Overview
This role is for Conflicts Counsel (Lateral Hire Focus). The conflicts attorney will be part of the Conflicts Department and will collaborate with colleagues in the Conflicts, Client Engagement, and Risk Management departments to identify and resolve conflicts of interest issues related to the intake and maintenance of new and existing business, lateral clearances, outside counsel guidelines (OCGs), requests for proposals (RFPs), and other conflicts-related matters as needed.
The position may be filled remotely or in any of the firm’s locations.
Responsibilities
Conflicts Counsel will manage specific conflicts processes, including:
- Conduct efficient review, identification, and resolution of conflicts of interest issues.
- Draft conflicts waivers.
- Review lateral candidates and outside counsel guidelines (OCGs).
- Provide recommendations regarding ethical wall implementation and conflicts-related language for engagement letters.
- Communicate timely and clearly with partners, staff, and firm leadership regarding conflicts requests and complex conflicts questions.
- Maintain thorough and accurate records of conflicts resolutions.
- Identify, resolve, and document erroneous, outdated, or incomplete conflicts information in existing records to support the integrity of conflicts data.
- Maintain a working knowledge of the technologies that support daily Conflicts Department operations, including Intapp Open and Intapp Terms.
- Serve as a resource for conflicts analysts on identification, resolution, and communication of conflicts of interest matters to attorneys and staff.
- Discuss potential conflicts with attorneys, analysts, business intake, other support staff, and firm leadership while maintaining objectivity and professional independence.
- Review requests submitted to the Conflicts Department, provide concise and complete evaluations of potential issues, and document steps for resolution.
- Draft and review waiver and engagement letter language to ensure conflicts issues are adequately addressed and executed by those with appropriate authority; review existing client conflict waivers for applicability to new conflicts.
- Make requests and recommendations related to ethical wall implementation.
- Develop and maintain knowledge of legal ethics, case law, and professional responsibility rules related to conflicts of interest, as well as relevant firm procedures, policies, and practices related to conflicts, risk, and ethics.
- Review client outside counsel guidelines and engagement agreements to identify deviations from firm policies; coordinate with billing and relationship partners to appropriately address deviations.
- Assist with review and clearance of new hire candidates, including conflicts analysis, drafting engagement agreements and waivers as needed, communicating status updates to recruiting and firm leadership, and providing training to a new lateral partner hire.
- Review outside counsel guidelines and work with partners to prepare client responses aligned with firm needs and requirements.
- Support maintenance and documentation of clients’ agreements within conflicts software and databases.
- Assist Client Development team and partners with review and response to RFPs and similar business opportunities.
- Prepare and deliver trainings for the Conflicts team and firm attorneys and staff on conflicts, ethics, and professional responsibility topics.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Lateral Hire Focus
This role specifically focuses on conflicts related to candidates’ former work or portable work.
- Conduct efficient review, identification, and resolution of conflicts of interest related to lateral candidates and new hires.
- Liaise directly, as needed, with recruiting, onboarding, firm leadership, and candidates during clearance and onboarding.
- Conduct training and provide resources on conflicts and new matter opening to new hires.
Position Requirements
- Juris Doctor and active law license in the U.S. in the jurisdiction in which the candidate resides.
- Two or more years of conflicts-related experience preferred.
- Computer proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and Outlook) required.
- Experience with online reference materials and Boolean searching techniques preferred.
- Experience with Intapp Open and Intapp Terms strongly preferred.
- Ability to identify and analyze conflicts of interest issues and recommend and implement solutions.
- Ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints.
- Ability to track, manage, and prioritize numerous responsibilities, emails, and conflicts requests.
- Strong writing skills, including the ability to clearly and concisely communicate, particularly when summarizing and simplifying complex or numerous conflicts issues.
- Ability and availability to travel to other firm locations on occasion as needed.
Compensation & Benefits
Compensation will be commensurate with skill and experience. The exact compensation will vary based on skills, experience, location, and other factors permitted by law.
Expected compensation ranges (by location/jurisdiction):
- State of California: $135,000 - $276,000
- State of Colorado: $125,000 - $222,000
- State of Connecticut: $108,000 - $272,000
- State of Illinois: $122,000 - $237,000
- State of Massachusetts: $135,000 - $258,000
- State of Maryland: $131,000 - $199,000
- State of Maine: $92,000 - $212,000
- State of Minnesota: $135,000 - $224,000
- State of New York: $126,000 - $272,000
- Jersey City, NJ: $147,000 - $266,000
- State of Virginia: $88,000 - $257,000
- State of Vermont: $134,000 - $257,000
- State of Washington: $131,000 - $249,000
- Washington, D.C.: $174,000 - $257,000
Salaries do not include a discretionary bonus. Bonus opportunities are non-guaranteed and dependent upon individual and firm performance.
Full-time employees receive benefits including:
- Medical and dental coverage
- Life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance
- Pre-tax flexible spending account for certain medical and dependent care expenses
- Employee assistance program
- Paid Time Off
- Paid holidays
- Participation in a retirement plan program after meeting eligibility requirements
- And more
Location
Remote or any of the firm’s locations across the United States.
Equal Opportunity
EOE/Minority/Female/Disabled/Vet. Principal Applicants Only.