Divisional COO - LAI, Director

Linklaters is a global law firm, providing legal services in 20 countries and through 30 offices. Linklaters is a people business. Being best in class in the eyes of our clients means that our people must be exceptional. We look not only for brilliant minds, but for people who will thrive in our environment: people who love working collaboratively and demonstrate the innovative, efficient, agile, entrepreneurial, and responsible mind‑set we aim to bring to every interaction. 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.

The role:

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future direction of one of the firm’s most significant global practice areas. As Divisional COO, you’ll partner directly with senior practice leadership to drive strategy, performance and growth across a complex international business. Acting as a trusted adviser to the Divisional Practice Head and wider partnership, you’ll provide the insight, challenge and commercial guidance needed to make better decisions and deliver lasting impact.

• Shaping and delivering the division’s strategic priorities
• Leading business planning and driving commercial performance
• Advising senior partners on growth, profitability, investment and people decisions
• Using data and market insight to identify opportunities and influence decision‑making
• Driving major business transformation and change initiatives
• Building alignment across a global, matrixed organisation
• Ensuring the division is positioned for sustainable, profitable growth
• Leading and developing a high‑performing Business Management team that enables success across the practice

What we’re looking for:

We’re looking for a commercially‑minded business leader who is equally comfortable advising senior stakeholders, shaping strategy and driving execution.

• Experience operating as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, partners or executives
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to translate data into action
• A track record of developing and executing business strategy
• Experience leading complex change, transformation or business improvement programmes
• Outstanding stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills
• The confidence to challenge constructively and navigate ambiguity
• Experience leading and developing high‑performing teams
• A collaborative, pragmatic and resilient approach
• The ability to build credibility quickly within a partnership or stakeholder‑led environment

What’s on offer:

This role will be based in our London office, with a hybrid working model available. Joining Team Linklaters will see you qualify for a range of benefits designed to reward the vital contribution you’ll be making to our success.

• Health & Wellbeing
• Private Medical Insurance
• Free in‑house fitness centre and subsidised health club memberships
• Free onsite GP service and periodic health assessments
• Finance Pension and flexible savings options
• Income protection and life assurance
• Mortgage advice and will‑writing services
• Family & Lifestyle
• Electric car and cycle to work schemes
• Emergency family care
• Additional holiday/birthday leave
• Maternity/paternity/shared parental leave
• Travel insurance and season ticket loan
• Option to join sports and social clubs, as well as our employee networks groups (such as our Gender Equality, With Pride, or Social Mobility Networks)

Technical Skills

• Business Operation Management
• Business Partner Support
• Business Risk Management
• Financial Analysis
• Financial Modeling
• KPI Analytics
• KPI Design
• Policy Design
• Policy Development
• Process Design
• Process Improvements
• Project Management
• Strategic Business Planning
• Sustainability Management

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 undertaking of additional tasks as required.

In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits, we will conduct pre‑engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and references from previous employers. Your offer will be subject to the successful completion of these checks which will be initiated following your consent.

We recruit on the basis of merit, irrespective of age, disability, gender, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

Selection decisions, and the reasons for those decisions, are recorded 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 and selection decisions and processes are also provided with guidance on diversity issues.

If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the selection process, please talk to a member of the recruitment team so that any required adjustments can be made in advance.

Specific experience requirements advertised on a role do not intend to preclude applications from candidates who may have more or less experience. Our intention is only to indicate a guideline as to the necessary skills for the role as described.