Director, AI Acceleration, US

Company: Herbert Smith Freehills
Location: New York City
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

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 Overview Reporting to the Chief AI Officer, you will be responsible for helping to shape the firm's AI strategy. In collaboration with the Chief AI Officer, you will focus on the delivery and execution of identified strategic initiatives. The role will have a global remit with a regional focus, for purposes of optimizing ‘boots on the ground’ for client delivery and point of client service to internal colleagues, while working with global reach. You will be responsible for evolving the firm's AI strategy based on market insights and the firm's needs, ensuring that the activities undertaken by the AI team are aligned to identified and emerging strategic priorities. You will be a high profile, credible individual in AI, such that discussions at Partner, Executive and Counsel level will be natural to you; you will likely have technology / AI experience. Expertise and understanding of the Legal AI market and industry are key, and consistent self-learning in connection with AI topics to ensure literacy. Active market interest in terms of emerging tools and capabilities is necessarily key from an execution standpoint. Your primary objectives will be to: • Transform the firm by scaling AI innovation and ensuring strategic governance, positioning the firm as a leader in responsible, cutting-edge legal technology. • Work with Legal AI capabilities and bringing Legal AI to the broader firm via vendor engagement, pilots, successful rollouts • Collaborate with cross-functional internal teams (comms, BD, talent) to align on furtherance of AI objectives and points of close strategic collaboration Key Responsibilities What You’ll Do You’ll activate innovation across HSF Kramer by bringing Legal AI forward. Sourcing and identifying vendors and opportunities and then shaping pilots and deploying cutting edge tech across your region and globally. This role is for shapers, makers, and enthusiasts. This role and opportunity is for someone who is energized by legal innovation and passionate about building and delivering in a way that truly transforms. At our firm we’re excited to stay at the cutting edge and even get ahead of it. This role will be a primary driver in support of that effort. Clients – Innovation, Engagement & External Positioning Lead AI partnering and experiments with clients and practice groups. Stay ahead of AI trends and tools and thoughtfully engage in industry listening to stay closely attuned to peer developments and market trends. With a focus on regional alignment and closely collaborating with the other Directors for AI Acceleration (in the other regions), deliver the client AI strategy in an appropriately consistent way globally. Embed AI into every layer of legal/client delivery—from review, drafting, and due diligence, to internal operations. Transform the firm' client delivery by scaling legal AI innovation and ensuring strategic governance. Internal – Innovation, Engagement & Operations With the Chief AI Officer, set the global strategy for internal AI activities. Champion AI solutions and integrate AI into workflows across the firm (both business and practice of law). Guide AI use cases and products, from ideation to pilot, deployment, scaling, applying measures like ROI, accuracy, latency. Be responsible for ensuring the outcomes achieved by the AI teams are aligned to the agreed strategy and act as a point of escalation for any issues relating to AI. Work closely with the other Directors and Chief AI Officer, as needed, to address challenges escalated regarding AI operations and ensure global consistency in approach. Act as the main point of senior contact for internal stakeholders on the topic of AI enablement, tooling, and capabilities available at the firm. Cultivate trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across the firm – within both functional and practice group leadership teams. Build and promote AI expertise internally – lead and promote expertise within the firm and build the firm’s expertise in this. Actively identify potentially difficult dynamics within AI implementation, and proactively support those involved to address and resolve challenging situations (either through coaching or intervening as appropriate). Proactively manage senior stakeholders to ensure they are informed and are reporting upwards. Provide input into the wider firm engagement strategy to be delivered by the AI team. Influence and work with other teams, such as L&D, to drive firm-wide AI literacy by co-designing training, playbooks, “AI academies,” and adoption campaigns, supported by L&D Collaborate closely with other support functions including finance, IT, BD, comms to progress the AI strategy. Focus on regional delivery and execution in collaboration with other Directors in the AI team to empower global delivery. Team Leadership & Collaboration Build and mentor a cross-functional AI team, providing team members with direction, clarity, guidance, and support. Foster a positive culture with the AI team, encouraging open communication, collaboration, and a growth mindset. Cultivate collaboration across IT, L&D, Responsible AI and Practice Groups to embed AI and resolve conflicts effectively Key internal relationships • Chief AI Officer • Chief Technology Officer and IT leadership team Compensation : Exact compensation may vary based on skills and experience and salary range is $400,000 - $450,000 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.

Keywords: Herbert Smith Freehills, Irvington , Director, AI Acceleration, US, IT / Software / Systems , New York City, New Jersey