Conflicts Attorney
COMPANY PROFILE:
Our client is a well-established, internationally recognized law firm known among the AmLaw 100 for the sophistication of its risk management, ethics, and professional responsibility functions. The firm maintains a dedicated General Counsel's office and Professional Responsibility Committee, reflecting the priority it places on rigorous conflicts management, regulatory compliance, and client confidentiality across its practices and offices.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS of our Client
This role offers direct, ongoing collaboration with the firm's General Counsel's office, Professional Responsibility Committee, and attorneys across practice groups, along with the opportunity to build deep expertise in conflicts management, legal ethics, and risk. The position also includes supervisory responsibility over nonlawyer conflicts staff, providing a path to develop leadership and mentorship experience within a sophisticated, well-resourced compliance function.
THE ROLE YOU WILL PLAY:
- Analyzes results from searches of the firm's conflicts database and outside sources, in consultation with the General Counsel's office and Professional Responsibility Committee, to identify potential or actual conflicts posed by new work or new hires
- Actively consults with and advises firm attorneys regarding conflicts clearance
- Drafts conflicts waivers or takes other steps to cure conflicts, as needed
- Provides instruction to and supervises the work of nonlawyer conflicts staff
- Documents and audits the steps taken to clear conflicts
- Works with ethical walls and screens managed through the firm's conflicts technology platform (Intapp Walls)
- Maintains the conflicts database together with nonlawyer staff, keeping accurate information on firm clients and matters, client subsidiaries and affiliates, and related parties; enters information from the conflicts clearance process documenting the resolution of conflicts and any waivers
- Provides on-call coverage on weekends and holidays as needed
- Supports colleagues in the firm's international offices with overflow anti-money laundering compliance activities as needed
- Upholds high standards of confidentiality, discretion, and integrity with respect to sensitive and confidential firm and client information
- Performs other duties as assigned by firm management
BACKGROUND PROFILE:
- Law degree from an accredited law school required
- Bar membership in the jurisdiction where the role is based required; candidates for bar membership must be admitted (by waiver or exam) in accordance with applicable jurisdictional admission rules and requirements
- Prior law firm conflicts experience required
- Familiarity with the Model Rules of Professional Conduct or analogous rules in relevant jurisdictions preferred; familiarity with anti-money laundering compliance regimes preferred
- Excellent legal or business research ability using various online databases and print resources required
- General familiarity with modern business organization models, structures, and ownership required
- Excellent analytical skills and written and oral communication skills required, including the ability to distill a quantity of complex data into a clear, logical explanation of legal issues and recommended next steps for attorneys
- Excellent judgment required in supporting the firm's lawyers, including knowing when to escalate an issue
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish close working relationships with the firm's lawyers, administrative, and support staff required; demonstrated customer service focus preferred
- Facility with MS Office and similar business software required; familiarity with Intapp OPEN or other automated conflict of interest clearance workflow procedures and systems as found in AmLaw 100 firms preferred
- Supervisory ability or demonstrated capacity to provide instruction in a business setting preferred
ABOUT ABA Search
At ABA, we value professionalism, honesty, and hard work. We are positive, innovative thinkers who use creativity to turn challenges into opportunities. We love to learn and continuously seek new ways to deepen our expertise in the Legal and Life Sciences industries. We are passionate about staffing and committed to the success of our clients and candidates. That is what makes us "the name to know in recruitment."
