Conflicts Counsel Manager

Husch Blackwell • Milwaukee, WI

25d • $136,000 - $308,000 • Remote

About The Position

Husch Blackwell LLP
is a full-service litigation and business law firm with
multiple locations across the United States, serving clients with domestic and
international operations.

At Husch Blackwell we believe that diverse, equitable and inclusive teams lead
to better outcomes. Husch Blackwell is committed to retaining, recruiting,
developing, and promoting talented lawyers and business professionals with
diverse backgrounds and experiences. We foster an engaged, diverse, and
inclusive team culture of accountability and purpose that makes our Firm and our
communities better.

Our firm is committed to attracting and retaining professionals who value each
other and the service we provide by embracing Teamwork, Collaboration, Client
Service, and Innovation. If you are a motivated professional looking for a
long-term fit where you can grow in a role, and will be valued and empowered,
then we invite you to apply to our Conflicts Counsel Manager
position. This position may be filled remotely, or in any of our locations.

The Conflicts Counsel Manager oversees a team of Conflicts Counsel who work
within the Conflicts Department to identify and resolve conflicts of interest
issues related to the intake and maintenance of new and existing business,
lateral clearance, outside counsel guidelines (OCGs), requests for proposals
(RFPs), and other conflicts-related issues, as needed.

The Conflicts Counsel Manager directs and conducts specific processes of the
Conflicts Counsel team, including timely and thorough review, identification and
resolution of conflicts of interest issues, preparation of conflicts waivers and
engagement letter language as needed, recommendations regarding ethical wall
implementation and structure, review of Outside Counsel Guidelines, lateral
candidates, and other ethics-related responsibilities. Further responsibilities
will include proactive and clear communication with partners, staff, and firm
leadership regarding conflicts requests and complex conflicts questions;
maintaining thorough and accurate records of conflicts resolutions; and
assistance with identifying and resolving erroneous, outdated, or incomplete
conflicts information in existing records in order to maintain the integrity of
information.

The Conflicts Counsel Manager exercises a high level of discretion and
independent judgment while complying and enforcing Departmental and Firm
policies and procedures. This position is responsible for assuring compliance
with applicable Rules of Professional Conduct, assisting with and managing other
ethical risk mitigation issues, and assuming responsibility for identifying and
resolving legal and commercial conflicts issues. Essential duties are performed
personally or through delegation/supervision of subordinates.

The Conflicts Counsel Manager is the primary member of the Conflicts Department
responsible for the personnel leadership of the team of Conflicts Counsel,
including providing feedback, overseeing timeliness of work product, conducting
performance management, and managing the review process for the team. The
Conflicts Counsel Manager works closely with the leadership of the Conflicts
Department to create best practices and procedures, and written guidelines or
instructions for the Conflicts Counsel team. Essential job functions include:

Requirements

• Juris Doctor and an active law license in the U.S.
• Five or more years of experience as a Conflicts Attorney, Conflicts Counsel, or other similar position in an international or large domestic law firm.
• Computer proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and Outlook) required.
• Experience with InTapp Open required.
• Ability to identify and analyze complex conflict of interest issues and problems and to recommend and implement solutions. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.
• Ability to track, manage, and effectively prioritize numerous responsibilities, emails, and conflicts requests.
• Strong writing skills, with the ability to clearly and concisely communicate in an effective manner, particularly with respect to summarizing and simplifying complex or numerous conflicts issues.
• Ability and availability to travel to other Firm locations on occasion as needed.

Responsibilities

• Oversees all performance management and personnel leadership aspects of Conflicts Counsel. This includes, but is not limited to: onboarding, training, development, evaluations, and administrative responsibilities.
• Maintains a thorough working knowledge of the technologies that support the daily operations of the Conflicts department, including but not limited to InTapp Open and InTapp Terms.
• Serves as a primary resource for the Conflicts, Client Engagement, and Risk Management departments on legal questions involving conflicts of interest.
• Discusses conflict of interest issues with Attorneys, Conflicts Analysts, Conflicts Counsel, and other conflicts, staff, and firm members to identify and resolve potential conflicts of interest, while maintaining objectivity and professional independence.
• Reviews conflict of interest requests and reports to provides a concise and complete evaluation of potential conflict issues along with communicating and executing steps for resolution. Documents resolutions.
• As needed, prepares all routine conflicts waivers, assists firm partners with revising waivers, identifies need for unusual conflicts waivers and assists with preparation of same, and monitors obtaining necessary waivers or other approvals before matters are approved to be opened.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct as adopted in each state in which the Firm maintains an office, and jurisdictional differences in all states and practice areas in which the Firm conducts business.
• Reviews client outside counsel guidelines and engagement agreements to identify deviations from the Firm’s policies. Works with billing and relationship Partners to appropriately address deviations.
• Assists with the review and clearance of new hire candidates, including complete conflicts analysis and resolution, drafting engagement agreements and waivers as needed, communicating with recruiting and firm leadership regarding the status of conflicts issues for a candidate, and providing training to a new lateral partner hire.
• Reviews outside counsel guidelines and works with partners to prepare responses to clients that align with firm needs and requirements. Assists in the maintenance and documentation of clients’ agreements within our conflicts software and databases.
• Assists Client Development team and partners in reviewing and responding to Requests for Proposals and similar business opportunities.
• Prepares and delivers trainings for Conflicts team as well as firm attorneys and staff on topics related to conflicts, ethics, and professional responsibility.
• Other duties as requested.

Benefits

• medical and dental coverage
• life insurance
• short-term and long-term disability insurance
• pre-tax flexible spending account for certain medical and dependent care expenses
• an employee assistance program
• Paid Time Off
• paid holidays
• participation in a retirement plan program after meeting eligibility requirements

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees