Senior Director of Conflicts, Law Firm

Plona Partners; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Regional Powerhouse (AmLaw100) in the U.S. East Coast (Hybrid – NY / CT) is seeking a Senior Director of Conflicts / Head of Conflicts to build and scale the Risk & Compliance function. The role requires leadership across Legal, Finance, and Operations with responsibility for conflicts and engagement governance.

You will shape risk strategy, oversee ethical screens, and influence senior partners while driving improvements across policies, systems, and processes.

Qualifications

• JD with active U.S. bar license.
• 6–10+ years in law firm risk, compliance, OGC, or professional responsibility.
• Deep expertise in conflicts, new business intake, engagement terms, and ethical screens.
• Proven ability to influence partners and operate at the leadership level.
• Strong operator mindset: build, implement, and improve.

Responsibilities

• Lead all U.S. Risk & Compliance operations, including conflicts, NBI, and engagement governance.
• Design and implement firmwide risk strategy aligned with global leadership.
• Oversee complex conflicts resolution, ethical screens, and high‑risk matter approvals.
• Partner with senior stakeholders on claims, regulatory, and reputational risk matters.
• Drive process improvement, policy development, and system optimization.
• Lead training initiatives across attorneys and business teams.
• Act as a strategic advisor on lateral hires, office expansions, and sensitive matters.

Skills

Leadership

Risk & Compliance

Influence Partners

Policy Development

Training & Development

Operational Execution

Education

JD + US Bar Admission

Job description

Position: Senior Director of Conflicts / Head of Conflicts

Location: U.S. East Coast (Hybrid – NY / CT)

Law Firm: Regional Powerhouse (AmLaw100)

We’re partnering with a globally recognized law firm—consistently advising ultra-high-net-worth individuals, institutions, and complex cross-border matters—to identify a senior leader to build and scale their U.S. Risk & Compliance function. This is not a maintenance role. This is a build mandate with real influence across leadership, operations, and firmwide strategy.

The Opportunity

You will act as the lead voice for Risk & Compliance across the U.S., partnering directly with international leadership and key stakeholders across Legal, Finance, and Operations.

This role sits at the intersection of:

• Regulatory compliance & ethics
• Operational execution & risk mitigation

You’ll lead a team, influence partners, and shape how a global platform manages risk at scale.

What You’ll Own

• Lead all U.S. Risk & Compliance operations, including conflicts, NBI, and engagement governance
• Design and implement firmwide risk strategy aligned with global leadership
• Oversee complex conflicts resolution, ethical screens, and high-risk matter approvals
• Partner with senior stakeholders on claims, regulatory, and reputational risk matters
• Drive process improvement, policy development, and system optimization
• Lead training initiatives across attorneys and business teams
• Act as a strategic advisor on lateral hires, office expansions, and sensitive matters

Requirements

• JD + active U.S. bar admission
• 6–10+ years in law firm risk, compliance, OGC, or professional responsibility
• Deep expertise in:
• Conflicts & new business intake
• Engagement terms / waiver strategy
• Ethical screens & information barriers
• Proven ability to influence partners and operate at the leadership level
• Strong operator mindset: you don’t just advise—you build, implement, and improve

Why This Role

• Direct exposure to global leadership across U.S., Europe, and APAC
• Opportunity to build and modernize a critical function
• High-impact seat at the table on firmwide decision-making
• Platform with elite clientele and complex, high-stakes work