Conflicts Manager (Milwaukee)

Godfrey & Kahn; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Godfrey & Kahn is seeking a Conflicts Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership for the firm's conflicts of interest program, working with General Counsel, Client Intake, and IT to ensure efficient identification and resolution of conflicts.

The role oversees the conflicts analyst team, drafts conflict consent letters, and collaborates with attorneys to promote best practices in client intake and professional responsibility, with emphasis on technology-enabled process improvements.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in conflicts of interest analysis, legal ethics, professional responsibility, or related legal practice, preferably in a law firm setting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of conflicts of interest principles, client intake considerations, professional responsibility, and law firm conflicts management.
• Experience advising attorneys on complex conflicts matters and interpreting detailed conflicts reports.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, cross-functional initiatives, and technology-enabled process improvements.
• Strong analytical, legal reasoning, problem-solving, and project management skills with the ability to exercise sound professional judgment.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence attorneys and Firm leadership.
• Self-motivated with unquestioned integrity and the ability to independently manage highly confidential and sensitive matters.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Firm's conflicts of interest, working closely with Client Intake and General Counsel.
• Serve as a primary resource for attorneys on complex conflicts, including client intake, obtaining consent letters, and other related professional responsibility issues.
• Develop, implement, and periodically review Firm policies, procedures, and best practices governing conflict of interest clearance, client intake, ethical walls, and related compliance activities, in collaboration with the General Counsel.
• Partner with the General Counsel, Loss Prevention Partners, Practice Group Leaders, Information Technology, and administrative leadership to strengthen the Firm's conflicts of interest program.
• Direct the Firm's conflicts review process by overseeing the work of the Conflicts Analysts and providing legal review and guidance on complex matters.
• Review and interpret conflicts reports, identify legal and business issues, and provide practical recommendations to attorneys.
• Partner with the General Counsel and Loss Prevention Partners to evaluate complex conflicts, develop resolution strategies, and facilitate informed client intake decisions.
• Work with firm attorneys to draft conflict consent letters that are consistent across the firm and ensure receipt of signed letters.
• Oversee the administration of ethical walls and similar procedures to resolve conflicts, protect client confidences and comply with professional obligations.
• Escalate significant conflicts and professional responsibility issues to the General Counsel as appropriate while resolving matters within established Firm policies and delegated authority.

Skills

Conflicts management

Legal ethics

Professional responsibility

Leadership

Project management

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction

Job description

Help support conflicts management at Godfrey & Kahn. In this role, you’ll partner with attorneys to navigate complex conflicts matters and contribute to the firm’s approach to client intake and professional responsibility. You’ll work with attorneys, firm leadership, and technology teams to improve processes, explore innovative tools, and strengthen the firm’s conflicts program.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Conflicts Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for the Firm's conflicts of interest as part of the firm’s client intake program. Working closely with the firm’s General Counsel, this position ensures that conflicts of interest are identified and resolved efficiently and consistently across the firm, in adherence to the highest ideals of the legal profession.

The successful candidate is a collaborative leader who exercises sound legal judgment, embraces technology, and builds strong relationships across the Firm. This individual will oversee the firm’s conflicts analyst team, administer the firm’s procedures for drafting and obtaining conflict consent letters, serve as a primary resource for attorneys on complex conflicts and will work closely with the General Counsel and Loss Prevention Partners to promote best practices for conflict detection and resolution at the firm level.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for the Firm's conflicts of interest, working closely with Client Intake and General Counsel.
• Serve as a primary resource for attorneys on complex conflicts, including client intake, obtaining consent letters, and other related professional responsibility issues.
• Develop, implement, and periodically review Firm policies, procedures, and best practices governing conflict of interest clearance, client intake, ethical walls, and related compliance activities, in collaboration with the General Counsel.
• Partner with the General Counsel, Loss Prevention Partners, Practice Group Leaders, Information Technology, and administrative leadership to strengthen the Firm's conflicts of interest program.

Technology & Process Improvement

• Partner with Information Technology to optimize conflicts and client intake technologies that improve efficiency, accuracy, reporting, and decision-making.
• Leverage automation, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies, where appropriate, to improve conflicts analysis while maintaining appropriate legal oversight and professional judgment.
• Administer the firm’s library of conflict of interest consent forms and other relevant resources, ensuring compliance and consistency across the firm.
• Design, implement, and continuously improve firmwide conflicts workflows, analytical tools, reporting, and quality assurance processes.
• Establish metrics to monitor turnaround times, service levels, compliance, and overall program effectiveness.

Professional Responsibility & Compliance

• Direct the Firm's conflicts review process by overseeing the work of the Conflicts Analysts and providing legal review and guidance on complex matters.
• Review and interpret conflicts reports, identify legal and business issues, and provide practical recommendations to attorneys.
• Partner with the General Counsel and Loss Prevention Partners to evaluate complex conflicts, develop resolution strategies, and facilitate informed client intake decisions.
• Work with firm attorneys to draft conflict consent letters that are consistent across the firm and ensure receipt of signed letters.
• Oversee the administration of ethical walls and similar procedures to resolve conflicts, protect client confidences and comply with professional obligations.
• Escalate significant conflicts and professional responsibility issues to the General Counsel as appropriate while resolving matters within established Firm policies and delegated authority.

Leadership & Administration

• Model and promote the highest ideals of the legal profession.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop the Firm's Conflicts Analyst team while fostering analytical excellence, responsiveness, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and deliver training on conflicts policies, client intake procedures, and professional responsibility best practices.
• Perform other duties, special projects, and strategic initiatives as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction is preferred, but not required.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in conflicts of interest analysis, legal ethics, professional responsibility, or related legal practice, preferably in a law firm setting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of conflicts of interest principles, client intake considerations, professional responsibility, and law firm conflicts management.
• Experience advising attorneys on complex conflicts matters and interpreting detailed conflicts reports.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, cross-functional initiatives, and technology-enabled process improvements.
• Strong analytical, legal reasoning, problem-solving, and project management skills with the ability to exercise sound professional judgment.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence attorneys and Firm leadership.
• Self-motivated with unquestioned integrity and the ability to independently manage highly confidential and sensitive matters.