New Business Intake Research Analyst

McCarter & English, LLP; Hartford (CT); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life insurance

Health benefits

Retirement plan

PTO

Job summary

McCarter & English, LLP is seeking a New Business Intake Research Analyst to support conflict background checks and new client intake. The role involves researching companies, organizations, and individuals using public records and news sources, and preparing concise written summaries for the Business Intake team and attorneys.

The position may be fully remote or hybrid from an existing office, requires a bachelor’s degree and 3–5 years of related research experience, and offers a salary range

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 3–5 years of experience researching conflicts, due diligence, public records, or related fields.
• Strong ability to summarize complex findings clearly and concisely.
• Proficiency with common research databases and legal research tools.

Responsibilities

• Conduct background research on prospective clients and related parties using public records and news sources.
• Prepare clear, concise written summaries for the Business Intake team and attorneys.
• Review conflicts and new client/new matter requests, and identify information gaps.
• Verify entities, ownership structures, and related parties; analyze relationships.
• Assist with sanctions screening and documentation according to firm procedures.

Skills

Research methods

Background checks

Public records research

Legal research tools

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Lexis+ Public Records

Bloomberg Law

Courthouse News Service

World-Check Sanctions

Job description

McCarter & English, LLP is seeking a New Business Intake Research Analyst. This position may be wholly remote, or hybrid based out of one of our existing offices. Salary range for this position is $70,000- $90,000 annually, depending on level of experience. Candidates who receive an offer of employment will be processed through a background check which will be an individualized assessment based on the applicant’s or employee’s specific record and the duties and requirements of the specific job. If you have relevant experience, we would like you to consider joining our team.

Role Focus: As part of the conflict background checks and new client/new matter intake process, conduct background research and investigations on companies, organizations, and individuals using a variety of online research tools, databases, public records, and news sources. Prepare clear, concise written summaries of findings.

General Summary

The New Business Intake Research Analyst supports the Firm's business intake, risk management, and conflicts clearance functions by conducting comprehensive background research on prospective clients, affiliated entities, and individuals associated with new matters.

Using public records, business research platforms, sanctions resources, litigation sources, corporate filings, and news searches, the analyst researches companies, organizations, government entities, executives, beneficial owners, and related parties to identify information relevant to conflict background checks.

The position prepares concise research summaries for the Business Intake team, attorneys, and conflicts professionals and assists with the review of New Client/New Matter requests. The role requires strong investigative research skills, attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple time-sensitive requests.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct background research on prospective clients, companies, organizations, government entities, and individuals involved in New Client/New Matter requests.
• Review Daily conflicts mailings and identify the entries requiring conflict background research.
• Coordinate with attorneys, legal assistants, business intake personnel, financial systems, and administrative staff to clarify conflict research requests and obtain missing information necessary to conduct background research.
• Research client affiliates, adverse parties, owners, founders, executives, board members, related entities, and other associated individuals or organizations.
• Identify and analyze corporate structures, parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, ownership relationships, predecessor entities, name variations, and other relevant connections.
• Verify legal entity names, addresses, jurisdictions, business status, and organizational information using firm-approved resources and public records.
• Review negative news, litigation history, regulatory matters, bankruptcy information, criminal matters when available, foreclosure or lien information, reputation-related issues, and other information relevant to conflicts review.
• Conduct sanctions and watchlist screening using firm-approved sanctions resources.
• Search and review public records, news sources, court records, business databases, and other available sources to validate research findings.
• Prepare clear, concise written summaries that highlight relevant findings, negative information, sanctions results, and supporting source information.
• Place material negative information prominently in the report so conflicts reviewers can identify it quickly.
• Investigate complex or unclear entity relationships and escalate unresolved research questions when additional guidance is needed.
• Review completed research for accuracy, consistency, completeness, and formatting before circulation.
• Maintain research documentation and follow Firm procedures for processing and storing conflict background check materials.
• Prioritize routine, urgent, and emergency research requests while meeting deadlines and maintaining accuracy.
• Assist with workflow improvements, research templates, process documentation, and conflicts-related projects as assigned.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Bachelor's degree required; degree in information or library science preferred.
• Minimum 3 to 5 years of experience conducting research involving conflicts, due diligence, public records, corporations, investigations, compliance, business intake, or similar work.
• Strong experience using business databases, public records, due diligence, sanctions, and legal research resources, including Lexis+ Public Records / SmartLinx, Lexis Negative News, Lexis Sanctions and Watchlists, D&B Hoovers, Bloomberg Law, Courthouse News Service, World-Check Sanctions, Office of Foreign Assets Control resources, SEC filings, Google Search and Google News, state corporate filing databases, public records databases, and court records resources.
• Ability to identify and analyze corporate ownership structures, parent and subsidiary relationships, affiliated entities, officers, directors, beneficial owners, entity name changes, litigation history, bankruptcy filings, regulatory matters, sanctions exposure, and negative news.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to summarize complex research findings clearly, accurately, and concisely.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, consistency, and completeness.
• Ability to manage multiple research assignments, changing priorities, and time-sensitive requests in a fast-paced environment.
• Sound judgment and the ability to recognize when findings require escalation or additional review.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• High level of responsiveness and customer service when working with attorneys, business intake personnel, and administrative teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, and related document management or intake systems.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with a team.
• Flexibility to assist with urgent requests, emergency conflicts research, and special projects as needed.

Reporting Relationship

This position reports directly to the New Business Manager.

The above is intended to describe the general content and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of the essential functions, responsibilities, or requirements.

Benefits (if FTE requirements met):

• Firm-Paid: Basic life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance and short-term (ST) and long-term (LT) disability benefits.
• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical/prescription drug coverage (the Firm pays a share of the cost), including a high-deductible health plan with an annual Firm health savings account (HSA) contribution. Employee-Paid Voluntary Benefits: Dental and vision coverage, supplemental health plans (accident, cancer, and critical illness), flexible spending accounts, optional life and AD&D insurance (supplemental employee, spouse and child) and supplemental STD coverage.
• Retirement: 401(k) plan offering three types of contributions: pre-tax, Roth and after-tax contributions.
• Time Off: Paid Time Off (PTO), paid holidays, and leaves of absence to support work-life balance (e.g. parental leave)

Additional Benefits:

• Free and confidential employee assistance program (EAP) and behavioral health services program
• Firm-paid back-up child/elder care, academic support and pet care program
• Tax-advantaged college savings 529 Plan
• Employee discounts through Working Advantage

Other Compensation:

• Eligibility for discretionary bonus.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

McCarter & English, LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.