Business Intake and Conflicts Attorney

Goodwin Procter•Boston, NY

31d•Hybrid

About The Position

Join Goodwin’s Global Operations Team, and make a real impact on a global scale. At Goodwin, we work with some of the world’s most successful and innovative investors, entrepreneurs and disruptors in the life sciences, private equity, real estate, technology and financial industries, and where they converge. As part of the Global Operations Team – all business professionals at the firm – you’ll collaborate with colleagues from varied backgrounds and experiences, fostering an environment where cross-functional learning, networking, and collaboration are at the core of what we do. Here, we’re not just supporting a law firm; we’re partnering with attorneys and clients to deliver cutting-edge solutions in high-stakes litigation and dispute resolution, world-class regulatory compliance and advisory services, and complex transactions. Our commitment to integrity, ingenuity, agility, and ambition drives us, and we’re proud to have been recognised as the “Best Business Team” by The American Lawyer. This is your opportunity to grow professionally in a dynamic, global environment, surrounded by forward-thinking peers. The Business Intake and Conflicts Attorney's primarily responsibility is to review, analysis and management of client engagement and waiver documentation to ensure compliance with required firm policies and procedures. Work closely with Department administrators and Office of General Counsel to flag, escalate and resolve issues as necessary. Communicate with partners and secretaries on a regular basis to identify issues, train and ensure compliance with firm policies and procedures. Manage the coding and filing of engagement documentation in preparation for firm audits. Also responsible for conflicts clearance review and analysis for firm-wide legal hires and new business, working directly with the Department administrators, as well as with Office of General Counsel, to identify and resolve potential ethics and business conflict issues.

Requirements

JD degree required.
3 years experience with law firm conflicts and/or new business department preferred.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; strong customer service skills and ability to interact effectively with a broad range of people in a professional manner.
Strong research skills; strong analytical and problem solving skills, strong attention to detail.
Organize and prioritize multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment; work under pressure and complete job assignments in an accurate and timely manner; respond appropriately to shifting demands.
Work independently, but able to escalate and communicate issues in a timely and effective manner.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience using automated conflicts and/or workflow system preferred
Knowledge of InTapp conflict checking, ethical wall and business intake software a plus.

Responsibilities

Escalate any non-compliance issues to Department administrators and the Office of General Counsel, as necessary, to resolve issues.
Review and advise partners and secretaries regarding any necessary revisions and follow up to ensure final and timely resolution.
Assist in the drafting of engagement and waiver letters.
Review and analyze conflicting engagement terms in multiple engagement documentation for particular clients and work with Department administrators, and partners, to resolve open issues.
Monitor, research and troubleshoot outstanding WIP and communicate with firm personnel to ensure compliance with firm policies and procedures and facilitate timely matter opening and billing.
Code engagement documentation and waivers in Intapp and document all approvals and methods of resolution of any issues.
Oversee collection and maintenance of engagement and waiver documentation to comply with risk management requirements related to client/matter intake and comprehensive recordkeeping on all new engagements.
Work with Department administrators to prepare annual engagement letter audit for Office of General Counsel.
Assist Department Manager with the design, testing, and roll out of Department software enhancements and upgrades.
Conduct legal research on conflict-of-interest to assist in determining conflict resolution strategy.
Create and analyze complex conflict reports and exercise independent judgment to identify potential conflict of interest issues with legal hires, new business and marketing initiatives.
Conduct research to gather information and/or clarification on potential issues.
Take the initiative to analyze and resolve conflicts independently.
Prepare communications to attorneys, clearly identifying all potential issues found in conflict report.
Assist attorneys in resolving conflict issues.
Work directly with attorneys, Department administrators, and the Ethics Advisory Committee, as necessary, to assist and facilitate conflict resolution.
Provide guidance to Conflicts staff relative to conflict research and analysis and corporate family tree research with the goal of ensuring accuracy and consistency in preparation and analysis of conflict reports.
Assist in development and implementation of training programs for Conflict Analysts and Specialists.
Research appropriate jurisdictional conflict and/or ethical rules and/or opinions to assist in determining specific conflict resolution strategies.
Request and maintain all necessary supporting documentation to clear actual or potential conflict issues.
Prepare and implement ethical walls.
Participate in providing coverage for conflict checking and analysis via on-call rotation on scheduled weekends.
Maintain knowledge of trends, developments and new technologies impacting the Business Intake and Conflicts group.