AI Lawyer (Due Diligence Lead - M&A/Private Capital)
Linklaters · London, United Kingdom
Please note that we are unable to accept agency introductions for this role. Agency CVs will be immediately declined and deleted in accordance with our data privacy obligations and shall not impact our ability to directly source the individual for this role.
AI Lawyer (Due Diligence Lead - M&A/Private Capital)
Department: AI Lawyer, embedded in M&A/Private Capital
Location: London
Reporting to: M&A / Private Capital Partner(s) | Director of AI Delivery
About us
Linklaters is a leading international law firm, with 30 offices in 20 countries worldwide. Ours is an environment of outperformance. We achieve this not with targets and incentives, but by fostering a positive, supportive, fair, and open atmosphere.
We respect and value difference but insist on inclusivity. We celebrate all aspects of diversity and challenge any form of bias. This is vital to our ability to work as one team, with a common goal.
Your Role
- Work as a member of the AI Lawyer team, responsible for Linklaters’ M&A/Private Capital due diligence (DD) strategy and delivery transformation, which includes embedding consistent, measurable and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI). This includes working closely with the Private M&A Working Group to embed best-practice DD across the M&A and Private Capital groups.
- Act as an entrepreneurial ambassador for DD and AI within the M&A/Private Capital practice as well as, where opportunities arise, Applied Intelligence, proactively seeking out, identifying and developing new workstreams, client propositions and engagements at the intersection of corporate law, due diligence and AI.
- Work as a bridge between M&A/Private Capital lawyers, clients and technology providers, identifying and translating DD requirements and reviewing proposed solutions.
- Lead client-facing activity on AI-assisted DD in London
- Support leadership in identifying emerging trends, including areas requiring additional support, areas of strength and new commercial opportunities, to support allocation of resource aligned to the firm’s strategic goals.
Key priorities
- Lead the London DD workstream focused on driving best practice including awareness and measurable adoption of emerging AI capabilities within the firm’s technology workbench. Establish clear workstreams, plans, decision points, dependencies, risks, milestones and stakeholder actions, with technology supporting rather than replacing legal judgement.
- Develop end-to-end frameworks and process maps for DD, together with user-friendly collateral (task lists, cheat sheets) and demonstrations at varying levels of sophistication (e.g. trainee, associate, partner) to ensure consistent and effective adoption.
- Supporting training for the M&A / Private Capital practice on best practice DD, including use of AI supported solutions and client-oriented products.
- Support the pricing team on understanding the impact of AI on DD, and input into pricing matters commercially and efficiently.
About You
- You will have at least four years’ post-qualification experience in M&A/Private Capital, ideally gained at a leading international firm, with substantial high-quality private M&A and private equity DD experience.
- Admitted as a lawyer with an active practising certificate.
- Entrepreneurial mindset, with a track record of identifying opportunities and taking ideas from concept to delivery; commercially minded and comfortable building a business case. Proven programme or project leadership across parallel workstreams, dependencies, risks and priorities, with sound judgement on decisions, resource coordination and escalation.
- Confident, credible client-facing presence, with experience of pitching, presenting, running workshops and building client relationships.
- Lateral thinker able to identify opportunities for improvement through tech or process interventions.
- Collaborative self-starter, able to build strong rapport easily; strong consulting, negotiating and influencing skills; highly organised. Strong legal judgement and attention to detail, with the ability to balance quality, delivery and adoption, learn through responsible experimentation and adapt to changing client, practice and technology needs.
What sets us apart
- We offer a truly global work experience and the opportunity to be involved in strategic projects that drive innovation and shape the future of our business
- We belong to a firm that embodies its corporate social, environment, and governance responsibility commitments
- We remain focused on talent and having the best people which will result in a diverse workforce
- Having got the best people, we want them to feel included, valued and respected so they can perform at their best
- We advocate speak-up culture to empower our people in sharing their voices and an open-door policy to ensure they are listened to
- We invest in custom-fit career paths for our people in line with their talents and aspirations
- We provide agile working solutions to meet the changing needs of our people and our business
- We are committed to people first relationships based on mutual trust, respect, and appreciation
- We support the health and wellbeing of our people, providing a safe space to talk about emotions and mental health with access to expert advice as needed
- We invest in developing leaders of the future who demonstrate emotional intelligence and a passion to discover, coach and develop the talents of others
Our commitment to you/Linklaters
We are a friendly, informal practice and are committed to providing you with the support and training you need to maximise your potential.
We place great value on working as a team in a positive, supportive, fair and open working environment. We respect and value difference and insist on inclusivity, celebrating all aspects of diversity because we want everyone to feel that they belong.
You will be challenged, mentored and supported in the development of your career and given access to professional learning and skills-based programmes aimed at providing you with the tools to meet your career ambitions.
How to Apply
Applications are only accepted online via the portal. Questions must be directed to the recruitment team on: lateralrecruitment@linklaters.com and not the practice or partners.
Further Information
This list of responsibilities and skills is not exhaustive. It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for the performance of this job, and as such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.
A band of PQE as advertised on a role does not intend to preclude applications from those candidates that may have more or less PQE. Our intention is only to indicate a guideline as to how long we would expect a qualified lawyer to have practised so as to have gained the necessary skills for the role as described.
Equal Opportunities
The firm operates as a meritocracy and, therefore, selection for recruitment is on merit, irrespective of race, colour, age, religion, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation or disability. This assumes that the applicants are fit and able to undertake the job. Selection decisions, and the reasons for those decisions, are recorded in writing at each stage of the selection process. Selection criteria and, where appropriate, technical skills tests are in place to measure an individual’s ability for the safe and effective performance of a job. Those involved in recruitment, selection and dealing with the public are provided with training and guidance in administering equal opportunities.
If you would like to view the full job specification for this role please reach out to lateralrecruitment@linklaters.com.
Technical Skills
This list of duties and responsibilities above is not exhaustive. It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for, the performance of this job. As such, the role may also include the unde