Head of Legal - Technology and Procurement

About Northern Trust

As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.

Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide.

With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

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.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

• 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. 

Knowledge / Skills

• 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. 

Experience / Qualifications:

• 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. 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.
• 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.
• Deep knowledge of applicable existing and proposed AI, outsourcing and technology-related regulations impacting the banking industry highly desired.

Working Model: Hybrid (LI-Hybrid)
We have a balanced hybrid working model to ensure you get the flexibility you need, and the successful candidate will spend their time between working in the office and working from home.

Salary Range:

Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including 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, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve.

Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [email protected], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.