Senior Conflicts and Ethics Attorney

Senior Conflicts and Ethics Attorney

About the Role:

An established and highly respected law firm is seeking an experienced Senior Conflicts and Ethics Attorney to join its Risk Management and Conflicts team. This role plays a critical part in safeguarding the firm s professional and ethical standards by analyzing conflicts of interest advising attorneys on ethical considerations and supporting the firm s client engagement and risk management processes.

The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in legal ethics conflicts analysis and professional responsibility within a law firm environment. This position offers the opportunity to collaborate closely with attorneys leadership and cross-functional teams while contributing to the firm s commitment to professional integrity and client service.

This is an excellent opportunity for a legal professional who enjoys analytical work problem solving and guiding attorneys through complex ethical and conflicts matters in a fast-paced legal environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Conflicts Resolution and Risk Analysis

• Collaborate with the Conflicts Department to analyze and resolve conflicts of interest matters.
• Conduct advanced conflicts analyses including corporate separateness research and engagement terms review.
• Draft conflict waivers and establish ethical walls where appropriate.
• Facilitate the resolution of business conflicts among attorneys.

Client Engagement and Documentation

• Draft engagement letters and side letters in collaboration with attorneys and department leadership.
• Review and analyze client Outside Counsel Guidelines and identify provisions that require modification or negotiation.
• Coordinate internal reviews and communicate with clients regarding necessary changes.

Due Diligence and Client Risk Assessment

• Conduct due diligence reviews on prospective clients and new matters.
• Identify potential risk factors or ethical concerns and escalate findings to leadership when appropriate.
• Perform ethics and business risk assessments related to new client engagements.

Advisory and Legal Support

• Serve as a trusted legal resource for attorneys and staff on conflicts ethics and engagement matters.
• Provide guidance on ethics issues firm contracts and risk management considerations.
• Support attorneys in navigating professional responsibility requirements.

Lateral Hiring and Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with the Lateral Recruiting team to analyze conflicts associated with potential hires.
• Conduct detailed conflicts reviews and provide recommendations regarding hiring feasibility and potential limitations.

Process Improvement and Training

• Assist in developing and implementing risk management protocols.
• Train attorneys and staff on conflicts procedures and ethical rules.
• Build collaborative relationships with departments involved in the conflicts and client intake processes.

Operational Oversight

• Provide direction to Conflicts Department staff when leadership is unavailable to ensure workflow continuity.
• Manage file transfers to successor counsel or clients and coordinate with Accounting on client and matter closures.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience as a Conflicts and Ethics Attorney in a law firm environment.
• Strong command of Rules of Professional Conduct and demonstrated ability to identify and resolve conflicts of interest.
• Experience handling ethics and conflicts matters across multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience communicating with firm leadership regarding risk management and loss prevention issues.
• Experience reviewing conflicts reports and overseeing conflicts analysts.
• Strong legal drafting experience including engagement letters and ethics-related documentation.
• Experience reviewing and analyzing client-provided Outside Counsel Guidelines.

Additional Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and PDF tools such as Kofax Power PDF or Adobe Acrobat.
• Ability to work with legal and research platforms such as Lexis Westlaw Capital IQ Hoovers/Family Tree Portal DNBi and other research resources.
• Strong analytical research and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced professional environment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining strict confidentiality.
• Collaborative mindset with excellent client service and interpersonal skills.

Why Join:

• Work with a highly respected law firm known for professional excellence and strong ethical standards.
• Collaborate with experienced attorneys and leadership on complex ethical and conflicts matters.
• Gain exposure to high-level risk management and strategic decision-making within a leading