Description:
The Conflicts Attorney plays a key role in supporting the Firm's risk management and professional responsibility functions by analyzing complex conflicts of interest issues, advising lawyers on conflicts and professional responsibility matters, and facilitating the clearance of new clients and matters. The role enables informed business decisions while helping ensure compliance with applicable rules of professional conduct and Firm policies. Working closely with partners, lawyers, and Business Professionals across the Firm's global platform, the Conflicts Attorney serves as a subject matter resource on conflicts, ethics, and risk management matters. This role is exempt.Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Analyze complex, high-risk, and novel conflicts of interest issues arising from proposed new client engagements, new matters, attorney mobility, strategic business initiatives, and other Firm activities, and recommend appropriate resolution strategies.
- Advise partners, lawyers, and business professionals regarding conflicts of interest, professional responsibility obligations, and risk management considerations under applicable ethics rules and Firm policies.
- Review and evaluate conflicts reports, due diligence findings, and other related information, providing legal analysis and guidance regarding potential conflicts and appropriate next steps.
- Serve as a primary escalation resource for complex conflicts and intake matters, exercising sound legal and business judgment in evaluating potential courses of action.
- Draft, review, and negotiate conflict waivers, engagement letter provisions, consent requests, and other conflicts-related documentation.
- Evaluate proposed representations involving concurrent conflicts, former client conflicts, positional conflicts, issue conflicts, business conflicts, and other matters presenting heightened legal, ethical, or reputational risk.
- Advise on the implementation of ethical screens and other risk mitigation measures designed to address conflicts and professional responsibility concerns.
- Review and advise on conflicts-related provisions contained in outside counsel guidelines, engagement terms, and other client-imposed requirements.
- Partner with members of the Professional Responsibility Department and Firm leadership to identify and address conflicts, ethics, and risk management issues affecting the Firm and its clients.
- Develop and maintain subject matter expertise regarding conflicts of interest, professional responsibility obligations, and emerging legal developments affecting law firm risk management.
- Provide training, mentoring, and guidance to members of the Conflicts and New Business Intake team regarding conflicts analysis, professional responsibility principles, and Firm policies and procedures.
- Participate in departmental initiatives, policy development, process improvements, technology enhancements, and special projects related to conflicts and new business intake.
- Provide after-hours conflicts and new business intake support on a rotating basis, as needed.
- Other projects as needed.
Required Skills:
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) required.
- Admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction required.
- At least three (3) years of experience in a law firm conflicts, new business intake, professional responsibility, risk management, new business intake, or related legal function.
- Demonstrated knowledge of conflicts of interest principles and applicable rules of professional responsibility.
- Strong analytical skills and sound legal judgment, with the ability to evaluate complex legal and factual relationships and develop practical, risk-based solutions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly and concisely explain conflicts issues, legal relationships, and recommended courses of action.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Strong aptitude for learning new technologies and contributing to enhancements of conflicts and intake systems and processes.
- Demonstrated success in working independently while exercising initiative and sound judgment, as well as collaboratively with lawyers and business professionals at all levels of a global law firm.
