Conflicts Counsel

Benesch Law•Chicago, IL

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

Benesch is seeking a Conflicts Counsel for its Chicago office. This is a hybrid position with work from home flexibility. The role is ideal for a licensed attorney who wants to utilize their JD in a non-traditional capacity, focusing on problem-solving, research, and making recommendations for best practices in the corporate/transactional legal world. The Conflicts Counsel is a key member of the risk management department, assisting with the clearance of new business, attorney and staff hires, and acquisitions/mergers of other law firms. This role involves coordinating workflow and personnel activities for efficiency and accuracy, and continuously improving processes, including implementing automation for conflicts analysis.

Requirements

Must possess a J.D.
Must possess excellent computer skills as well as experience with applicable automated conflict check software.
Requires a comprehensive knowledge of applicable ethical, legal and risk management rules and requirements governing conflict of interest and the conflict resolution process as well as related compliance issues/guidelines applicable to international law firms.
Must possess strong written and oral communication skills.
Must be able to understand, analyze, interpret, and explain conflicts reports and to converse informatively with timekeepers regarding conflicts issues.
Demonstrated ability to effectively and efficiently work with all levels of personnel with tact and diplomacy.

Nice To Haves

2+ years of experience performing conflicts analysis in a large law firm environment is preferred.
Intapp Open software experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Conducts conflict checks after obtaining all relevant available information on the parties, including affiliates and related parties and their relationship to the matter and each other.
Manages the firm-wide conflicts clearance process for new clients/matters and lateral attorneys.
Consults regularly with General Counsel, Risk Management Officer, Conflicts and Intake Manager, and Conflicts Counsel regarding conflict results and resolutions requiring a higher level of review, problems or issues that may arise, recommendations for improvement in running and clearing conflicts, or any needs for further resources.
Provides waiver and engagement letter exemplars upon request, assists in drafting waivers and engagement letters, and reviews waiver and engagement letters received from clients to ensure that required conditions have been met.
Manages the Outside Counsel Guideline process and reviews for potential issues.
Carries out research projects pertinent to ethical issues and provides best practice recommendations to the General Counsel and Conflicts and Risk Management Counsel.
Assists with the creation, implementation, and updates to various policies and procedures regarding matter maintenance including closings, and lateral arrival/departure process.
Trains secretarial and administrative staff on how to utilize conflicts/new business intake workflow application.
Keeps current on trends within the topic of conflicts of interest management.
Participates in other projects and tasks as assigned.
Performs other duties as assigned.