US Conflicts & New Business Intake Attorney (NY, New Haven CT, LA, SF)

Summary

Reporting to the US Head of Risk & Compliance, the Conflicts & NBI Attorney supports the critical Risk Management function for the Firm's US offices. The role primarily focuses on managing the Firm's risk with regards to new business intake, including initiating and analyzing conflicts checks for new matters and advising relevant partners on new client acceptance, anti-money laundering (AML) and reputational risk issues in order to secure the necessary resolutions and approvals. This is a permanent, full-time position, working Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week. Flexibility is required from time to time. You must be willing to travel between the Firm's US offices, as necessary.

Compensation is commensurate with experience and may range from $140,000 to $160,000. 

The Role

• Initiate and analyze conflicts checks for new business and working alongside Firm partners and Risk & Compliance colleagues on the resolution of legal and commercial conflicts.
• Assist the Head of Risk & Compliance and the Ethics & Claims Counsel with documenting analyses and requirements, procedures, and best practices for new business intake.
• Ensure that all clients and matters created via the NBI workflow process and any amendments to them are processed correctly and, where necessary, liaise with the Finance, Information Governance and/or Risk & Compliance teams in other offices.
• Complete processes and procedures including drafting and revising engagement letters and waivers.
• Propose improvements for methods and standards for analysis of conflicts of interest.
• Monitor the team for consistency, accuracy, thoroughness, and efficiency.
• Supervise the set-up, management, and updating of restricted groups and information barriers.
• Ensure that accurate client due diligence data is obtained where required and tracking receipt of all necessary regulatory requirements associated with new business intake.
• Train partners and staff on matters of legal ethics, professional responsibility, conflicts of interest, and other Risk & Compliance related issues as needed.
• Triage matters the Conflicts & NBI Analysts escalate for guidance. This list of duties and responsibilities above is not exhaustive. It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for, the performance of this job. As such, the role may also undertake additional tasks as required.

Key Skills & Experience

• Conflict/Compliance/Risk experience at a reputable law firm.
• Highly PC literate, particularly with advanced MS Office Suite and database management experience.
• Intapp Open, 3E, and iManage experience preferred but not essential.
• Proactive in the identification of risks and identifying solutions to mitigate them.
• Excellent attention to detail together with a methodical and organized approach.
• Strong communicator, inquisitive and enthusiastic and willing to work with lawyers and support staff at all levels and in differing jurisdictions, able to handle queries efficiently with diplomacy and tact, gaining confidence of partners and staff.
• Able to manage workload effectively and move projects forward.
• Able to influence and build strong working relationships with internal clients and colleagues in a collaborative and supportive manner.
• Strong commercial aptitude.
• Solutions focused, proven initiative, proactive approach and independent thought. Knowledge of legal regulatory and legislative requirements for law firms and lawyers, and an understanding of risk in the legal services environment, would therefore be beneficial.

About Withers 

A law firm focused on people, performance, and collaboration.

For the past 125 years, we have supported some of the world’s most remarkable people and organizations at defining moments in their lives.

As the global private client firm, we are trusted advisors to families, founders, fiduciaries and businesses – and more than this, to governments, charities and financial institutions.

We structure, grow and preserve capital. We protect reputations and relationships, ideas and innovations. We secure our clients’ legacies across generations.

We are united in our commitment to integrity, quality and collaboration. We have a culture of high performance and deliver excellent service consistently across the firm. We provide tailored solutions built on trust and partner with our clients to achieve their goals.

Many of our clients are shaping the future, and creating solutions to tackle many of the world’s problems. It makes for a fascinating and challenging practice.

Our role is to get to know each individual client, find out where they want to be, and help them to get there – whether they are building a business, buying a home or protecting and defending their interests.
To meet their unique needs we are exceptionally collaborative, working together across teams and time zones. And we are agile – focusing on strategy rather than rigid ideas and traditional hierarchy.

We are delighted that we have been awarded Mansfield Certification Plus in relation to our recruitment and leadership progression efforts in the US and UK. This certification is an encouraging milestone as we continue to champion diversity within our organization and in the wider legal sector.

Join us to be part of a team that is always looking to the future. Where initiative, big ideas and bold moves are always encouraged. Where you can truly be yourself.

For more information on Withers, please visit the following links: General Career Site, LinkedIn, About Us 

Equal opportunities employment statement 

The firm is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.  Equal employment opportunity has been and will continue to be a fundamental principle at the firm. Employment at the firm is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.  The firm prohibits and will not tolerate any discrimination or harassment on the basis of any of these classifications or characteristics.

If you are interested in applying for employment and need special assistance or an accommodation to use our website to apply for a position, please contact the firm at 203 789 1320 or email us.recruiting@withersworldwide.com with your request.  Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation are made on a case-by-case basis.