Data Governance Manager in London

The Data Governance Manager is accountable for defining, implementing and leading the firm's data management and governance strategy across the global organisation, with a particular focus on supporting the legal practice. This role will ensure that the firm's data – including client, matter, financial, knowledge, and operational data – is accurate, trusted, well-governed, and fit-for-purpose, enabling improved legal delivery, decision-making, regulatory compliance, and client service. The role combines understanding of law firm operations, hands-on leadership of data initiatives, and the ability to work collaboratively with partners, lawyers, innovation, finance, IT, risk and compliance teams.

What you’ll be doing:

• Define and maintain a firmwide data management and governance strategy, and related procedural and policy documentation, aligned to the firm’s business and legal practice strategy, and considering compliance requirements.
• Act as the firm’s senior authority on data management, ownership, quality, and governance.
• Lead and contribute to projects and initiatives, sharing knowledge and supporting continuous improvement.
• Develop deep understanding of how data is captured and utilised across the legal practice, including:

• Client and matter management
• Time recording, billing and pricing
• Practice performance and profitability
• Legal project management, resource management and matter delivery

Skills & qualifications:

• Significant experience in data governance and master data management in a law firm, ideally on a multinational basis.
• Strong understanding of law firm operations, including matters, clients, billing, time recording and profitability.
• Demonstrable experience defining and embedding data management and governance frameworks in complex, partnership-led organisations.
• Familiarity with common law firm systems and integrations (e.g. PMS, CRM, finance, time recording, billing).
• Experience gathering requirements, shaping business cases, leading and supporting change initiatives.
• Understanding of data models, technologies, reporting and tools (e.g. SQL, Power BI).
• Proven ability to engage credibly with senior stakeholders, including partners and C-suite.

Please note: We conduct thorough pre-employment screening checks as part of our recruitment process.

What we can offer you:

We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.

Who we are:

Watson Farley & Williams is an international law firm advising on complex disputes and transactions through local knowledge and an integrated international network. We have a strong sector focus, combining our technical excellence with deep industry knowledge across Energy, Transport and associated Infrastructure. The firm has achieved rapid expansion and year-on-year growth owed almost entirely to a focused strategy, strong leadership and the quality of its people. The next stage in the firm’s growth plan is to achieve full-service strength within core sectors across the global platform. We strive for excellence in all that we do and view investment in our people as key to achieving our business goals and values, which rest on developing deep and long-lasting relationships externally and internally through respect, sharing, communication and integrity. Our global practice is integrated across our offices in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and North America delivering consistently high levels of service across borders and locally through a deep understanding of local business customs and culture. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace to attract and retain the most talented people from all backgrounds and cultures. We believe in celebrating difference and that people from any background can rise to the top, ensuring opportunities to develop and progress are available for all.