Director of Conflicts

Overview

The organization is seeking a Director of Conflicts to lead firm-wide conflict resolution processes and support consistent, timely execution across the organization. This position partners closely with Risk Management leadership and the Office of the General Counsel to establish processes and procedures that ensure conflicts are resolved in a timely manner, mitigate risk, and enable consistent execution through functional managers.

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

Responsibilities

• Provide firm-wide operational direction for conflict checking.
• Stay current on new technologies, trends, and changes in ethical requirements across the 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 (including business intake specialists) to maintain effective turnaround times and exceptional work product.
• Coordinate with the Business Intake Team and other departments as required.

Essential Functions

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 functional areas and recommend appropriate technology adoption to leadership.
• 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 escalation source 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 meet firm strategic objectives.
• Provide oversight to the department intranet site (e.g., departmental policies and procedures, forms, and department contact information).
• 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 regularly 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.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Conflicts team.
• Recruit, train, and mentor team members to ensure competence and professionalism.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that supports 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.
• Conduct regular meetings (weekly/biweekly) with managers and staff to communicate departmental and firm updates.
• Conduct monthly meetings with managers.
• Identify training and development needs for the department and implement training with managers.
• Provide recommendations for annual bonus and merit increases with input from managers, as 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 knowledge, skills, and abilities applicable to the position.
• 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.
• Proficiency with conflicts software systems, preferably Elite and Intapp Open.
• Ability to provide quality client service to internal and external contacts regarding 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 enhancing the firm’s practices.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple projects in a dynamic and complex environment, meet deadlines, and successfully manage daily workload.
• Ability to work under pressure and in conflicting circumstances.
• A non-hierarchical approach with the flexibility and ability to build consensus.
• Strong integrity, maturity, and fairness when dealing with people and confidential information.
• Strong influencing capabilities and sound judgment.

Compensation & Benefits

Expected Compensation Ranges

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 by location/state:

• 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 listed salaries do not include a discretionary bonus. Bonus opportunities are non-guaranteed and dependent upon individual and firm performance.

Benefits

Full-time employees receive:

• 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
• Additional benefits

Location

This position may be filled remotely or in any of the organization’s locations.