Conflicts Attorney (Lateral Recruitment Focus)

Herbert Smith Freehills•New York, NY

7d•$180,000 - $215,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Conflicts Attorney (Lateral Recruitment Focus) role involves a split between general conflicts clearance and specialized support for lateral conflicts clearance. This includes onboarding, client transfers, and matter openings for lateral partners and new hires. The position requires close collaboration with recruiting, business development, practice leadership, and administrative teams to ensure smooth intake and transition processes. The attorney will review conflict check submissions, identify potential issues, conduct external research, and communicate effectively with lateral candidates about conflicts. They will also provide analysis on conflicts of interest, new business intake, and client due diligence, assessing new clients and matters in accordance with professional conduct rules and regulatory requirements. Collaboration with the Financial Crime team and consultation with Conflicts Analysts and foreign-qualified lawyers on legal and ethical questions are also key aspects of the role. Additionally, the attorney will review and advise on conflicts provisions in engagement terms, draft waivers, contribute to risk management policies, and conduct research on professional conduct rules and regulations. The role also involves monitoring legal and regulatory changes, supporting information barrier processes, compliance audits, and contributing to the development of new intake software and processes.

Requirements

Admitted as an Attorney in New York or another US State.
Demonstrated commercial awareness and understanding of risk in a law firm environment.
Must demonstrate a high degree of trustworthiness commensurate with handling confidential and sensitive material.
Ability to multi-task and effectively prioritize multiple deadlines.
Effective verbal, written and face-to-face communication skills with a variety of staff including senior partners and legal assistants.
Excellent research and analytical skills with a focus on accuracy and attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in conflicts of interests and/or professional development or human resources in a law firm context is preferred but not essential as full training on the 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 closely with recruiting, business development, practice leadership, and administrative teams to help facilitate smooth intake and transition processes.
Review incoming conflict check submission forms, review conflicts and identify potential issues, conduct external research as needed.
Communicate effectively with lateral candidates about potential conflicts; liase with practice group and sector leads to assess the lateral candidate’s client portfolio within the context of the Firm’s strategic growth priorities.
Provide assistance, support, and analysis to the firm on a range of compliance topics centered on conflicts of interest, new business intake, and client due diligence processes.
Assess potential new clients and matters for the firm in accordance with applicable professional conduct rules, and relevant 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 legal and ethical questions under US law as needed, serving as an escalation point for more 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 implement risk management policies, controls, and procedures in coordination with the NBE&R team, the IHC team, and other firm stakeholders.
Conduct research and provide support to partners, fee-earners, and business services teams on applicable rules of professional conduct, applicable legislation, regulations, and firm policies relating to, ethics, regulatory compliance, and new business acceptance matters.
Assist with monitoring changes to the legal and regulatory landscape in which the firm operates, particularly changes affecting new and existing clients; provide support to the team and other firm stakeholders in adapting policies and procedures as appropriate.
Support information barrier processes, compliance audits, and regulatory reporting across jurisdictions.
Contribute to the development, testing, and implementation of new intake software, processes, and strategic projects.
Comply with WHS obligations and responsibilities in accordance with the requirements for this role.
Maintain accurate records in conflicts and intake systems.
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.