Head of Legal - Technology and Procurement

Northern Trust • Chicago, IL

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

As a senior leader in Northern Trust’s Legal Department, this attorney will be responsible for leading the department’s global technology and procurement practice with an emphasis on artificial intelligence, emerging technology, complex vendor contracting, outsourcing, and strategic third-party engagements. The attorney also will lead the development and execution of the Legal Department’s strategy to responsibly adopt artificial intelligence tools in the department’s legal operations. The ideal candidate will be an attorney with deep experience in technology and procurement matters for a global financial organization with a focus on vended artificial intelligence (AI) tools, SaaS, APIs, and other technology applications employed by large global financial institutions. The candidate will lead the Global Technology and Procurement Legal team, provide executive level legal support for Northern Trust’s AI initiatives and advise business partners and executive management across the enterprise on a wide range of legal issues related to technology solutions and the evolving regulatory requirements that apply to global financial institutions.

Requirements

• JD from an accredited law school; and must have a valid license to practice law in Illinois.
• Minimum combined fifteen (15) years of experience at a nationally recognized law firm and/or in-house legal department advising clients in relevant areas.
• Deep experience leading complex AI, technology and procurement projects and advising executive management.
• Experience drafting, negotiating, and reviewing various types of technology contracts and agreements, including AI, software licenses, distributed ledger technologies, managed services, and on-prem and SaaS license agreements, with an appreciation of the issues on both the vendor and client sides.
• In-depth experience with the legal and regulatory aspects that can impact contract requirements, including familiarity with the impacts of placing data in the cloud.
• Ability to work cooperatively with all levels of the organization and provide legal advice and counsel on a wide range of technology and procurement related matters.
• Ability to conduct in-depth legal analysis and provide practical, solutions-oriented advice.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience managing a team of lawyers and managing relationships with business partners, clients, and outside counsel.

Nice To Haves

• Deep expertise in technology law, AI governance, data usage, privacy, intellectual property, and commercial contracting.
• Strong understanding of financial services regulation, enterprise risk management, third-party risk, and legal governance frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to design scalable legal processes, standards, playbooks, and operating models.
• Excellent judgment, executive presence, and ability to advise senior stakeholders on complex and ambiguous issues.
• Commercially pragmatic negotiation skills with ability to balance innovation, business enablement, and risk discipline.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to translate technical and legal issues into clear business guidance.
• Ability to lead through influence, build trusted relationships, and drive outcomes across Legal, Technology, Procurement, Risk, and Compliance.
• Financial Industry regulations preferred (e.g., FRB SR13-19, PRA SS2/21, GDPR, CCPA, DORA, EU AI Act).
• Experience working within a regulated industry, financial industry preferred.
• Deep knowledge of applicable existing and proposed AI, outsourcing and technology-related regulations impacting the banking industry highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive legal leadership to ongoing efforts to accelerate Northern Trust’s responsible adoption of AI consistent with legal and regulatory requirements and client and supervisory expectations.
• Lead and manage a team of technology and procurement lawyers.
• Oversee legal support for enterprise technology initiatives, including cloud, data platforms, automation, digital tools, software licensing, cybersecurity-adjacent contracting, and advanced analytics.
• Provide strategic legal guidance on technology transactions, product implementation, intellectual property ownership, usage rights, data rights, service levels, operational resiliency, and exit obligations.
• Advise senior stakeholders on emerging technology legal and regulatory risks and opportunities in a highly regulated financial services environment.
• Lead the development and execution of the Legal Department’s AI adoption strategy.
• Design and maintain a repeatable legal intake and review framework for AI, technology, and procurement matters.
• Develop and update template contracts, playbooks, terms of use, and other terms and conditions related to technology initiatives and products and procurement contracting across the enterprise.
• Support negotiation of complex commercial agreements and provide escalation guidance on high-risk or high-value vendor matters.
• Collaborate with and advise other cross functional teams and SMEs (e.g., Procurement, Data Privacy, Information Security, Risk, Compliance), including in other jurisdictions, as needed.
• Represent the Legal Department on enterprise AI, technology, data, and vendor governance forums.
• Advise senior and executive management on legal and regulatory developments that impact Northern Trust’s procurement organization and technology initiatives.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the General Counsel, Legal Leadership Team, senior business leaders, Technology, Risk, Compliance, and Procurement.
• Lead, mentor, and develop attorneys and legal professionals supporting AI, technology, and procurement, as applicable.

Benefits

• retirement benefits (401k and pension)
• health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability)
• paid time off
• parental and caregiver leave
• life & accident insurance
• other voluntary and well-being benefits
• discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree