New Business Attorney

White & Case•Tampa, FL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Our team is responsible for ensuring the Firm adheres to all regulatory and legal requirements while maintaining high standards of ethical conduct. Our team plays a crucial role in managing legal and commercial risk and ensuring that new client engagements are in line with the Firm’s strategic goals and regulatory requirements. A key aspect of our role includes conducting thorough conflict-of-interest checks to identify and address any potential conflicts before opening new matters and running anti-money laundering and reputational risk checks before onboarding new clients. We provide guidance on risk assessment, compliance with legal standards and the development of effective client onboarding processes. Our Compliance and New Business team develops, implements, and oversees compliance policies and procedures to mitigate legal risks and ensure adherence to applicable laws and regulations across all jurisdictions. We conduct internal audits and compliance reviews, provide training and guidance on regulatory matters, and address any potential compliance issues or violations. Our team also collaborates with external regulatory bodies, manages compliance reporting, and helps shape the Firm’s compliance strategy in response to evolving legal and regulatory landscapes. By safeguarding the Firm’s reputation, meticulously managing conflicts of interest and supporting new business development, the Compliance and New Business team plays a crucial role in maintaining the Firm’s integrity and operational excellence, and alignment with its ethical and strategic objectives. Position Summary The New Business Attorney will work closely with CNB leadership and the OGC team to support Firm partners with matter opening and conflicts clearance. Serving as a key contact throughout each matter’s lifecycle, the role will provide end-to-end support to designated partners and lead on complex matters, including M&A, FRI, litigation, waiver drafting and secondments. The New Business Attorney will act as a senior escalation point for the global conflicts team, which operates nearly 24/7. The position requires independent judgment and ongoing interaction with OGC members and partners to resolve potential conflicts, obtain approvals and prepare waivers. The role will also mentor team members through formal training, develop training-guides and support others with regular skills development. Responsibilities may evolve to meet the needs of a growing global department. General Counsel: White & Case opens more than 13,000 matters every year, or 1 matter per hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Playing a key role in assisting Partners and fee earners to identify potential conflicts of interest during new business intake, you will work at the heart of the Firm’s operations and as a trusted advisor to our lawyers. Combining both sound commercial judgement and effective communication skills, you will support the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) in handling all aspects relating to incoming new business for new clients or existing clients. This includes conflict searches, new matter review, fee and engagement letter approvals and new matter activation. You will also handle many matter lifecycle aspects of an existing matter including changes to matter details, changes to the parties involved and all reactivation requests. We are committed to clearing conflicts on incoming matters to provide expedited approval, and provide services from offices in Tampa, London, Manila, New York and Paris.

Requirements

Must be Florida barred, active and in good standing.
Three years’ experience as a professional Attorney, ideally in corporate or finance.
Experience at or currently employed at a medium or large-sized law firm is preferred.
Strong academic record and intellectual curiosity, creative thinker.
Ability to see the big picture to identify reputational risk concerns.
Outstanding communication skills and strong commercial judgment.
Good time management skills, ability to stay calm under pressure when juggling multiple tasks.
Client service focus and a team player.
Proactive, resourceful, takes initiative.
Fluency in English.

Nice To Haves

Conflicts or anti-money laundering Attorney experience is a plus.
International experience a plus.

Responsibilities

Advise fee earners and incoming lateral partners on conflicts issues, including applicable bar rules, and support the global rollout of the concierge model for end-to-end conflicts clearance on complex and routine matters.
Partner with the OGC team and Firm partners to clear conflicts, draft waivers, obtain approvals and review engagement documentation.
Review global new-business submissions, often on an expedited basis, to assess whether matters may be accepted from an ethical, regulatory and commercial perspective.
Communicate conflict concerns, waiver requirements, ethical screens and special approvals clearly and confidentially to partners, leadership and the OGC team.
Develop and maintain knowledge of conflicts-clearance protocols across corporate practices, including private equity, capital markets, bank finance, mergers and acquisitions and restructuring and insolvency.
Support CNB and OGC training initiatives by developing and delivering conflicts-training materials and programs.
Serve as an escalation point for CNB team members, assisting with complex clearances, mentoring colleagues and providing feedback to team members and leadership.
Assess whether required searches, investigations and research have been completed appropriately, conduct further research where needed and identify additional information required for clearance.
Assist the OGC team with time-sensitive matter audits, timeline preparation and implementation of remediation plans.
Provide occasional senior-level departmental coverage outside standard business hours, including weekends and holidays, to support urgent conflicts-clearance requests.