Global Head of Research – Litigation

Global Head of Research – Litigation

About the company

Our client provides market intelligence, business development and workflow solutions for professionals in legal, banking, financial and professional services. Its research supports in-house counsel, external practitioners and industry leaders across tax, financial law, intellectual property and litigation/arbitration. The culture values collaboration, customer focus, entrepreneurship, autonomy and accountability.

The role

Lead a global litigation research programme identifying and analysing leading dispute-resolution law firms and practitioners. Own the research lifecycle across key markets: submissions, casework analysis, practitioner and client interviews, peer feedback, rankings, editorial analysis, awards research and publication readiness. Set research standards, guide complex ranking and editorial decisions, develop coverage and work with editorial, commercial, marketing, product and regional leadership teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop towards global rankings and awards sign-off in collaboration with editorial and established regional experts; this is not unrestricted sign-off authority from day one.

• Set coverage strategy, jurisdictional priorities, practice-area development, category growth and market expansion in litigation and dispute resolution.

• Uphold and refine methodology for submission review, casework analysis, practitioner interviews, client feedback, peer commentary and independent research.

• Oversee planning, outreach, interviews, submissions analysis, ranking deliberations, editorial drafting, awards research, data validation and publication readiness.

• Lead research in strategically important jurisdictions and practice areas, assessing firm performance, litigation strength, reputation, recent casework, trial capability, team depth and practitioner visibility.

• Resolve escalated judgement calls, exceptions and stakeholder challenges concerning rankings, awards, methodology and editorial conclusions.

• Coach researchers in analytical judgement, interviewing, market knowledge and evidence-based decisions.

• Maintain accurate ranking tables, practitioner lists, editorial analysis, shortlists, trackers, submission records, referee feedback and supporting datasets, with clear audit trails.

• Track litigation developments, law-firm strategies, lateral moves, landmark disputes, emerging boutiques, sector trends and client demand.

• Represent the research programme through senior practitioner interviews, industry events and relationships with law firms, counsel and other stakeholders.

• Work cross-functionally on customer needs, publication schedules, launch timelines and brand positioning.

• Set stakeholder expectations, lead readiness and quality-control reviews, improve processes and identify opportunities for new rankings, research-led products and awards categories.

Requirements

• High-level market research experience with strong interviewing, note-taking and writing skills.

• Deep understanding of qualitative methodology, interview-based market analysis and submission-review frameworks.

• Ability to assess complex evidence and make confident, defensible research judgements. Previous ownership of a complete rankings or awards cycle is not mandatory.

• Demonstrable project management, operations execution and stakeholder management, including detailed plans, scope, deadlines and reporting.

• Cross-functional experience with marketing, sales, product and senior leadership to align research with business strategy.

• Experience improving quality, efficiency and scalability of research processes.

• Ability to handle large data volumes; excellent organisation, multitasking, presentation, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.

• A proactive, solution-oriented, entrepreneurial approach, independence and intellectual curiosity about specialist legal sectors.

• Strong knowledge of litigation, disputes and contentious legal markets, including demonstrated understanding of the disputes market.

Practical details

London, United Kingdom. Full-time; hybrid with 2–3 office days per week. Reports to the Regional Director of Research.

Annual gross base salary: £52,000 plus 10% bonus on top of base.

Target start: ideally no later than 1 December 2026, flexible for the right candidate depending on notice period.

Interview process

Three interview rounds, starting with Shailyn. Later panel composition and assessment format remain to be confirmed; afternoon availability helps accommodate North American interviewers.

Initial priorities and candidate calibration

The first 90 days focus on project management, strategy and planning, product methodology and stakeholder relationships across the Americas, Europe and Asia. The core requirements are litigation/legal-market understanding; research, interviewing, writing and note-taking; and proven project, operations and stakeholder management.

Relevant legal journalism, competitive intelligence and former legal-practice backgrounds may be considered where these capabilities are evidenced. No law degree or prior full rankings/awards-cycle ownership is required. Managing four to five people is preferred, but experience managing three is not an automatic rejection; the wider research network is not a verified direct-report count.

Success requires decisive execution, curiosity, low-ego collaboration and respect for experienced regional researchers. Foundational market understanding must be articulated clearly; memorised firm rankings are not the requirement.

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