Lateral Conflicts Attorney

Lateral Conflicts Attorney

New York, NY

Summary

The Lateral Conflicts Attorney is responsible for assisting with lateral partner onboarding of new matters associated with lateral partners, including drafting of and obtaining waivers, engagement letters and/or other documentation for partner review and/or submission to clients.  The Lateral Conflicts Attorney will also assist with the review, identification and resolution of potential conflicts issues with respect to clients, matters, new business and lateral lawyers firm wide.  The incumbent will actively follow-up on conflicts clearance with all responsible parties handling new engagements, and will conduct thorough, daily reviews of firm conflicts of interest reports, resolving any identified issues on a timely basis.  Responsibilities include accurate and timely analysis of lateral hiring conflict search results, analysis and resolution of any conflicts related to lateral hiring due diligence, and thorough resolution of identified conflict issues.  The Lateral Conflicts Attorney will also assist in the analysis and resolution of non-lateral related new business conflicts on an as-needed basis. This position is an integral part of the Office of General Counsel/New Business Intake Department whose service levels are established to support all offices firmwide.

Responsibilities

• Assist Risk Management Attorney with conflicts and other HR matters in connection with lateral hiring
• Review and provide thorough and timely analysis of all firm new business in order to identify ethical and business conflicts of interest
• Utilize available internal and external databases, communication with Partners, other lawyers and business services colleagues to follow up on and resolve all potential conflicts of interest
• See all conflicts of interest issues through to final resolution including drafting of waivers, engagement letters or other documentation for Partner review and/or submission to clients
• Proactively communicate with General Counsel and members of Conflicts & Ethics Committee on complex conflicts questions and other compliance issues
• Maintain thorough, accurate and current records of all conflicts resolutions in database to ensure integrity of the database and assist in identification and clearing of future conflicts of interest
• Investigate and resolve erroneous, outdated or otherwise incomplete data on conflicts reports and ensure corrections are made in database and other records to ensure integrity of information
• Serve as a resource to the firm’s Conflicts and New Business Intake Analysts and Assistants in order to assist in timely and accurate preparation of conflicts reports
• Assist firm Legal Administrative Assistants, lawyers and business services staff in understanding the firm’s new matter intake, conflicts, Anti Money Laundering, and other compliance procedures
• Work with firm business development professionals on pitches and other business initiatives as needed
• Stay current with recent research and thinking on ethics and conflicts best practices and rules across jurisdictions in which the firm has offices. Maintain a sophisticated, relevant base of knowledge in these areas
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Requirements

• Outstanding interpersonal skills and capability to work effectively with people at all levels of the organization in various functions and locations
• Strong analytical abilities
• Must be able to work independently, as well as collaboratively, with a high degree of attention to detail and organization
• Ability to manage multiple time-sensitive requests and meet tight deadlines
• Comfortable and conversant with technology
• Able to effectively coach colleagues who are not direct reports
• Demonstrated ability to make recommendations to effectively resolve problems or issues by using judgment that is consistent with standards, practices, policies, procedures, regulation or government law
• D. from an ABA-accredited law school is required
• Active NY Bar Membership
• Minimum two years’ Conflicts or related experience, preferably in a large law firm