Director of Conflicts, Lateral Hires

Position: Senior Manager of Conflicts

Location: New York, DC, LA, CHI, ATL

Law Firm: Regional Powerhouse (AmLaw100)

Salary: $200,000 - $240,000

Essential Functions

• Manage and oversee a team of Conflict Analysts and Conflict Attorneys in the performance of their daily duties relating to conflict searching, identification and resolution.
• Review and analyze conflict of interest reports, identify potential conflicts of interest, and assist Partners and 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.
• Discuss conflict of interest and loss prevention issues with Partners, Associates, New Business Intake Analysts, and staff; assist same with identifying and resolving potential conflicts of interest.
• Work with General Counsel to address conflict issues relating to new clients and matters, lateral candidates, or other matters requiring attention.
• Exercise discretion and professional independent judgment with respect to the identification and resolution of potential conflicts of interest.
• Draft and review conflict waivers and engagement letter language to ensure that they adequately address conflict concerns, general risk management issues and comply with Firm policies.
• Review outside counsel guidelines to identify deviations from the Firm’s engagement policies; work with relevant attorneys to appropriately address deviations.
• Identify the need for ethical walls to screen individuals from particular clients and matters; manage and maintain the Firm’s processes for implementing walls.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct as adopted in each state in which Blank Rome maintains offices, and jurisdictional differences in all states and practice areas in which Blank Rome conducts business.
• Perform legal research as needed to identify and resolve potential conflicts of interest.
• Supervise and manage the work of Conflicts Analysts and Conflict Attorneys; train them on conflict identification, conflict processes and procedures, system use, workflow, firm processes and procedures and more.
• Update firm policies and procedures relating to conflicts, risk management, compliance and other areas as needed.
• Continually monitor the needs of the Conflicts Department and make staffing recommendations as needed. Onboard and train new conflicts staff.
• Participate in the interviewing, hiring and annual performance evaluation process of members of the Conflicts team.
• Manage and maintain the integrity of the conflicts database.
• Assist with special projects relating to risk management and compliance as they may arise.