Bressler Risk Blog

In this BRB jobs update, I’m pleased to spotlight an open position at a consulting firm: “Commercial Contracts Counsel” —

• We are looking for a talented, dynamic, customer-centric commercial attorney to review, draft, and negotiate agreements for both JSI and its customers.
• We are looking for a stellar attorney with initiative and drive who can handle a high volume of varied and complex legal work.
• The attorney must understand the effect of laws and regulations on our business and provide strategic legal advice to facilitate effective commercial contractual relationships while balancing operational and compliance risks.
• You will work directly with the Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, and other firm leadership as well as with clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Understand JSI’s business, products, and operations, including its policies, processes, and systems.
• Act as the main legal point of contact for all commercial agreements and certain other legal matters.
• Directly advise management team members on legal matters and questions pertaining to our services.
• Standardize internal contract templates, establish best practices for contract review processes and contract management, and create a repository of all internal and external contracts.
• Manage and monitor all state regulatory licensing and registration requirements.
• When necessary, liaise with outside counsel on technical and/or corporate legal matters.
• Maintain a business focus that balances the needs of the business for profitability by ensuring the contractual terms and conditions protect the company and minimize risk.
• Collaborate in the development and rollout of conflicts of interest policies and processes, supporting the conflicts committee as needed.
• Provide creative solutions and ideas for resolution.
• Occasionally, the role may require assisting our consulting division, which supports many clients in drafting and reviewing various contracts and agreements.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school and licensed to practice in the state of Maryland.
• 2-3+ years of law firm experience and at least 5+ years of in-house experience reviewing, drafting, and negotiating a wide range of commercial contracts.
• Experience preferred in telecommunications or engineering settings involving Fortune 1000 clients.
• Experience advising on IP, product, privacy, and/or telecommunications regulatory issues is a plus.
• A passion for law and technology, sound legal judgment, attention to detail, clear communication skills, an enthusiasm for learning, and an understanding of how to provide legal advice in a rapidly growing environment effectively.
• Demonstrated experience in policy development and the management of conflicts of interest, with the capability to take on a leadership role in implementation if required.
• Self-motivated and able to complete matters without extensive supervision.
• Sound business judgment, with the ability to recognize the business consequences of legal advice.
• Hands-on, active, “roll up your sleeve” mentality.
• A great attitude.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage and prioritize simultaneous assignments in a fast-paced, dynamic, high-volume, and ambiguous environment.
  Ability to build trusting relationships with stakeholders at various levels across the organization.

Benefits
At JSI, you will have a rewarding and challenging career at every level of the organization. JSI is committed to providing our employees with the following:

• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A diverse, dynamic, and stimulating work environment.
• Educational opportunities.
• A competitive salary and benefits package.
• In-house training, then the position could be remote.

About JSI
JSI is a full-service consulting firm and broadband solutions leader, providing financial, engineering, management, operational, regulatory, and strategic assistance to independent communications service providers. For more than 60 years, JSI’s business knowledge, experience, and demonstrated record of success have helped clients plan and realize long-term success and profitability. JSI has relationships with over 750 communications entities across the nation, including several US territories. Headquartered in Greenbelt, Maryland, JSI also has offices in Alaska, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin. To learn more, please visit us at jsitel.com.

See their careers site for more on the company and work environment, see the complete job posting for more details on the position, and to apply reach out directly to Kai Velasquez <Kai.Velasquez@jsitel.com>.

And if you’re interested in seeing your firm’s listings here, please feel free to reach out…

In this BRB jobs update, I’m pleased to highlight an open role at Norton Rose: “Compliance Analyst Manager” —

• The Compliance Analyst Manager is responsible for ensuring efficiency in the daily operations of the compliance analyst team.
• The successful individual will liaise with attorneys regarding the conflicts process and playing a lead role on the implementation of policies and processes for the department, while supervising and directing the activities of the conflicts team.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Supervise and mentor the compliance analysts and officers to provide service according to conflicts of interest principles, department procedures and Firm business needs
• Develop and implement appropriate quality controls and conflicts workflow to ensure consistency and accuracy among staff according to position responsibilities
• Create and implement a structured training program for all direct reports based upon the position’s responsibilities and in accordance with ethics rules, conflicts of interest principles and department standard operating procedures
• Exercise judgment in complex situations to implement the firm’s risk management priorities
• Review work of compliance analysts and officers for accuracy and completeness according to department procedures and standards. Provide clear verbal and written feedback regarding any work quality deficiencies
• Work with compliance team leadership to manage the overall client matter intake process in an efficient and productive manner
• Develop expert skills in current conflicts database software (Intapp Open) and use these skills to oversee effective training of the compliance team including identifying and sharing best practices
• Ensure effective and appropriate use of commercial research tools and databases according to the research assignment. Stay abreast of new commercial research tools and industry trends
• Analyze statistical data to develop and implement work efficiencies based on factors such as conflicts requests by area of law, available technology and personnel resources
• Ensure exemplary client service to all internal and external clients; proactively promote client service throughout department and among teams; respond to peer requests with recognition that request serves a client or firm need
• Support resolution of outstanding conflicts request in the queue, as needed
• Respond to questions and concerns related to our policies related to share dealing
• Liaise and interact with the Compliance Teams at Norton Rose Fulbright Australia, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, and Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa to ensure consistency in process across regions

Other duties

• Please note this job description does not cover or contain all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
• This team works remotely on a regular basis. All personnel, absent those with an approved accommodation, are expected to be in the office under certain circumstances, including but not limited to client business needs; firm business travel; participating in firm, group, or team meetings/events; at the request of their supervisor; when needed to serve a client or accomplish a task for the firm that requires in-office attendance, etc. Eligibility for remote work requires you to be in good standing with the firm and may be modified or revoked at the discretion of the firm.

Qualifications and job-related skills:

• Bachelor’s degree required; JD preferred
• Minimum five years of conflicts experience, or similar analyst experience in a decision-making capacity, required
• Minimum of two years supervisory experience
• Excellent oral and written business communication skills; prior exposure to international business correspondence is a plus
• Strong interpersonal skills required
• Strong analytical skills required
• Strong understanding of fundamental principles regarding conflict of interest issues and strong issue-spotting skills are essential
• Understanding of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and familiarity with the ethics rules of any jurisdictions in which the firm maintains an office
• Advanced knowledge of Intapp Open or other legal conflicts software
• Ability to keep confidential any information, observations or viewpoints regarding firm business matters
• Proven stability and calm demeanor with the ability to handle stressful situations with confidence and composure
• Strong sense of urgency/prioritization and ability to recognize when to seek guidance
• Proficient Microsoft Office Suite user

About Norton Rose Fulbright

We are a global law firm with a powerful strategic focus and real momentum. Our industry-focused strategy is seeing us take on pioneering work in places that others have yet to reach. Our shared values define our culture and our workplace. You will find us to be unusually collegial, team-oriented, and ready to innovate. We work seamlessly across practices, offices and around the world. This elimination of boundaries has allowed us to evolve into a law firm that works as hard for its culture as it does for its clients.

See the complete job posting for more details on the job and to apply for this position.

And if you’re interested in seeing your firm’s listings here, please feel free to reach out…

In this BRB jobs update, I’m pleased to highlight an open role at Perkins Coie: “Conflicts Attorney” —

• Perkins Coie is looking for a dynamic, qualified individual to fill a Conflicts Attorney position performing conflicts analysis on new business and firm lateral hires, and advising firm lawyers on conflicts of interest issues.
• The Conflicts Attorney will independently review, research, and resolve conflicts issues related to firm new business and staff personnel and ensure compliance with ethical standards in all jurisdictions as well as firm policies.
• For purposes of complying with Export Control laws, candidates must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to apply.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

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

• Analyze conflicts of interest on new business and firm lateral hires. Resolve issues that arise in such matters, including when drafting waivers/consents and advising on ethical issues relating to withdrawal and screening.
• Act as a legal advisor to firm lawyers on conflicts of interest issues.
• Perform legal research and prepare legal memoranda in response to requests from the General Counsel, firm lawyers, managers, and various firm committees.
• Assist management in handling sensitive and confidential issues related to practice management and firm ethics. Provide training on conflict issues.
• Analyze complex factual situations and spot issues where problems might occur.
• Draft complex waivers/consents, engagement letters, and joint representation letters in final format.
• Negotiate between lawyers in resolving disputes over conflicts and waivers.
• Other related legal work as needed.

SPECIFIC SKILLS REQUIRED

• Knowledge of the Rules of Professional Conduct and their application to the practice of law.
• Solid understanding of jurisdictional differences in the application of different rules and principles in making a choice of law analysis.
• Effectively cope with change; can decide and act without having the total picture.
• Thorough understanding of a wide range of areas of law, including being able to identify the roles of parties in matters, and possess a solid understanding of business organizations and financing concepts as well as litigation principles and procedures, such as depositions, subpoenas, roles of codefendants and comparative fault.
• Strong legal research and writing skills, including the ability to compile and analyze complex data and furnish detailed information clearly and concisely.
• Strong eye for detail and critical thinking skills; ability to spot problems and propose creative solutions.
• Project management skills, including the ability to spot issues, manage time well, prioritize effectively, adapt to quick changes and handle multiple deadlines.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to collaborate with others within the department and firm.
• Well-developed and professional interpersonal skills; ability to interact and communicate effectively with people at all organizational levels of the firm, both orally and in writing, consistent with communication best practices.
• Proficiency with MS Office.

SPECIFIC SKILLS PREFERRED

Understanding of litigation practice and working knowledge of law firm processes. Ability to detect procedural problems and determine appropriate relationships. Relevant knowledge/familiarity with Intapp products (Conflicts, Intake, Walls, Terms) and Elite 3E.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Qualified candidates must have a Juris Doctorate and a minimum of 3 years of practice experience. Need to be an active member in good standing in any jurisdiction and have a strong working knowledge of relevant topics, legal issues, and the rules governing professional responsibility. The candidate will also be able to provide demonstrated success in a stressful environment.

About Perkins Coie

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.

See the complete job posting for more details on the job and to apply for this position.

And if you’re interested in seeing your firm’s listings here, please feel free to reach out…

In this BRB jobs update, I’m pleased to highlight another open role at Littler: “Conflicts Analyst (Multiple Offices)” —

• The Conflicts Analyst is accountable for accurate conflicts analyses, completed in a timely fashion with sufficient care to detail and thoroughness so as to minimize risk to the Firm.

This is a Hybrid position resident in Atlanta, Chicago, the Kansas City area, Phoenix, St. Louis and Portland.

Responsibilities:

• Ensures that parties are entered correctly into the conflicts database, including corporate family trees, for conflicts purposes.
• Ensures that conflicts analyses are communicated accurately and thoroughly to attorneys or management in writing (where appropriate) and orally. Accountable for responsiveness, clear communication and excellent service toward internal customers.
• Perform such other/additional duties as may from time to time be assigned.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated familiarity with InTapp-Open, Elite or other conflicts software. Familiarity with Dun & Bradstreet Family Tree Portal or other corporate-family or legal research tools. Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Demonstrated ability to:
  • communicate complicated and detailed conflicts analyses to attorneys or management in writing or orally. Demonstrated ability to communicate with and effectively follow the direction of a diverse group of attorneys and staff, and to provide good customer service to all levels of an organization.
  • Organize and prioritize numerous tasks
  • Address tasks in a logical sequence and
  • Minimize errors while maintaining quick turnaround times. Demonstrated ability to prioritize the work of others and appropriately balance responsiveness with accuracy and thoroughness
• Demonstrated familiarity with law firm engagement letters, outside counsel guidelines, conflict waiver agreements, and basic elements of law firm structure and administration.
• Demonstrated ability to run conflicts searches with Boolean logic and review conflicts reports for potential conflicts of interest, take steps to resolve potential conflicts, and appropriately escalate issues if needed Demonstrated ability to analyze accurately potential conflicts of interest, including investigating the facts of the situation by asking questions of attorneys and analyzing data housed in firm systems. Awareness of (a) cures for conflicts such as waivers and ethics screens and (b) conflicts that cannot be waived.

Education and Certifications::

• Required: Associate’s degree or relevant education and experience
• Preferred: Bachelor’s or Paralegal certificate.

Experience Required:

• Minimum 2+ years relevant experience in a law firm.

See the complete job posting for more details on the job and to apply for this position.

About Littler

At Littler, we understand that workplace issues can’t wait. With access to more than 1,800 employment attorneys in over 100 offices around the world, our clients don’t have to. We aim to go beyond best practices, creating solutions that help clients navigate a complex business world. What’s distinct about our approach? With deep experience and resources that are local, everywhere, we are fully focused on your business. With a diverse team of the brightest minds, we foster a culture that celebrates original thinking. And with powerful proprietary technology, we disrupt the status quo—delivering groundbreaking innovation that prepares employers not just for what’s happening today, but for what’s likely to happen tomorrow. For over 75 years, our firm has harnessed these strengths to offer fresh perspectives on each matter we advise, litigate, mediate, and negotiate. Because at Littler, we’re fueled by ingenuity and inspired by you.

Benefits

We offer a generous benefits package to full-time and part-time employees working a minimum of 20 hours a week. Benefits include comprehensive health, dental and vision plan for you, your spouse/domestic partner and children. In addition, we provide a superior 401(k) plan, ample time off programs, mental health programs, family building and caregiving, generous paid parental leave, life insurance, disability insurance, a wellness program, flexible spending accounts, and an employee referral bonus program.

For more information about our benefits visit: www.littler.com/benefits/state-detailshttp://www.littler.com/benefits/state-details.

For more information about our firm visit: www.littler.com.

For inquiries regarding this opportunity, please e-mail Jennifer Carrion at jvivanco@littler.com with “Conflicts Analyst” in the subject line.

Littler Mendelson is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

This job description is a general description of the types of responsibilities that are required of an individual in this job. It is not intended to be a complete list of the responsibilities, duties and skills that may be required for this job.

And if you’re interested in seeing your firm’s listings here, please feel free to reach out…

Pleased to highlight an open position at Stradley Ronon: “Director, Risk & Compliance” —

• Our firm seeks an inaugural Director, Risk & Compliance to oversee the firm’s professional risk and client data management operations, including new business intake, docketing, conflicts, and records management.
• The firm is eager to formalize an information governance (IG) program, and the Director will serve as the coordinating leader for the new firmwide IG function, which spans various interests and disciplines.
• The Director will report to the firm’s COO and work closely with the firm’s General Counsel and senior leadership in daily operations as well as in identifying and managing risks to the firm.

Overall Management & Relationship Expectations

The Director has responsibility for establishing an effective organizational structure. The Director’s team must support a community of attorneys and professionals in addressing time-sensitive client needs and ongoing management of key firm systems. A successful Director will:

• be a strategic yet pragmatic thinker, highly responsive, and a proactive and communicative leader, ensuring that the risk functions and related infrastructure are running effectively and that ongoing investments are being made to ensure continued agility;
• demonstrate the ability to thrive in a dynamic and collegial environment, develop and maintain a spirit of teamwork, trust and accountability with firm management, attorneys, chiefs, directors, managers, and legal assistants in providing time-sensitive and excellent service; and
• possess an appreciation for and expectations of the utmost attention to detail, high integrity and intelligence, and excellent judgment.

Essential Job Functions / Duties & Responsibilities

Operational

• Direct oversight and management of the firm’s New Business Intake (NBI), Conflicts, Records, and Docketing teams and services;
• Maintain best practices and firm-wide policies in managing NBI, client due diligence, conflicts of interest, ethical walls, matter mobility, calendaring, and docketing, outside counsel guidelines and client requirements, legal compliance, and matter and records lifecycle programs to protect the firm and its clients;
• Grow and manage the firm’s IG program, including selection and implementation of a firmwide IG software solution upgrade and compliance with related policies, processes, and procedures;
• Set strategic plans, goals and objectives necessary to guide operational and systems improvements;
• Recommend and oversee implementation of new technologies in support of department goals and initiatives and identify alternatives, analyze potential benefits and risks, and provide justification for recommended solutions;
• Support management of the firm’s professional, cyber and commercial insurance programs including reviewing, negotiating and advising on insurance renewals and coverage;
• Manage processes related to client information and third-party requests directed to the firm, and handle issues and questions related to client and third-party compliance requests;
• Support the work of the firm’s General Counsel on compliance and risk-related matters, training and education;
• Ensure training is provided to all personnel on how to effectively use the NBI and conflicts system and, in particular, how to comply with the firm’s conflict of interest programs;
• Monitor the identification, resolution and documentation of all potential conflicts of interest within the firm and communicate with attorneys and General Counsel about potential issues with client-matter submissions to facilitate the conflicts clearing process;
• Own matter mobility, client due diligence and conflicts clearance management for all lateral opportunities;
• Own management of maintaining high-quality, up-to-date client data disseminated throughout firm systems, including through Intapp Open and 3E Elite;
• Work with CIO, Director of Information Security and other key stakeholders to keep evergreen the firm’s business continuity plan;
• Document and maintain an enterprise risk register to ensure proactive assessments and prioritization of business risks and related remediation efforts;
• Serve as a member of the firm’s incident response team.

Financial

• Negotiate contracts with vendors;
• Formulate recommendations for projects or programs to management and act as project manager working across departments, developing implementation plans and keeping on track and within budget;
• Develop and manage staff and operational resource budgets;
• Track and control expenditures within approved budgets.

Management

• Hire, train and evaluate information governance, new business intake, conflicts, docketing and records personnel;
• Define responsibilities, roles and objectives for team positions;
• Identify growth and training opportunities for team members to ensure professional development for individuals, the teams, and the firm;
• Establish and document best practices and work closely with new clients to identify and specify business requirements and processes;
• Assign, direct and monitor the progress of the work of the team while coordinating the equitable distribution of work and office coverage;
• Practice and foster a culture of teamwork and cooperation;
• Model qualities and performance desired in firm employees, including professionalism, quality work product, and customer service orientation;
• Implement effective and appropriate policies, procedures and workflow processes to provide reliable and efficient client service, as well as a pleasant and productive work environment.

Job Qualifications

• Proven experience working with senior-level lawyers and business professionals and in balancing competing priorities in a time-sensitive environment;
• Skilled in communications with all levels of the organization; writing, speaking and presentation skills for work with the firm leadership, the user-community and clients;
• Extensive experience in developing and motivating manager-level+ team members;
• Strong organizational and project management skills;
• Strong track record in systems planning, budgeting and implementation;
• Proven experience in directing effective processes for change management and adaptation;
• A J.D. degree with at least 15 years of related law firm or equivalent experience; 7+ years management experience;
• 10+ years of combined experience in Conflicts, New Business Intake and Records at midsized or large law firms;
• Ability to understand, evaluate and supervise the operation of technologically and functionally complex equipment and systems;
• Comfortable with the use of technology and the ability to master new applications quickly and sufficiently, to translate it for the attorneys (tools like Intapp and Research databases like D&B, CapitalIQ, Lexis);
• Proficient in all Microsoft applications, including but not limited to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and SharePoint;
• Proficient in ChromeRiver, 3E Elite (or similar accounting system), Milana, iManage/DMS, Intapp Open and Terms, and SQL databases;
• Comfortable conducting research using Internet and court-related databases and with teaching others how to use these databases effectively; must be able to generate reports using Adobe, Excel, etc., and navigate through databases.

For additional detail:

• You can see more details in the specific job posting here
• And read more about professional life and benefits at the firm  on their careers page:
  • Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP is a national, full-service law firm founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with marquee practices in investment management, litigation, and business. We are committed to smart growth, innovative thinking, excellence and integrity.
  • With 225 attorneys and 180 business professionals, we proudly serve a diverse base of household-name clients, many of whom help shape the world of financial services and products, working together to produce achievements greater than the sum of our parts.
  • Our administrative employees assist our attorneys in all aspects of the practice of law, from secretarial and paralegal support, to information technology, accounting and marketing functions. Stradley Ronon employs more than 175 support staff who work in a variety of administrative capacities throughout the firm. We offer all levels of employment, from entry-level to senior management, and everything in between. Whether you are looking to begin your career, or are considering a change, we invite you to learn more about Stradley Ronon.

And if you’re interested in seeing your firm’s listings here, please feel free to reach out!