Conflicts Counsel (Lateral Hires Focus)

Husch Blackwell • Milwaukee, WI

12d • $88,000 - $276,000 • Remote

About The Position

Husch Blackwell LLP is a full-service litigation and business law firm seeking a Conflicts Counsel (Lateral Hire Focus). This position can be filled remotely or in any of their US locations. The Conflicts Counsel will be part of the Conflicts Department, collaborating with colleagues in Conflicts, Client Engagement, and Risk Management to identify and resolve conflicts of interest related to new and existing business, lateral hires, outside counsel guidelines, and requests for proposals. The role involves directing and conducting specific processes within the Conflicts department, including reviewing and resolving conflicts, drafting waivers, reviewing lateral candidates and OCGs, and providing recommendations on ethical walls and engagement letter language. Responsibilities include communicating with partners and leadership, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring compliance with Rules of Professional Conduct. The position requires discretion, independent judgment, and a thorough understanding of technologies like Intapp Open and Intapp Terms. The Conflicts Counsel will serve as a resource for conflicts analysts, discuss issues with attorneys and staff, review requests, draft and review legal documents, make recommendations for ethical walls, and stay updated on legal ethics and professional responsibility rules. They will also review outside counsel guidelines, assist with client development, and prepare trainings. A specific focus is placed on conflicts related to lateral candidates' former or portable work, including liaising with recruiting and onboarding teams and providing training to new hires.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor and active law license in the U.S. in the jurisdiction in which the candidate resides.
• Two or more years of conflicts-related experience preferred.
• Computer proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and Outlook) required.
• Ability to identify and analyze conflict of interest issues 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.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with on-line reference materials and Boolean searching techniques preferred.
• Experience with Intapp Open and Intapp Terms strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Direct and conduct specific processes in the Conflicts department, including efficient review, identification and resolution of conflicts of interest.
• Draft conflicts waivers, review lateral candidates, OCGs, and provide recommendations regarding ethical wall implementation and conflicts-related language for engagement letters.
• Timely and clear communication with partners, staff, and firm leadership regarding conflicts requests and complex conflicts questions.
• Maintain thorough and accurate records of conflicts resolutions.
• Assist with identifying, resolving, and documenting erroneous, outdated, or incomplete conflicts information in existing records.
• Assure compliance with applicable Rules of Professional Conduct related to conflicts of interest and client engagement agreements.
• Maintain 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.
• Serve as a resource for conflicts analysts regarding the identification and resolution of conflicts of interest, and communication to attorneys and staff regarding same.
• Discuss conflict of interest issues with attorneys, analysts, business intake, other support staff, and firm leadership to identify and resolve potential conflicts of interest, while maintaining objectivity and professional independence.
• Review requests submitted to the Conflicts Department to provide a concise and complete evaluation of potential conflict issues along with communicating and executing steps for resolution of conflicts issues or potential issues, and documents same.
• Draft and review language in waiver and engagement letters to ensure that it adequately addresses conflicts issues and are executed by those with appropriate authority.
• Review existing conflict waivers from clients for applicability to a new conflict of interest with that client.
• Make requests and recommendations related to the implementation of ethical walls.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of legal ethics, case law, and professional responsibility rules related to conflicts of interest, as well as relevant procedures, policies, and practices of the firm related to conflicts, risk, and ethics issues.
• Review 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.
• Assist 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.
• Review outside counsel guidelines and works with partners to prepare responses to clients that align with firm needs and requirements.
• Assist in the maintenance and documentation of clients’ agreements within our conflicts software and databases.
• Assist Client Development team and partners in reviewing and responding to Requests for Proposals and similar business opportunities.
• Prepare and deliver trainings for Conflicts team as well as firm attorneys and staff on topics related to conflicts, ethics, and professional responsibility.
• Conduct efficient review, identification, and resolution of conflicts of interest related to lateral candidates and new hires.
• Liaise directly, as needed, with recruiting, onboarding, firm leadership, and candidates throughout the clearance and onboarding process.
• Conduct training and provides resources on conflicts and new matter opening to new hires.
• Other duties as assigned.

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: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree