Assistant General Counsel

Plona Partners; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Plona Partners in Washington, DC is seeking an Assistant General Counsel to join the Office of General Counsel. This is a high-visibility internal advisory role addressing ethics, conflicts, regulatory compliance, investigations, risk management, employment, privacy, cybersecurity, and operations.

The successful candidate will advise firm leadership and lawyers on complex issues, manage privileged matters, and help mitigate legal and regulatory risk in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school.
• Active DC Bar membership in good standing.
• Strong knowledge of legal ethics and professional responsibility.
• Experience analyzing conflicts, confidentiality and privilege issues.
• Experience independently handling sensitive and privileged matters.
• Strong legal research, investigation, drafting and negotiation capabilities.
• Exceptional judgment and discretion.
• Ability to advise senior attorneys and business leaders on complex issues.
• Experience within a law firm OGC, professional responsibility/risk function, sophisticated in-house department, or similarly relevant environment.

Responsibilities

• Advising on conflicts of interest, confidentiality, privilege, attorney mobility, ethical walls, waivers, client/matter acceptance.
• Identifying emerging legal and regulatory risks and developing practical strategies, policies, controls, and guidance to mitigate exposure.
• Managing sensitive disputes, subpoenas, litigation holds, investigations, and other legal processes involving the firm.
• Conducting and supporting privileged investigations and advising leadership on appropriate corrective and preventative action.
• Drafting and negotiating vendor, consulting, technology, confidentiality, data protection, and other operational agreements.
• Partnering with People Operations on employment-related legal matters, policies, employee relations, and investigations.
• Privacy & cybersecurity—working with Information Security and Technology on privacy, incident response, records, and governance matters.
• Training & policy—developing guidance and training for attorneys and business professionals.

Skills

Legal ethics

Professional responsibility

Conflict analysis

Investigations

Negotiation

Drafting

Advising leaders

Education

JD

Tools

Westlaw

Lexis

PACER

Relativity

CaseMap/TimeMap

West Case Notebook

Job description

Plona Partners has been engaged on a confidential search for an Assistant General Counsel to join the Office of General Counsel of a highly regarded international law firm in Washington, DC.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced attorney to move into a highly visible internal advisory role at the intersection of professional responsibility, ethics, conflicts, regulatory compliance, investigations, risk management, employment, privacy, cybersecurity, and law firm operations.

Hybrid: 3 days in office

The Opportunity

Reporting into the firm's General Counsel function, the Assistant General Counsel will serve as a trusted legal and strategic advisor to firm leadership, partners, lawyers, and senior business professionals. The successful candidate will handle sophisticated, highly confidential and privileged matters while helping the firm proactively identify and manage legal, ethical, regulatory, and operational risk.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Professional Responsibility & Ethics — Advising on conflicts of interest, confidentiality, privilege, attorney mobility, ethical walls, waivers, client/matter acceptance, and related professional responsibility issues.
• Law Firm Risk Management — Identifying emerging legal and regulatory risks and developing practical strategies, policies, controls, and guidance to mitigate exposure.
• Claims & Investigations — Managing sensitive disputes, claims, subpoenas, litigation holds, investigations, and other legal processes involving the firm.
• Internal Investigations — Conducting and supporting privileged investigations and advising leadership on appropriate corrective and preventative action.
• Commercial Agreements — Drafting and negotiating vendor, consulting, technology, confidentiality, data protection, and other operational agreements.
• Employment Matters — Partnering with People Operations on employment-related legal matters, policies, employee relations, and investigations.
• Privacy & Cybersecurity — Working alongside Information Security and Technology teams on privacy, cybersecurity, incident response, records, and information governance matters.
• Training & Policy — Monitoring developments affecting law firm operations and developing guidance and training for attorneys and business professionals.

Ideal Background

We are seeking an attorney with 7+ years of progressively responsible legal experience and a sophisticated understanding of the risks facing major law firms and professional services organizations.

Candidates should bring:

• JD from an accredited law school
• Active DC Bar membership and good standing
• Strong knowledge of legal ethics and professional responsibility
• Experience analyzing conflicts, confidentiality and privilege issues
• Experience independently handling sensitive and privileged matters
• Strong legal research, investigation, drafting and negotiation capabilities
• Exceptional judgment and discretion
• Ability to advise senior attorneys and business leaders on complex issues
• Experience within a law firm OGC, professional responsibility/risk function, sophisticated in-house department, or similarly relevant environment

Experience with Westlaw, Lexis, PACER, Relativity, CaseMap/TimeMap, and/or West Case Notebook is beneficial.