Director of Conflicts

Overview

The organization is seeking a Director of Conflicts. This role may be filled remotely, or in any of the organization’s locations across the United States.

The Director of Conflicts partners closely with Risk Management leadership and the Office of the General Counsel to establish processes and procedures that support timely conflict resolution, mitigate risk, and enable consistent execution through functional managers.

Responsibilities

• Provide firm-wide operational direction for conflict checking
• Stay current on new technologies, trends, and changes in ethical requirements across jurisdictions in which the firm operates
• Train conflicts managers, conflicts counsel, and analysts in a supervisory role, and provide training as needed to other relevant teams (e.g., business intake specialists) 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 in functional areas to improve service, accuracy, value, turnaround time, and cost effectiveness
• Monitor technology developments and recommend appropriate technology adoption to leadership
• Work with leadership to develop and enforce firm-wide policies and procedures related to 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 employment conflict check processes
• Review and approve specialized new client matter forms (e.g., toxic tort, bankruptcy, etc.) firm-wide
• Oversee guidelines pertaining to the implementation of Ethical Walls
• Prepare and maintain the department budget, with attention to compensation, operations, and project budgets
• Manage department projects and requests to ensure they are on budget, on time, and aligned with firm strategic objectives
• Provide oversight to the department intranet site (e.g., departmental policies and procedures, forms, department contact information, etc.)
• Ensure supported systems are accurate and ready 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 daily and weekly NBI and conflicts reports in a timely and accurate manner
• Collaborate regularly with other groups involved in conflicts, new business intake, and lateral hiring, including Business Professional Recruiting, Accounting, Managing Directors, and others
• Participate in strategic leadership meetings

Talent Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team while promoting accountability, inclusivity, and service excellence
• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Conflicts team
• Recruit, train, and mentor team members to ensure high competence and professionalism
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that supports teamwork and employee development
• Maintain working knowledge of responsibilities across all department roles
• Provide employee counseling and disciplinary action as needed, pursuant to firm policies and procedures
• Conduct regular meetings with managers and staff (weekly/biweekly) and monthly meetings with managers
• Identify training and development needs and implement training in partnership 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, demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and abilities applicable to the position
• Demonstrated 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
• Ability to provide quality client service to internal and external contacts for routine and complex matters, and to develop and maintain effective business relationships with people of diverse backgrounds; requires tact, patience, and the ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively (orally and in writing) and to make presentations to small and large groups
• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and commitment to innovating and improving firm practices
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple projects in a dynamic and complex environment, meet deadlines, and manage daily workload
• Ability to work under pressure and in conflicting circumstances
• Non-hierarchical approach, with flexibility and ability to build consensus
• Strong integrity, maturity, and fairness when dealing with people and confidential information
• Strong influencing capabilities and sound judgment

Preferred Qualifications

• JD strongly preferred but not required

Compensation & Benefits

Employees are entitled to compensation commensurate with skill and experience. The exact compensation varies based on skills, experience, location, and other factors permitted by law.

Expected compensation ranges by location:

• 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 stated salary ranges do not include a discretionary bonus; bonus opportunities are non-guaranteed and depend on individual and firm performance.

Full-time benefits include: 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; an employee assistance program; Paid Time Off; paid holidays; participation in a retirement plan program after meeting eligibility requirements; and more.

Location

Remote option or in any of the organization’s locations across the United States.

Equal Opportunity

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