Knowledge Management Lawyer (Healthcare and Life Sciences)

Latham & Watkins is one of the world’s leading global law firms advising the businesses and institutions that drive the global economy. We are the market leaders in major financial and business centers around the world. Our investment in people, commitment to innovation, and focus on the future empower you to build an incredible career and thrive as an exceptional professional in a supportive culture. If you aspire to be the best, and work with the best, this is where you belong.

The Knowledge Management Lawyer (KM Lawyer) will be responsible for managing the creation, organization, and delivery of knowledge assets for the global Healthcare & Life Sciences (HCLS) Practice Group in order to help our attorneys to work at the highest level. The KM Lawyer will support the delivery of a broad portfolio of knowledge services for the HCLS Practice Group including the monitoring of legal, market and regulatory developments across key global jurisdictions, the preparation of tailored thought leadership pieces for clients, the creation of standard forms and guidance tools,  the development and management of internal training programs, and the collation and organization of precedent. The ultimate goal of these efforts is to further enhance the firm’s reputation as a market leader in the sector.

Latham & Watkins has a well-established Knowledge Management team with defined career progression routes which recognize the experience our colleagues bring to their role. Whilst our expectation is that candidates will have five years or more practicing experience, we are open to candidates at all levels, including those with very significant experience in this field.

This role will be located in either our Century City, Downtown Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, or Washington, D.C. office. Please note that this role may be eligible for a flexible working schedule that allows for a hybrid and in-office presence. 

Other key responsibilities include:

• →Coordinating and monitoring KM projects under the firm’s KM Initiative, working with attorneys to bring these to fruition, and to ensure they meet the team’s strategic objectives
• →Regularly monitoring legal and industry developments across the HCLS Practice’s regulatory scope and effectively communicating key information to stakeholders
• →Assisting with strategy development, conducting substantive research, and managing the creation of thought leadership across the HCLS Practice’s areas of expertise to maximize understanding and awareness of the Practice’s capabilities internally and externally
• →Supporting the HCLS Practice’s development and use of AI tools to increase attorney efficiency and effectiveness
• →Identifying, collecting, and organizing precedent and other work product for the HCLS Practice in the firm’s knowledge management databases and, where relevant, creating intranet sites to ensure easy access to the HCLS Practice’s knowhow
• →Supporting the HCLS Practice’s training programs including setting the curriculum, delegating presentation tasks, and assisting with the preparation of training materials
• →Generally acting as a sounding board for technical legal queries from attorneys relating to HCLS matters
• →Interacting and collaborating with the firm’s other KM Lawyers and with the Business Development, Brand & Communications, Technology, Research & Library, and other departments on a knowledgeable and professional level
• →Protecting and maintaining any highly sensitive, confidential, privileged, financial, and/or proprietary information that Latham & Watkins retains

We’d love to hear from you if you:

• →Demonstrate extensive technical legal knowledge in the healthcare and life sciences sector and in-depth industry knowledge, including familiarity with the major players in the industry and an understanding of healthcare and life sciences-specific terminology, resources and regulatory schemes
• →Exhibit meticulous attention to detail, strong organizational skills, the ability to manage multiple internal clients successfully, and a pro-active, self-starter mindset
• →Display outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal
• →General understanding of corporate dealmaking processes (e.g., capital markets, private equity, M&A) from a regulatory perspective a plus

And have:

• →A JD or equivalent
• →A minimum of five (5) years of relevant law firm or equivalent experience as a practicing attorney with extensive experience of healthcare and life sciences law and regulation and a focus on the healthcare and life sciences industry sectors