Conflicts Attorney

About the role

The Conflicts Attorney exercises discretion and independent judgment while working under the general direction of Deputy Conflicts Counsel and according to established Firm policies and procedures. The position allows significant opportunity to work from home with occasional office presence required (KattenFlex).

Responsibilities

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and jurisdictional differences in all states.
• Perform research and incorporate laws of other countries, such as Solicitor’s Regulation Authority rules in the UK, into the Firm’s internal policies and procedures.
• Review all incoming forms and telephone requests to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Follow forms through the intake lifecycle to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
• Define complex conflict search strategies and generate related conflicts reports.
• Analyze conflicts reports, identify potential conflict situations, propose resolutions, and coordinate documentation of resolutions.
• Facilitate conflict-clearing process by prescreening/clearing reports and communicating with relevant parties as needed.
• Procure, review, and draft waiver letters and engagement letters from appropriate attorneys as necessary.
• Produce written summaries and document all final conflict resolutions as supporting documentation.
• Confirm need and establish ethical walls to screen particular clients and matters during conflict clearing.
• Manage existing walls and address issues arising from them.
• Liaise with General Counsel and other Firm attorneys to identify conflicts issues and review conflicts forms as necessary.
• Resolve potential conflicts with incoming laterals and Firm attorneys.
• Participate in legal research and writing as needed.
• Train and educate attorneys and other Firm staff on conflict database software and Departmental/Firm policies and procedures.
• Develop and mentor Conflict Department peers, including training on conflict database software and Departmental and Firm policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) is required.
• Licenses to practice law in the United States required.
• Three years of experience practicing law in a law firm setting preferred and/or three years of experience as a Conflicts Attorney in a large law firm setting preferred but not required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft programs including Outlook, Word, and Excel, and the ability to learn new software programs.
• Knowledge of and proficiency in relational databases such as MS SQL and Intapp Walls.
• Ability to learn and utilize specialized internal conflict checking software and multiple software applications and workflow processes of various departments.
• Issue tracking, follow-up, and resolution skills.
• Ability to analyze legal conflict of interest situations, articulate potential issues, and suggest resolutions.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with proven ability to provide a quality, accurate, and efficient work product in a high-volume environment.
• Excellent troubleshooting, time management, and follow-through skills.
• Excellent knowledge of reading, writing, grammar, spelling, punctuation, proofreading, and formatting.

Qualifications

• Ability to occasionally lift and move up to 20 pounds.
• Occasional travel to other Firm locations may be required.

Skills

• Knowledge of and proficiency in relational databases such as MS SQL and Intapp Walls.
• Ability to learn and utilize specialized internal conflict checking software and multiple software applications and workflow processes of various departments.
• Issue tracking, follow-up, and resolution skills.
• Ability to analyze legal conflict of interest situations, articulate potential issues, and suggest resolutions.

Benefits

• Medical/dental/vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer contribution
• Parenthood leave
• Transportation fringe benefit program
• Back-up care option
• Generous paid time off policy
• Long-term and short-term disability policies

Pay

The annualized salary range for this position is $130,000 to $150,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law.

Schedule

Standard working hours are 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. PST for the Los Angeles office. Overtime may be needed as dictated by business needs.