Conflicts Analyst (Lateral Recruitment Focus)

Herbert Smith Freehills•New York, NY

3d•$145,000 - $165,000

About The Position

The Conflicts Analyst supports general conflicts clearance and lateral conflicts clearance, onboarding, client transfers, and matter openings for lateral partners and other new hires. The role works closely with recruiting, business development, practice leadership, administrative teams, and the New Business Intake network of analysts and attorneys across the US, UK, and Australia to facilitate smooth intake and transition processes. The analyst reviews conflict-check submissions, researches and assesses potential conflicts, and helps evaluate new clients and matters against professional conduct rules and applicable domestic and overseas regulatory requirements. The position supports compliance work involving conflicts of interest, new business intake, and client due diligence, and serves as an escalation point on complex US legal and ethical questions. It also contributes to risk policies and procedures, information barriers, audits, regulatory reporting, intake software and process development, and accurate recordkeeping. The role is part of the General Counsel and Risk team, is based in New York, and is full-time under a permanent contract.

Requirements

Demonstrated commercial awareness and understanding of risk in a law firm environment.
High degree of trustworthiness when handling confidential and sensitive material.
Ability to multitask and prioritize multiple deadlines effectively.
Effective verbal, written, and face-to-face communication with a variety of staff, including senior partners and legal assistants.
Excellent research and analytical skills, with accuracy and attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in conflicts of interest and/or professional development or human resources in a law firm context is preferred, but not essential; full training on firm systems and policies will be provided.
Familiarity with Intapp Open software is a plus.

Responsibilities

Split time between general conflicts clearance and supporting lateral conflicts clearance, onboarding, client transfers, and matter openings for lateral partners and other new hires.
Work with recruiting, business development, practice leadership, and administrative teams to support intake and transition processes.
Review incoming conflict-check submission forms, assess potential conflicts, identify issues, and conduct external research as needed.
Communicate with lateral candidates about potential conflicts and work with practice group and sector leads to assess client portfolios in light of the firm’s strategic growth priorities.
Provide assistance, support, and analysis on conflicts of interest, new business intake, and client due diligence.
Assess potential new clients and matters under applicable professional conduct rules and domestic and overseas regulatory requirements; collaborate with or escalate issues to the Financial Crime team where appropriate.
Consult with and advise Conflicts Analysts and foreign-qualified lawyers on US legal and ethical questions, including escalation of complex clearances.
Review and provide guidance on conflicts provisions in engagement terms, outside counsel guidelines, and requests for proposal; draft conflict-of-interest waivers as appropriate.
Contribute to establishing, updating, and implementing risk management policies, controls, and procedures with the NBE&R team, IHC team, and other stakeholders.
Research and support partners, fee-earners, and business services teams on professional conduct rules, legislation, regulations, and firm policies concerning ethics, regulatory compliance, and new business acceptance.
Monitor legal and regulatory changes affecting new and existing clients and support updates to policies and procedures.
Support information barrier processes, compliance audits, and regulatory reporting across jurisdictions.
Contribute to development, testing, and implementation of intake software, processes, and strategic projects.
Maintain accurate records in conflicts and intake systems.
Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.