Husch Blackwell

Director of Conflicts

Husch Blackwell • $136K — $427K *
Legal & Accounting
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in relevant field required; JD is a plus.
  • Extensive legal conflicts experience in a law firm or senior paralegal role.
  • Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in a law firm or professional services environment.
  • Demonstrated expertise in legal ethics and conflicts rules and procedures.
  • Substantial experience leading initiatives in a multi-office setting, preferably within a professional services firm.
  • Proficient with conflicts software systems like Elite and Intapp Open.
  • Ability to provide quality client service and maintain effective relationships across diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

  • Provide firm-wide operational direction for conflict checking.
  • Stay updated on technologies and ethical requirements in various jurisdictions.
  • Train and supervise conflicts managers and relevant teams.
  • Identify and implement best practices for departmental processes.
  • Monitor technology developments and recommend appropriate adoptions.
  • Conduct training for firm lawyers and staff on policies and procedures.
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing conflicts team.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical and dental coverage.
  • Life insurance and short/long-term disability insurance.
  • Pre-tax flexible spending account options.
  • Employee assistance program.
  • Paid Time Off and paid holidays.
  • Participation in a retirement plan after eligibility.
Full Job Description
The Director of Conflicts is responsible for partnering closely with Risk Management leadership and the Office of the General Counsel to establish processes and procedures to ensure conflicts are resolved in a timely manner, create systems that mitigate risk, and enable consistent execution through functional managers. As part of this function, the Director is responsible for:
  • Helping to provide firm-wide operational direction for conflict checking
  • Staying abreast of new technologies, trends and changes in ethical requirements in the varying jurisdictions in which the firm operates
  • Training (in a supervisory role) conflicts managers, conflicts counsel and analysts, and providing training as needed to other relevant teams such as business intake specialists, as required to maintain effective turnaround times and exceptional work product
  • Coordinating with the Business Intake Team and with other departments as required

Essential functions include:

Department Policies and Procedures
  • Identify and implement best practices in the assigned functional areas
  • Identify efficient methods of processing requests in the functional areas to continually improve service, accuracy, value, turnaround time and cost effectiveness
  • Monitor technology developments in the functional areas and recommending appropriate technology adoption to leadership
  • Work with leadership to develop and enforce firm-wide policies and procedures that address conflicts, intake, and risk management concerns
  • Establish and overseeing processes to capture updated information on firm engagements
  • Conduct training for firm lawyers and staff on departmental policies and procedures

Department Execution
  • Serves as primary source of escalation for all departmental quality assurance issues
  • Responsible for the employment conflict check processes, reviewing and approving specialized new client matter forms (e.g., toxic tort, bankruptcy, etc.) firm-wide.
  • Oversees the guidelines pertaining to the implementation of Ethical WallsDepartment Operations
  • Prepares and maintains department budget, with particular attention to compensation, operations and project budgets
  • Manage department projects and requests to ensure they are on budget, on time, and are meeting the objectives as laid out by the firm's strategic initiatives
  • Provide oversight to the department intranet site (e.g. departmental policies and procedures, forms, department contact information, etc.)
  • Ensure accuracy and readiness of supported systems for internal and external audits
  • Ensure service standards are met and establishing mechanisms to monitor productivity and service for conflicts function
  • Provide statistical information to senior leadership as needed
  • Responsible for the design, implementation, and execution of systems that deliver all daily and weekly departmental NBI and conflicts reports in a timely and accurate manner
  • Collaborate regularly with other groups across the firm, including Business Professional Recruiting, Accounting, Managing Directors, and others who are involved in conflicts, new business intake, and lateral hiring
  • Participating in strategic leadership meetings

Talent Management
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of professionals, promoting a culture of accountability, inclusivity, and service excellence.
  • Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Conflicts team.
  • Recruit, train, and mentor team members, ensuring a high level of competence and professionalism.
  • Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that promotes teamwork and employee development.
  • Have a working knowledge of responsibilities for all roles within the department
  • Provide employee counseling and disciplinary action, as needed, pursuant to firm policies and procedures to ensure satisfactory performance
  • Conduct regular meetings (weekly/biweekly) with managers and staff to keep them up-to-date on changes in the department or Firm
  • Conduct monthly meetings with managers
  • Identify all training and development needs and requirements for the department and working with managers to implement training
  • Provide recommendations for annual bonus and merit increases with input from the managers where appropriate

POSITION REQUIREMENTS
  • Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field required; JD an advantage but not required.
  • Extensive legal conflicts experience within a law firm environment in an attorney or senior paralegal role.
  • Minimum of ten (10) years of increasingly responsible, directly related experience, including significant supervisory experience, in a law firm or similar professional services environment, during which the knowledge, skills and abilities applicable to the position were demonstrated.
  • Demonstrated subject matter expertise in legal ethics and conflicts rules, practices, and procedures.
  • Substantial experience leading company-wide initiatives within a multi-office setting, preferably in a professional services firm environment required.
  • Proficiency with conflicts software systems, preferably Elite and Intapp Open.
  • Demonstrated ability to provide quality client service to internal and external contacts regarding routine and complex matters, and to develop and maintain effective business relationships with people of diverse backgrounds. Requires tact, patience, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, and to make presentations to small and large groups in an effective manner.
  • Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and commitment to innovating and enhancing the firm's practices.
  • Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize multiple projects in a dynamic and complex environment, meeting deadlines and successfully managing the daily workload.
  • Ability to work under pressure and conflicting circumstances.
  • A non-hierarchical approach; the flexibility and ability to build consensus.
  • Strong integrity, maturity, and fairness in dealing with people and confidential information.
  • Strong influencing capabilities and sound judgment.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities, or requirements. The Firm will provide reasonable accommodations as necessary to allow an individual with a disability to apply for and/or perform the essential functions of a position. If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, please contact HR.

Compensation & Benefits

Employees are entitled to compensation commensurate with skill and experience. The exact compensation will vary based on skills, experience, location, and other factors permitted by law. The expected compensation ranges for this position in various states and jurisdictions are as follows:
  • State of California: $209,000 - $427,000
  • State of Colorado: $193,000 - $343,000
  • State of Connecticut: $166,000 - $421,000
  • State of Illinois: $189,000 - $367,000
  • State of Massachusetts: $209,000 - $400,000
  • State of Maryland: $203,000 - $307,000
  • State of Maine: $142,000 - $328,000
  • State of Minnesota: $209,000 - $346,000
  • Jersey City, NJ: $227,000 - $412,000
  • State of New York: $195,000 - $421,000
  • State of Virginia: $136,000 - $397,000
  • State of Vermont: $207,000 - $397,000
  • State of Washington: $203,000 - $385,000
  • Washington, D.C.: $270,000 - $397,000

The above salaries do not include a discretionary bonus, however bonus opportunities are non-guaranteed, and are dependent upon individual and firm performance. Full-time employees receive benefits including: medical and dental coverage; life insurance; short-term and long-term disability insurance; pre-tax flexible spending account for certain medical and dependent care expenses; an employee assistance program; Paid Time Off; paid holidays; participation in a retirement plan program after meeting eligibility requirements; and more.

Please include a cover letter and resume when applying.

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About Husch Blackwell

Husch Blackwell is a full-service litigation and business law firm with attorneys across the United States. The firm represents national and global leaders in major industries that include agribusiness, food and beverage, energy, financial services, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, real estate, and technology. Husch Blackwell has a strong reputation for providing exceptional client service and has been recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The firm has also been recognized for its pro bono work and community involvement.
Learn more about Husch Blackwell
Size
700 employees
Industry
Founded
1916

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