Description:

An International Law Firm is one of the world's leading international law firms. The Firm was established in 1884 and has more than 1,000 lawyers. Headquartered in New York with offices in Beijing, Brussels, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Palo Alto, São Paulo, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., the Firm provides coordinated legal advice and transactional capability to clients around the globe. Cross-border finance, banking and bank regulation, mergers and acquisitions, securities issuance and regulation, project and asset based finance, real estate, asset management, joint ventures, taxation, litigation and dispute resolution are important aspects of the Firm's practice.

Job Summary
The Sr./Conflicts Attorney is responsible for supporting one of the firm's critical risk management functions, addressing conflicts of interest in all jurisdictions relevant to a large global law practice. This role facilitates all new business intake by resolving conflicts of interest firm-wide, which involves conducting extensive research on all parties to all matters, accurately identifying potential conflicts issues for new clients, matters and parties, preparing conflicts waivers and engagement letters, and communicating with partners and clients regarding potential issues and documentation.

Responsibilities/Duties:
  • Respond to partner conflict inquiries on a firm wide basis; interface with partners and associates to confirm the status of existing or pending transactions and resolve identified conflict issues
  • Manage conflict research processes and procedures to ensure that all potential conflicts are quickly and accurately identified and resolved
  • Communicate with partners regarding the status of existing or pending matters and in order to resolve identified conflict issues
  • Develop and maintain knowledge of the applicable rules of professional conduct in all relevant jurisdictions and relating to all firm practice areas
  • Advise attorneys on rules of professional conduct and assist in adherence to such rules and firm policies
  • Draft, review and coordinate client engagement and conflict waiver letters
  • Review and negotiate revisions to clients' outside counsel guidelines regarding conflicts of interest
  • Assist Business Development with client and prospective client RFIs and RFPs relating to conflicts of interest
  • Draft and communicate firm policies and procedures relating to conflicts of interest
  • Train firm personnel in conflicts and legal ethics, including presenting ethics CLEs
  • Determine the need for, establish and maintain formal ethical screens
  • Perform other functions relating to conflicts and legal ethics as required
  • Perform other duties as assigned

Required Skills:
  • Knowledge of or willingness to learn the fundamentals of all firm practice areas: private equity, capital markets, banking and credit, bankruptcy, commercial and securities litigation and others
  • Ability to identify parties and issues involved in prospective matters, define relationships and to learn to resolve actual and potential conflicts of interest arising in various types of transactions and cases
  • Proficiency in internet and corporate database research
  • Ability to research corporate ownership/SEC filings to determine shareholders and substantial owners of target companies and other adverse parties
  • Ability to organize, prioritize, plan and adapt quickly to changes in workflow in a high profile, high pressure, mission-critical environment
  • Ability to research and understand multiple complex corporate transactions and relationships quickly and accurately and to determine how proposed transactional structures relate to the firm's existing and prospective engagements
  • Good business judgment and analytical skills
  • Complete and utter discretion regarding maintaining the confidentiality of all firm and client information, including identities of clients and other parties
  • Ability to work effectively with all levels of personnel in a global organization with tact and diplomacy
  • Ability to communicate professionally, clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing
  • Ability to learn and utilize internal conflict checking software and multiple software applications and workflow processes of various other firm departments
  • Ability to efficiently produce a large quantity of accurate and quality work product
  • Strong project planning, management and execution skills
  • Ability to work on difficult matters for long periods without losing focus or accuracy
  • Self-motivation and ability to work independently

Required Experience:
At least 3 years' experience practicing law in a large law firm

Required Education:
  • J.D. required
  • Active admission to the New York Bar and/or the bar of the jurisdiction where the Conflicts Attorney is located, if not New York