Senior Conflicts Attorney (AmLaw100)

Plona Partners; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Plona Partners seeks an experienced conflicts analyst to review and analyze new business COI reports, identify conflicts, and help partners and associates resolve them. You will draft engagement and waiver letters and ensure waivers are obtained before opening new clients or matters.

You will perform web-based research to determine relevant information about potential representations and discuss issues with partners, maintaining ethics walls when needed.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of law firm experience, preferably in risk management or corporate compliance.
• Law degree from an accredited law school.
• Active bar licensure in at least one state and in good standing.
• Experience in conflicts identification and clearance at a large law firm.
• Experience with researching jurisdiction-specific rules as they relate to conflicts of interest.
• Experience with iManage or other document management/document retention software used by major law firms.
• Experience performing legal research and corporate family/affiliate research (Hoovers, Dun & Bradstreet, Lexis/Westlaw, etc.).
• Experience with Intapp Open, Walls, Terms and Elite or other computerized conflicts systems.
• Ability to supervise the work of Conflicts Analysts and train them as to system use, workflow and procedure.

Responsibilities

• Review and analyze new business conflict of interest reports, identify potential conflicts of interest, and assist Partners/Associates in resolving them.
• Review and analyze lateral materials and conflict of interest reports and identify potential conflicts of interest; assist Partners and Firm Management in resolving same.
• Provide concise summaries of potential conflict issues and steps required for resolution.
• Conduct online searches and use web-based research tools, company websites and/or public databases to determine relevant information about potential representations.
• Discuss conflict of interest and loss prevention issues with Partners, Associates, New Business Analysts, etc. to identify and resolve potential conflicts of interest.
• Exercise discretion and independent professional judgment with respect to the identification and resolution of potential conflicts of interest.
• Draft clear engagement and waiver letters, as necessary, and follow up to ensure waivers are obtained before new clients/matters are opened.
• Review language in Partner/Associate drafted waiver and engagement letters to ensure that they adequately address conflicts concerns and engagement issues.
• Review outside counsel guidelines to identify deviations from the Firm’s engagement policies; work with relevant Attorneys to appropriately address deviations.
• Confirm need for ethical walls to screen individuals from particular clients and matters; manage and maintain the Firm’s processes for implementing walls.

Skills

Conflict analysis

Legal research

Team coordination

Supervision

Education

Law degree

Tools

iManage

Intapp Open

Elite

Lexis/Westlaw

Hoovers

D&B

Job description

• Review and analyze new business conflict of interest reports, identify potential conflicts of interest, and assist Partners/Associates in resolving them.
• Review and analyze lateral materials and conflict of interest reports and identify potential conflicts of interest; assist Partners and Firm Management in resolving same.
• Provide concise summaries of potential conflict issues and steps required for resolution.
• Conduct online searches and use web-based research tools, company websites and/or public databases to determine relevant information about potential representations.
• Discuss conflict of interest and loss prevention issues with Partners, Associates, New Business Analysts, etc. to identify and resolve potential conflicts of interest.
• Exercise discretion and independent professional judgment with respect to the identification and resolution of potential conflicts of interest.
• Draft clear engagement and waiver letters, as necessary, and follow up to ensure waivers are obtained before new clients/matters are opened.
• Review language in Partner/Associate drafted waiver and engagement letters to ensure that they adequately address conflicts concerns and engagement issues.
• Review outside counsel guidelines to identify deviations from the Firm’s engagement policies; work with relevant Attorneys to appropriately address deviations.
• Confirm need for ethical walls to screen individuals from particular clients and matters; manage and maintain the Firm’s processes for implementing walls.

Skills/Qualifications

• 3+ years of law firm experience, preferably in risk management or corporate compliance.
• Law degree from an accredited law school.
• Active bar licensure in at least one state and in good standing.
• Experience in conflicts identification and clearance at a large law firm.
• Experience with researching jurisdiction-specific rules as they relate to conflicts of interest.
• Experience with iManage or other document management/document retention software used by major law firms.
• Experience performing legal research and corporate family/affiliate research (Hoovers, Dun & Bradstreet, Lexis/Westlaw, etc.).
• Experience with Intapp Open, Walls, Terms and Elite or other computerized conflicts systems.
• Ability to supervise the work of Conflicts Analysts and train them as to system use, workflow and procedure.