Senior Manager of Conflicts & New Business

Alston & Bird•Washington, DC

About The Position

The Senior Manager of Conflicts & New Business will lead the firm’s enterprise-wide conflict of interest, new business intake, and risk management functions. This senior leader will have full autonomy to re imagine, rebuild, and direct the Conflicts Department—including operational strategy, staffing, technology, governance, workflows, and firmwide training. The Director/Sr Mgr will partner closely with the General Counsel, firm leadership, and administrative stakeholders to ensure a modern, efficient, and defensible conflicts infrastructure.

Requirements

Proven track record of professionalism interacting with all levels of personnel; including Attorneys and Senior level staff.
Ability to build, lead and mentor a high performing team with clear roles and skill alignment
Excellent communications and interpersonal skills
Make efficient use of time in order to handle workload and excellent follow through skills with minimal supervision.
Exceptional critical thinking and analytical skills.
High level of discretion in handling confidential information.
Bachelor’s degree is required.
8+ years of relevant conflicts research and analysis experience

Nice To Haves

Master of Studies or MBA is preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee the end-to-end conflicts and new business intake function, including conflicts searches, analysis, resolution, clearance, documentation, and quality assurance.
Build and implement a long term vision for a modern conflicts department, including redesigned org structure, staffing model, and service delivery.
Act as primary advisor to the General Counsel, firm management, and partners on complex conflict of interest matters.
Lead modernization of conflicts systems, including potential design, customization, migration, and cloud transition of conflicts platforms.
Evaluate, select, and implement software solutions to enhance accuracy, scalability, and operational efficiency.
Direct the analysis and resolution of conflicts across diverse practice areas, including Securities, Capital Markets, Corporate Governance, Banking, M&A, and Litigation.
Oversee review of engagement letters, waivers, outside counsel guidelines, and related risk documentation.
Ensure firmwide compliance with ethical rules, regulatory standards, and client requirements.
Manage creation, implementation, and maintenance of information barriers—ensuring consistent processes for screening, access approvals, and wall crossing requests.
Conduct periodic audits of information barriers to safeguard confidentiality and compliance.
Oversee the clearance and monitoring of securities trading requests in accordance with firm policies.
Lead the development and refinement of conflicts, risk, and compliance policies and procedures.
Serve as a strategic liaison to Firm Management, General Counsel, administrative leaders, and attorneys across the organization.
Build, lead, and mentor a high performing conflicts team with clear roles and skill alignment.
Develop and deliver training programs for attorneys and staff on conflicts processes, risk awareness, and use of conflicts systems.
Establish performance goals, quality standards, and accountability measures for the department.