Senior Conflicts Analyst

Job Description:

Perkins Coie LLP is seeking a talented Senior Conflicts Analyst to join its Professional Standards team. In this vital role, the Senior Conflicts Analyst will provide quality control on new business forms to ensure data integrity and support accurate conflicts analysis. The successful candidate will independently review, research, process, and clear conflicts for certain new hires, ensuring compliance with conflict-of-interest rules and firm policies.

The Senior Conflicts Analyst will conduct conflicts searches and due diligence on new business and new hire information, preparing detailed reports for analysis by Conflicts Attorneys and Department Management. This individual will also assist with the review, research, and resolution of conflicts issues related to new business, new hire clearances, and other departmental functions, ensuring compliance to ethical standards across all jurisdictions and with firm policies.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

These essential functions are primary job duties that incumbents must be able to perform unassisted or with some reasonable accommodation.

New Business Intake:* Ensure quality control and accuracy of new business requests by incorporating information from multiple sources and conducting corporate research on new clients and related parties.

• Perform conflicts checks, prepare reports and summaries for review, and assist with the resolution of conflict-of-interest issues, both independently and as directed.
  
• Review engagement letters to ensure firm-required terms are included and identify changes to standard, firm-approved language.
  
• Review terms of engagement, such as outside counsel guidelines, and identify conflicts-related provisions. Prepare summary of such provisions for Conflicts Attorneys, including proposed revisions.
  
• Support the Risk Manager and Conflicts Attorneys in analyzing and processing audit letters, including attorney follow-up as needed.
  
• Independently run, analyze and resolve conflicts on new business requests that involve standardized, established processes and conflicts issues, such as patent and trademark prosecution matters, portfolio work and other transactional matters, ESS matters, docketing matters, vendor matters, conflicts checks relating to writing articles/blogs, re-open requests, and client/matter change forms.
  

New Hire Clearances:* Work independently with external candidates, staff recruiters, office managers, and human resources personnel across offices to obtain conflicts information for new legal staff, summer and fall associates, lateral associates, and, when appropriate, partner and senior counsel candidates.

• Communicate with candidates, human resources personnel, and firm attorneys regarding the status of conflicts clearance.
  
• Process new hire information by entering data into Intapp and other department databases; perform conflicts searches in Intapp on relevant parties.
  
• Review conflicts questionnaires for new staff and associate hires; resolve conflicts of interest, draft ethical walls and consents as needed, and organize related documentation.
  
• Submit results of conflict searches for attorney hires to responsible attorneys, including summaries of potential conflicts, business or positional issues, and recommended resolutions; interact directly with candidates to obtain additional information.
  
• Work closely with Staff Attorneys and Conflicts Attorneys to review conflicts questionnaires for lateral partner and senior counsel candidates; assist with corporate research on potential clients, adverse parties, and cases; identify positional or business issues per firm policy; submit findings to appropriate attorneys.
  
• Communicate directly with firm attorneys, independently or as directed, to resolve conflicts, clarify entity roles, inquire about screening procedures, and request matter closures as needed.
  

Department Functions:* Consent Documentation: Collaborate with Conflicts Attorneys and Department Management to draft, send, and track consent letters. Independently save and document consents in the conflicts database with detailed descriptions for tracking. Assist with drafting engagement letters as requested.

• Ethical Walls: Work with Conflicts Attorneys and Department Management to draft and post firmwide screening memoranda. Independently erect ethical walls using the Walls tool. Monitor daily Walls reports and address issues in coordination with Conflicts Attorneys.
  
• Data Integrity: Identify and execute large-scale projects to reconcile and ensure accuracy of information in the conflicts database.
  
• Projects: Apply critical thinking to assist with data cleanup, system testing, and provide feedback on project implementation.
  
• Process Documentation: Collaborate with Department Management to draft, document, and maintain process and procedure documentation. Update materials as necessary.
  
• Development: Support Department Management in integrating, training, and developing new and junior Conflicts Analyst team members.
  

SPECIFIC SKILLS REQUIRED* Accustomed to working in a fast-paced, demanding environment.

• Strong communication and superior customer service skills.
  
• Strong research skills.
  
• Ability to produce high quality work product and exercise sound judgment.
  
• Ability to take initiative and exercise discretion.
  
• Strong organizing, prioritizing skills and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
  
• Work well in a team-oriented environment.
  

SPECIFIC SKILLS PREFERRED* Experience with new business intake and new hire clearance processes at a law firm.

• Experience with corporate and/or legal research.
  
• Ability to establish effective working relationships throughout operational groups.
  
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with lawyers, staff and administrative personnel.
  
• Perform well in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
  

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE* Requires a BA and 5 years of corporate experience, preferably in a legal environment.

• Prior research experience required.
  
• Understanding of relevant topics, legal issues, and the willingness to learn required.
  
• Conflicts database or similar program experience is preferred.
  

At Perkins Coie, we look for self-motivated individuals dedicated to providing value and superior service and who have a high degree of integrity and enthusiasm for their work. We have created a company culture based on collaboration, devotion to serving our clients, and mutual respect. Perkins Coie is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion both within the firm and throughout our collective communities. Work with one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For and receive great health insurance, tuition reimbursement, and paid sabbaticals.This position is eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, 401(k) plan, medical, dental, and vision insurance, accrued paid time off plan starting at 20 days annually, personal medical and parental leave, up to 10 paid holidays, and family care benefits. More information regarding benefits and programs may be found here.This position may be filled in the following location(s). The listed compensation range reflects the typical pay for this role, though it is rare for new hires to receive an offer at the top of the range. Actual compensation may vary depending on experience, skills, market conditions, and internal equity.Colorado compensation range: $73,210 to $108,770 annuallyIllinois compensation range: $69,370 to $103.070 annuallyWashington state compensation range: $73,170 to $108,720 annually

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