Job Description

JOB TITLE: Conflicts and Business Intake Compliance Counsel

DEPARTMENT: Office of General Counsel

OVERVIEW : Duane Morris LLP, a global law firm with 900+ attorneys in offices across the U.S. and around the world, offers innovative solutions to the legal and business challenges presented by today’s evolving global markets.

SUMMARY: We are seeking a Conflicts and Business Intake Compliance Counsel. The ideal candidate will act as counsel to the law firm in identifying and resolving actual and potential conflicts of interest arising out of new business intake and the hiring of lawyers and staff joining the firm, as well as assisting with the onboarding of clients, matters, lawyers and staff. Core responsibilities include counseling lawyers and staff in resolving actual and potential conflicts and providing legal and operational support for the Office of General Counsel in its implementation of risk management strategies relating to new business intake, legal hiring, compliance and other legal matters involving the firm. Members of the Office of General Counsel work as an integrated team with many other departments of the firm, including management, and they are seen as valued resources and trusted advisors to the partners, associates and staff of the firm.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Perform initial review of conflicts reports requested by firm attorneys, identify actual and potential conflicts of interest and coordinate resolution of conflicts among all involved parties.
• Advise the firm and its attorneys regarding the appropriate form and terms of engagement letters for use in documenting new engagements and counseling and assisting attorneys on drafting such letters as needed.
• Approve engagement letter drafts prior to distribution to clients and assist with drafting waivers for inclusion in engagement letters or separate letters as required.
• Monitor compliance with new business intake instructions and requirements, such as the completion and execution of appropriate engagement letters and any necessary waivers, implementation of ethical screens where necessary and assessment of intake risk by the firm.
• Act as a resource in assisting firm attorneys in understanding conflicts of interest and managing conflicts and new business intake in an appropriate manner, including participation in firm presentations and training programs as needed.
• Review conflicts reports for incoming lateral lawyers, new lawyers and legal support staff and take necessary action to clear actual and potential conflicts of interest, including interfacing with candidates where necessary to obtain further information about their work.

OTHER DUTIES ASSIGNED:

• Provide legal advice to the firm and its personnel regarding various professional responsibility and risk management matters as required by the Office of General Counsel.
• Tasks may include development and updating of firm policies and forms for internal use; reviewing and providing legal advice regarding client Outside Counsel Guidelines and vendor contracts; maintaining and updating terms of engagement letters, waiver letters and related documents based on changes in the law and firm practice; assisting in development of strategies and methodologies for identifying, managing, and resolving conflicts of interest and assessing client and matter fit; and developing and/or conducting internal conflicts training for the firm’s lawyers and staff.

EXTENT OF CONTACT:

This position requires a high degree of contact with:

• the firm’s General Counsel and Assistant General Counsels;
• the firm’s Director of Office Services, Business Intake Risk and Compliance Director, Business Intake Manager, Conflicts Specialists and other business intake staff;
• firm partners, associates and staff, including executive management.

This position requires limited contact with individuals outside of the firm.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENT: (necessary travel, unusual work hours, unusual environmental conditions, etc.)

• Position is full-time, requiring a 5-day work week and standard hours as outlined in the firm policy manual, with additional hours as required when necessary to meet deadlines.
• Limited domestic travel, possibly involving multiple-day trips requiring overnight stays, may be required in order to attend training seminars/CLE programs, firm meetings and the like.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Adheres to highest ethical standards for behavior.
• Strong organizational and planning skills, including the ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints.
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary to permit effective communication in person, by e-mail and telephone with a diverse group of lawyers and staff.
• Ability to recognize actual and potential conflicts of interest under applicable professional standards, other issues that could be viewed as conflicts of interest from an ethical and/or business perspective, and effectively discussing and resolving such issues with the lawyers and staff involved.
• Prior experience as a conflicts attorney, or experience in legal ethics, conflicts analysis and/or review, representation of law firms and the like.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• J.D. degree.
• Member of the State Bar in good standing in Duane Morris office where candidate will sit.
• Minimum 4 years’ experience as a practicing lawyer in a business law firm environment and/or prior experience as a conflicts attorney in a law firm setting.

BENEFITS:

• Comprehensive healthcare, dental, vision, and prescription plans.
• Commuter, HSA and FSA spending accounts
• Short-term and long-term disability and life insurance coverage
• 401k and Pension Plan
• 20 vacations days, 11 paid holidays
• Employee Referral Bonus ($3,000.00)

ACCOMMODATION STATEMENT: If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please contact Nate Maxwell at 215-979-1000.

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Disclaimer: The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not a contract or employment agreement and is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all functions, responsibilities or requirements. In addition, Duane Morris reserves the right to amend, suspend or terminate any benefit plan, in whole or in part, at any time. The authority to make such changes rests with the Plan Administrator

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