performance management to four directors:
  • Director, Software Services — enterprise application portfolio including practice management, billing, and legal-specific platforms
  • Director, Systems — infrastructure, systems architecture, and integration services
  • Director, End User Support — helpdesk and deskside support across all offices
  • Director, Project Management Office — portfolio governance, project delivery, and resource planning
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative IT culture aligned with the firm's service expectations and professional standards.
• Partner with HR on workforce planning, succession planning, and talent acquisition across the IT organization.

• Oversee the firm's legal technology ecosystem, including but not limited to iManage (document management), Elite 3E (financial management), and related integration layers.
• Partner with Software Services and Systems Directors to manage platform life cycles, upgrades, and vendor relationships for core legal systems.
• Evaluate emerging legal technology tools in coordination with the CIO and the Knowledge Management & AI group to ensure operational readiness precedes deployment.
• Maintain working knowledge key functions and solutions to inform prioritization and investment decisions.

• Support IT operational budget development and management, including forecasting, cost management, and variance reporting in coordination with firm Finance leadership.
• Participate in vendor selection, contract negotiation, and ongoing relationship management for major technology providers.
• Identify cost optimization opportunities without compromising service quality or security posture.

• Coordinate with the firm's Information Security function, ensuring alignment with client security requirements and applicable data privacy regulations related to IT operational tasks.

• Act as the primary IT operational liaison to firm administration, including…