Innovation Lawyer (Banking) - 12 month FTC - London

CMS is seeking an Innovation Lawyer to join the Banking Knowledge Team. The role supports a diverse Banking practice spanning corporate and leveraged finance, real estate finance, infrastructure, project and asset finance, and restructuring and insolvency.
The role is based in London for a fixed term of 12 months. Flexible and agile working options may be discussed.
About the role
The individual will have an important role in the Banking team:
· Drive adoption of legal technology and innovative, human + machine ways of working across the Banking practice.
· Connect fee-earners and Banking Knowledge Counsel with the firm’s Innovation, Legal Tech and Legal Operations teams, translating practice needs into practical tools, workflows and process improvements.
· Define and embed standardised ways of working for key transactions, supported by clear processes, templates, playbooks and knowledge resources.
· Develop and maintain use cases, case studies, prompts, workflows and playbooks that support effective use of AI, automation and other innovation tools.
· Lead the Banking Innovation Committee and deliver innovation and technology training and support for the Banking team.
The successful candidate will understand transactional Banking work and be able to build relationships, influence colleagues and drive behavioural change.
Core responsibilities
Innovation and Technology
1. Evaluate and apply technology and AI tools, including Copilot and Harvey, to Banking workflows such as document review, drafting and automation.
2. Design practical innovation and process solutions for Banking transactions.
3. Identify opportunities for new products, services and process improvements.
4. Act as the subject-matter bridge between fee-earners, Banking Knowledge Counsel and central innovation and operations teams, keeping abreast of relevant developments in legal technology, Banking practice and knowledge management.
Service Delivery
1. Design and document Banking-specific ways of working for priority matters, covering end-to-end processes, templates, knowledge assets, tools and guidance.
2. Expand automation across Banking workflows, templates and client workstreams, working with the Legal Tech team to embed suitable tools.
3. Coordinate with Banking Knowledge Counsel and other aligned teams to implement the Banking team strategy and business plan.
4. Maintain the use cases, case studies, prompts, playbooks and AI-related content needed to support these ways of working.
Knowledge and Training
5. Lead the Banking Innovation Committee, contribute to team meetings and deliver monthly innovation sessions that share lessons learned, successes and emerging opportunities.
6. Design and deliver training, hackathons and workshops that help lawyers adopt new technology and ways of working consistently.
7. Work with internal teams to develop strategically aligned solutions for the Banking practice and its clients.
About you
We will invest in your ongoing training and development to support your professional goals and help you to thrive in your role from day one. Our opportunities are open to all suitably qualified applicants, so to be considered for this role, you must have the following skills and experience:
Experience of Banking and Finance transactions is desirable.
Demonstrable experience with generative AI and legal technology, ideally including Harvey or a similar platform.
Experience identifying high-value use cases, translating transactional practice needs into technology-enabled solutions, and supporting product evaluation and rollout.
Excellent stakeholder-management and interpersonal skills, with the credibility to work effectively with senior leaders and fee-earners at all levels.
Strong intellectual, written and oral communication skills.
Well organised, self-motivated and able to manage projects and competing priorities independently.
A collaborative, professional and considerate approach, with a consistent commitment to high-quality work.
What’s in it for you?
We want to reward you today and help you plan for tomorrow. We appreciate that everyone is different, therefore we have designed a benefits system that offers choice and flexibility based on individual needs and lifestyles. To name a few, these include:
Competitive basic salary (reviewed annually)
Flexible, hybrid working policy
Generous bonus scheme
Up to 25 days holiday (rising to 28 days with service)
Holiday exchange scheme
Private medical insurance
Enhanced parental leave
Reasonable adjustments and accommodation for disabled talent in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
If you would like to read more information regarding our range of benefits, please visit our Rewards & Benefits page on our website.
Please note that we have a preferred agency panel in place. Only applications submitted via the portal at the point of instruction will be accepted.