Director of Conflicts

Overview

This position is responsible for establishing and overseeing processes that ensure conflicts are resolved in a timely manner, mitigate risk, and enable consistent execution through functional managers. The role partners closely with Risk Management leadership and the Office of the General Counsel.

This role may be filled remotely or in any of the organization’s locations across the United States.

Responsibilities

• Provide firm-wide operational direction for conflict checking.
• Stay abreast of new technologies, trends, and changes in ethical requirements across the jurisdictions where the firm operates.
• Train conflicts managers, conflicts counsel, and analysts in a supervisory role; provide additional training to relevant teams (e.g., business intake specialists) as needed to maintain effective turnaround times and high-quality work product.
• Coordinate with the Business Intake Team and other departments as required.

Department Policies and Procedures

• Identify and implement best practices in assigned functional areas.
• Identify efficient methods for processing requests to continually improve service, accuracy, value, turnaround time, and cost effectiveness.
• Monitor technology developments in the functional areas and recommend appropriate technology adoption to leadership.
• Work with leadership to develop and enforce firm-wide policies and procedures addressing conflicts, intake, and risk management concerns.
• Establish and oversee processes to capture updated information on firm engagements.
• Conduct training for firm lawyers and staff on departmental policies and procedures.

Department Execution

• Serve as the primary source of escalation for all departmental quality assurance issues.
• Oversee the employment conflict check processes.
• Review and approve specialized new client matter forms (e.g., toxic tort, bankruptcy, etc.) firm-wide.
• Oversee the guidelines pertaining to the implementation of Ethical Walls.
• Prepare and maintain the department budget, with particular attention to compensation, operations, and project budgets.
• Manage department projects and requests to ensure they are on budget, on time, and meet the objectives outlined by the firm’s strategic initiatives.
• Provide oversight to the department intranet site (e.g., departmental policies and procedures, forms, departmental contact information, etc.).
• Ensure accuracy and readiness of supported systems for internal and external audits.
• Ensure service standards are met and establish mechanisms to monitor productivity and service for the conflicts function.
• Provide statistical information to senior leadership as needed.
• Design, implement, and execute systems that deliver all daily and weekly NBI and conflicts reports in a timely and accurate manner.
• Collaborate with other groups across the firm, including Business Professional Recruiting, Accounting, Managing Directors, and others involved in conflicts, new business intake, and lateral hiring.
• Participate in strategic leadership meetings.

Talent Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of professionals, promoting a culture of accountability, inclusivity, and service excellence.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Conflicts team.
• Recruit, train, and mentor team members to ensure a high level of competence and professionalism.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that promotes teamwork and employee development.
• Maintain working knowledge of responsibilities for all roles within the department.
• Provide employee counseling and disciplinary action, as needed, pursuant to firm policies and procedures to ensure satisfactory performance.
• Conduct regular meetings (weekly/biweekly) with managers and staff to keep the team up to date on changes in the department or firm.
• Conduct monthly meetings with managers.
• Identify training and development needs and requirements for the department and implement training in coordination with managers.
• Provide recommendations for annual bonus and merit increases with input from managers where appropriate.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field required; JD strongly preferred but not required.
• Extensive legal conflicts experience within a law firm environment in an attorney or senior paralegal role.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of increasingly responsible, directly related experience, including significant supervisory experience, in a law firm or similar professional services environment, during which the knowledge, skills, and abilities applicable to the position were demonstrated.
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in legal ethics and conflicts rules, practices, and procedures.
• Substantial experience leading company-wide initiatives within a multi-office setting, preferably in a professional services firm environment required.
• Proficiency with conflicts software systems, preferably Elite and Intapp Open.
• Demonstrated ability to provide quality client service to internal and external contacts regarding routine and complex matters, and develop and maintain effective business relationships with people of diverse backgrounds; requires tact, patience, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, and to make presentations to small and large groups.
• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and commitment to innovating and enhancing the firm’s practices.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize multiple projects in a dynamic and complex environment, meeting deadlines and successfully managing daily workload.
• Ability to work under pressure and conflicting circumstances.
• Non-hierarchical approach; flexibility and ability to build consensus.
• Strong integrity, maturity, and fairness in dealing with people and confidential information.
• Strong influencing capabilities and sound judgment.

Compensation & Benefits

Employees receive compensation commensurate with skill and experience. Exact compensation varies based on skills, experience, location, and other factors permitted by law.

Expected compensation ranges for this position (by state/jurisdiction):

• State of California: $209,000 - $427,000
• State of Colorado: $193,000 - $343,000
• State of Connecticut: $166,000 - $421,000
• State of Illinois: $189,000 - $367,000
• State of Massachusetts: $209,000 - $400,000
• State of Maryland: $203,000 - $307,000
• State of Maine: $142,000 - $328,000
• State of Minnesota: $209,000 - $346,000
• Jersey City, NJ: $227,000 - $412,000
• State of New York: $195,000 - $421,000
• State of Virginia: $136,000 - $397,000
• State of Vermont: $207,000 - $397,000
• State of Washington: $203,000 - $385,000
• Washington, D.C.: $270,000 - $397,000

The above 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 in any of the organization’s locations across the United States.

Application Information

Please include a cover letter and resume when applying.

EOE/Minority/Female/Disabled/Vet. Principal Applicants Only.