Bristows LLP 2025

Head of Knowledge and Innovation

Department : Knowledge and Innovation

The firm

Bristows is a market leading law firm with a global client base across the life sciences and technology

sectors. The firm has maintained its high standing in the market with the strength of our legal expertise

and our unique firm culture driven by our core values.

Bristows LLP is seeking an innovative Head of Knowledge and Innovation to lead the firm's knowledge

management function. This is a new, and pivotal leadership role responsible for establishing firmwide

knowledge function, and designing and implementing a firmwide knowledge strategy, embedding a culture

of knowledge sharing and innovation, and ensuring Bristows remains at the forefront of legal service

delivery in the Technology and Life Sciences sectors.

This role will support the efficiency, quality, and innovation of our legal services by embedding best

practices in knowledge capture, sharing, and application. Reporting to the Joint Managing Partners and

working closely with other Partners, Heads of Department, and Business Services, the Head of

Knowledge will champion a collaborative, technology-enabled knowledge culture across the firm.

Key responsibilities

Knowledge Strategy & Culture

• Designing and establishing a firmwide knowledge management (" KM ") function.
• Design and deliver a firmwide knowledge management strategy aligned with Bristows' strategic goals, brand, and culture.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing across practice areas and support functions.
• Work with practice leaders to identify key knowledge priorities, pain points, and opportunities for innovation.
• Establish and lead a cross-practice knowledge group to support KM initiatives and collaboration.
• Act as a champion for knowledge sharing and innovation, sharing cultural knowledge across the firm.
• Represent Bristows at external KM and legal innovation events and forums.
  
  

• Develop and implement client-facing knowledge products to support Bristows' position as a thought leader in IP, Technology, and Life Sciences.
• Work in partnership with the Business Development team, Sector Leads and Client Relationship Partners to create differentiating knowledge-based content and services.
  
  

• Develop processes to capture tacit knowledge from partners, secondees, lateral hires, and matter debriefs
• Identify knowledge initiatives that add demonstrable value to client relationships and service delivery, including market intelligence relating to client and potential clients.
  
  

• Design and oversee the implementation of core KM systems, including document management, intranet, enterprise search, and collaboration platforms (e.g., SharePoint, iManage, MS Teams).
• Lead the audit, selection, implementation, and optimisation of existing KM tools and platforms, and subscriptions (including responsibility for renewals), ensuring they meet current and future needs.
• Lead the firm's legal tech pilots and any subsequent roll out (e.g., BristowsGPT, Copilot), including design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Establish an internal innovation forum open to all staff.
  
  

• Design and oversee the implementation of a central knowledge repository (likely built on SharePoint), including taxonomy, metadata, and usage analytics.
• Establish and maintain submission guidelines, governance policies, and document lifecycle management
• Lead the migration and consolidation of existing knowledge collections.
  
  

• Develop and execute a change management plan for the implementation of the knowledge strategy.
• Develop and oversee processes for knowledge capture, codification (e.g., precedents, checklists, playbooks), and retrieval.
• Design a comprehensive legal training programme for fee earners and collaborate with Learning & Development to align legal training with knowledge initiatives and maintain the quality of legal learning content.
• Set, monitor, and report on key performance indicators to track and demonstrate the impact of KM initiatives.
  
  

• Recruit, manage, and develop a team of Professional Support Lawyers (PSLs) or Knowledge Managers.
• Formalise and support the Knowledge Partner (KP) role within each practice group
  
  

• Ensure all KM activities promote diversity, inclusion, and accessibility
• Lead and rebrand the Information Centre (IC), aligning it with the broader Knowledge & Innovation function.
  
  

• Proven experience leading a Knowledge Management and Innovation function in a law firm or professional services organisation.
• Ideally legally qualified (UK solicitor or equivalent), or with a strong understanding of legal practice, knowledge systems and client service delivery in an IP/technology/life sciences context.
• Demonstrated ability to create and deliver firmwide KM strategies that have resulted in measurable efficiencies and improvements.
• Experienced in the selection and implementation of KM-related technologies and platforms.
• Successful track record of change management, leading cross functional teams and working with senior leadership to influence culture and behavioural change.
• Familiarity with platforms such as iManage, SharePoint, and legal tech tools like Contract Express, DraftWise, Henchman, or Spellbook.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to inspire trust and collaboration across fee earners, business services, and clients.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, capable of articulating technical and strategic concepts to diverse audiences.
• Commercial acumen and ability to align KM initiatives with business priorities and client needs, and managing budgets.
• Highly organised, analytical, and solutions-focused with a strong delivery mindset.
• A natural change agent with the gravitas to lead firmwide transformation initiatives.