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. 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 role is explicitly designed as a pathway to the Chief Information Officer position.

Responsibilities

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; 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 (Software Services, Systems, End User Support, Project Management Office); Foster a high-performance, collaborative IT culture; Partner with HR on workforce planning, succession planning, and talent acquisition; Oversee the firm's legal technology ecosystem, including iManage, Elite 3E, and related integration layers; Partner with Software Services and Systems Directors to manage platform lifecycles, upgrades, and vendor relationships for core legal systems; Evaluate emerging legal technology tools in coordination with the CIO and the Knowledge Management & AI group; Support IT operational budget development and management, including forecasting, cost management, and variance reporting; Participate in vendor selection, contract negotiation, and ongoing relationship management; Identify cost optimization opportunities without compromising service quality or security posture; Coordinate with the firm's Information Security function on client security requirements and applicable data privacy regulations; Act as the primary IT operational liaison to firm administration; Collaborate with the Knowledge Management & AI group to integrate AI-powered tools into the operational technology stack; Communicate IT performance, project status, and risk posture to firm leadership; Represent IT at firm management meetings, partner retreats, and relevant industry forums as directed by the CIO

Requirements

20+ years of progressive IT leadership experience; at least 5 years in a senior director, deputy CIO, or equivalent operational leadership role; Demonstrated experience in an AmLaw 100 or 200 law firm, or a large professional services firm with comparable technology complexity; Hands-on familiarity with core legal technology platforms, including iManage or comparable DMS, Elite 3E or similar financial management systems, and supporting integrations; Proven track record managing multi-site, enterprise-scale IT operations (25+ locations preferred); Experience directly managing a team of directors or senior managers across heterogeneous technology disciplines; Strong financial acumen with experience owning multi-million-dollar technology budgets; Excellent executive communication skills; Deep understanding of cybersecurity principles and legal industry-specific compliance requirements; Requires 4-5 days in office

Nice to have

Experience operating in an environment where IT has a formal AI or digital transformation initiative underway; Familiarity with AI-adjacent operational challenges, including data governance, model deployment infrastructure, and AI tool evaluation frameworks; Relevant certifications such as PMP, ITIL, CISSP, or equivalent; Experience with iManage Cloud, Intapp, or other leading legal SaaS platforms; Prior exposure to legal industry groups such as ILTA (International Legal Technology Association)