Director, Applied AI

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.

As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world's largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.

At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we're focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world.

All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition - which is to help you achieve yours.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your goals. Our ambition

The Opportunity

Location : US

Primary Objectives : HSF Kramer is building a next-generation AI and innovation function at the center of how the firm delivers legal services globally. We are seeking a Director-level AI Solutions Architect to help design, build, and scale proprietary AI-enabled solutions across practices, regions, and client-facing use cases.

This is a senior AI leadership role for an individual who combines deep expertise in modern AI and software architecture with the ability to translate real-world legal and business problems into high-impact, fit-for-purpose technology solutions.

The ideal candidate is both a builder and a strategist: someone who understands how to architect systems, develop leading-edge solutions, and partner closely with lawyers, innovation leaders, and internal and external technology partners to deliver measurable transformation.

Primary Responsibilities :

AI Solution Design & Architecture

Architect and deliver scalable AI-enabled solutions aligned to firm priorities across litigation, transactional, regulatory, and advisory practices.

Design solutions leveraging modern AI stacks (LLMs, retrieval systems, agentic workflows, orchestration layers).

Build proprietary, secure, and reusable solution frameworks that can be adapted across jurisdictions and client contexts.

Use Case Development & Practice Enablement

Translate lawyer and client needs into clear technical requirements and solution architectures.

Develop AI applications tailored to specific legal workflows (e.g., due diligence acceleration, drafting support, matter intelligence, knowledge automation).

Drive adoption by designing solutions that integrate seamlessly into legal delivery.

Technology Ecosystem & Vendor Collaboration

Evaluate emerging AI technologies and vendors for strategic relevance.

Collaborate with external partners while maintaining architectural ownership and firm-specific differentiation.

Ensure solutions align with firm standards around security, governance, and client confidentiality.

AI Governance, Risk & Responsible Deployment

Embed best practices around responsible AI, including transparency, auditability, privacy, and regulatory compliance.

Work closely with AI Team, risk, IT, and knowledge teams to ensure systems are secure and enterprise-grade.

Support governance frameworks for model usage, deployment, and lifecycle management.

Qualifications, skills & experience

Required

10+ years of experience in software architecture, AI engineering, or applied technology leadership roles.

Strong experience building and deploying production-grade systems, including proprietary codebases and internal platforms.

Deep understanding of modern AI technologies, including:

Large Language Models (LLMs)

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

Model orchestration and agent frameworks

AI evaluation and monitoring

Expertise in cloud and modern engineering environments (Azure, AWS, Google Cloud Platform).

Ability to engage confidently with senior stakeholders, including partners and firm leadership.

Preferred

Experience in legal, professional services, regulated industries, or complex enterprise environments.

Familiarity with knowledge management, document workflows, and legal tech ecosystems.

Experience leading small technical teams or mentoring engineers.

COMPENSATION: Exact compensation may vary based on skills and experience and salary range is $400,000 - $450,000

Core Competencies

AI systems architecture with real-world delivery mindset

Strong software engineering fundamentals

Strategic orientation with execution rigor

Ability to translate ambiguity into buildable solutions

Trusted advisor presence with lawyers and business leaders

Builder mentality: pragmatic, iterative, high-ownership

Why This Role Matters

HSF Kramer is making a strategic investment in AI as a differentiator for client delivery, market leadership, and the future of legal services. This role will sit at the heart of that effort - building proprietary capabilities, enabling practice transformation, and helping shape the firm's AI-native future.

Key Internal Relationships :

Chief AI Officer

Chief Technology Officer and IT leadership team

Firm Lawyers (primarily Partners)

AI Team

Practice Group stakeholders

Key External Relationships :

AI Vendors

Clients

About us:

At Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, we align your growth and ambition with ours. We invest in your personal and professional growth and support you to achieve your ambitions. And you share responsibility for playing a part in delivering the firm's growth and ambition too.

A leading global law firm, with over 6,000 people, we are in the world's largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs. We're recognised leaders in demanding contentious matters, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private transactions.

We're immersed in the many challenges facing our clients. We're invested and resourceful. We understand the part technology and digitalisation play in the delivery of legal services. We want to make a positive impact wherever in the world we operate. You'll have the opportunity to engage with an open mind and curiosity.

We are known for our diverse perspectives and renowned for our culture. Being human, bold and outstanding are more than our values: you'll discover they are our lived experience. And by being ambitious for your growth and ours, we'll achieve our goals together.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your growth. Our ambition.

Team
Corporate Services

Working Pattern

Full time

Location
New York

Contract type
Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values-Human, Bold, and Outstanding.