Bressler Risk Blog

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

• McNees Wallace & Nurick has an immediate opening for a Conflicts Analyst for Remote or Onsite work.
• This position supports the New Business Intake & Research Department (the “Department”) and Firm Counsel in promptly responding to all new business requests submitted firm-wide, including requests related to existing and potential new clients as well as requests related to new hires and requests for proposal.
• The conflicts analyst is called upon to communicate complicated information, handle multiple complex situations, and produce high-quality work in a timely manner. The primary responsibility of the analyst is to provide analysis and guidance regarding conflicts of interest related to new business and lateral hires.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Analyze conflict reports for new business and potential laterals, as well as RFPs, and communicate effectively and confidentially with internal clients to maintain a responsive and thorough conflicts on-boarding process for new talent and new business.
2. Work with other Department members by responding in a timely manner to requests.
3. Incorporate information from emails, comments, and phone conversations to ensure that all known information about new business is fully incorporated in the analysis process.
4. Correct inconsistent party information on requests as submitted.
5. Assist with the identification of additional parties based on information from various sources.
6. Identify and perform large-scale projects to reconcile party information in the conflicts database.
7. Field questions from staff and attorney users regarding intake/conflicts software.
8. Work closely with Department members to provide comprehensive conflict/intake training for all new hires and firm employees on an ongoing basis.
9. Maintain detailed instructional training documents catered to different audiences.
10. Coordinate with the inter-departmental design team to identify areas for improvement with vendors and follow up with testing to verify changes within the system.
11. Recommend process/service improvements, solutions, policy changes and/or major variations from established policy to better meet the needs of both internal and external clients.
12. Ensure that services are delivered effectively and efficiently; ensure compliance with Firm policies and procedures; assist in the development of office or department procedures and processes; attend regular staff meetings and training; work effectively with other departments and work groups, including timely follow-up and frequent communications.
13. Exercise independent judgment and discretion.
14. Assist with a wide range of research projects as necessary.
15. Other duties as assigned

ESSENTIAL CAPABILITIES:

• Must be able to leverage firm and department resources to provide a timely and thorough response to all incoming inquiries; produce quality work that upholds the expectations set by the goals of the Department; work independently and efficiently.
• Must be able to listen and respond to all inquiries in a professional and sensitive manner and navigate various communication styles to effectively deliver analysis and give advice that is informed, objective, and succinct. Must be able to handle sensitive or difficult issues with confidence and professionalism; leverage technology to maintain an appropriately lean operation and promote efficiency across the firm.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree required. Law firm and conflicts of interest analysis or related risk management initiatives and familiarity with Upfront, Intapp, or other conflicts database software preferred.

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

About McNees:

McNees is a full-service law firm with offices in Devon, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Pittsburgh, Scranton, State College, and York, PA; as well as Columbus, OH; Frederick and Towson, MD; and Washington, DC. We pride ourselves on our team approach to practicing law, and we encourage work-life balance and community involvement. We offer a collegiate and inclusive culture, competitive salary, range of benefits, and local community involvement.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, nationality, sex, or any other characteristic or trait protected by law.

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 spotlight updates to an open position at Fredrikson, which is now open to remote candidates: “Conflicts Analyst (Remote)” —

• We are seeking a Conflicts Analyst to join our Conflicts Team.
• This fully remote position (available to candidates located Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon and Colorado) is essential to ensure timely, accurate conflicts reporting and analysis to minimize risk to the Firm.
• The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, collaborative, and has a strong understanding of conflict rules and legal risk analysis. This position reports to the Conflicts Manager and works closely with attorneys and staff across the Firm.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Ensure accurate entry of parties into the conflicts database, including corporate family structures.
• Conduct corporate research using multiple tools to assess conflicts for new business intake and other matters.
• Prepare and deliver thorough written and verbal conflict analyses.
• Analyze new business intake reports, lateral hire conflicts, RFPs, and other materials with a critical lens.
• Assist in managing attorney and staff requests, providing prompt and clear guidance.
• Support lateral candidate conflict reviews and engagement letter/conflict waiver processes.
• Conduct conflict searches and reviews independently, escalating only complex issues as needed.
• Maintain professional and efficient communication at all times.

Our Ideal Candidates Will Have

• A minimum of 3 years of experience in a large law firm setting.
• Knowledge of conflicts rules under the Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience; bachelor’s degree or paralegal certificate strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with conflicts software such as Intapp Open, Elite, and legal research tools like Dun & Bradstreet Family Tree Portal.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage confidential information and interact effectively with legal professionals at all levels.
• Understanding of conflict resolution methods such as waivers and ethical screens.

Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits options include medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, short-and long-term disability, employee resource benefits (inclusive of counseling, coaching, and care-giving guidance), paid-parental leave, parenting classes, pre-tax parking and transportation options, and much more! Our retirement plan includes financial planning, Social Security/Medicare planning, 401k/Roth investment options, and a firm-paid profit-sharing contribution. Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms and conditions.

About Fredrikson

Diversity and inclusion are core values of Fredrikson & Byron. To best serve our clients, we provide innovative solutions to legal needs by cultivating a diverse workforce. With a reputation as the firm “where law and business meet,” our attorneys and staff bring business acumen and entrepreneurial thinking to operate as business advisors, strategic partners, and legal counselors to our clients. The firm’s 400+ attorneys serve clients through our ten locations around the world: Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Mankato, MN; Bismarck and Fargo, ND; Ames and Des Moines, IA; Madison, WI; Saltillo, Mexico; and Shanghai, China. Visit www.fredlaw.com for more information.

Fredrikson is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. Fredrikson does not discriminate in its recruiting, hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military or veteran status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, and any other characteristics protected by applicable local, state, and/or federal laws.

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.

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 spotlight an open position at Keker: “Conflicts Analyst” [description PDF here] [application link here] —

• Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP is seeking a Conflicts Analyst to support the firm’s risk management and new business intake functions by conducting thorough conflict of interest checks related to new client matters and lateral attorney hiring.
• This role involves gathering and analyzing relevant information, reviewing new matter requests, identifying, and advising on potential conflicts, and assisting in their resolution.
• The Conflicts Analyst also contributes to opening new matters, generating reports, and providing administrative support to other departments as needed.
• The position is a hybrid role for Bay Area residents, requiring at least two days per week in our San Francisco office and allowing remote work for the remaining three days. For candidates outside the Bay Area, a fully remote option is available

Key Responsibilities:

• Creates, reviews, interprets, and summarizes conflicts report results and demonstrates sound analysis of conflicts issues.
• Conducts accurate research to identify potential or actual conflicts posed by new work or new hires. For example, determining if matters have been closed, ascertaining the nature of an entity’s role in a matter, retrieving any existing conflicts waivers, and identifying affiliate relationships of corporate entities.
• Actively consults and advises Firm attorneys regarding conflicts clearance, and documents or audits steps taken to clear any conflicts.
• Performs searches of external and internal databases for pertinent information on prospective clients and related parties, and subsequently enters new information into the Conflicts and Accounting databases.
• Triages New, Lateral and Summer Associate hire requests, including communicating with candidates, to clarify and confirm that work and employment information provided is accurate.
• Maintains the conflicts database with appropriate information about firm clients and matters, client subsidiaries and affiliates, related parties, etc. Enters information obtained during the conflicts clearance process in the conflicts database documenting the resolution of conflicts and any waivers, where necessary. Close cases in database as requested and notifies appropriate administrative departments of closures.
• Monitors and responds to Conflicts requests in a timely fashion.
• Assists with special projects as assigned.

Required Skills and Experience:

• BS or BA degree preferred; equivalent work experience may be substituted.
• 5+ years of previous law firm conflicts experience is desired.
• Solid understanding of legal conflicts and related ethical rules.
• Knowledge of basic litigation legal concepts and familiarity with litigation documents.
• Capable of keeping confidential all information, observations, or viewpoints regarding firm business matters.
• Adept at using Microsoft Suite – Word, PowerPoint, Excel. Previous experience with Intapp, LegalKey or Elite databases strongly preferred.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to operate at all levels within an organization.
• Ability to accept direction and constructive feedback.
• Ability to take ownership and work independently to resolve issues.
• Works under moderate supervision.

Required Soft Skills:

• Solid ability to multitask competently and pay close attention to details.
• A team player with solid interpersonal, communication and writing skills.
• Excellent decision-making skills and demonstrated ability to think on your feet.
• Excellent people skills – ability to work in a team oriented and collaborative environment.
• Excellent customer service skills and proficiencies.

About Keker, Van Nest & Peters

• For more than 40 years, Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP has litigated complex, high- stakes civil and criminal cases throughout the nation. We take cases where companies, products, and careers are riding on the result. Our clients are high-profile individuals, as well as some of the world’s most successful companies, including Dexcom, Google, Genentech, Lyft, Meta, Netflix, OpenAI, and Qualcomm. Recently we have been named as The Recorder’s Tech Litigation Department of the Year and The American Lawyer’s Litigation Boutique of the Year, among many additional prestigious recognitions. The firm not only prides itself in its record of success at trial, but in the office culture it maintains.
• Our office, in the historic Jackson Square district of San Francisco, features brick and timber architecture, an eclectic modern art collection, and an open-door policy. The office environment is fast-paced, dynamic, and informal. Enjoy the camaraderie of a smaller firm that values each team member’s contributions. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401(k) savings plan, back-up childcare and eldercare, generous paid time off (PTO), as well as opportunities for professional development and growth. If this sounds like a good fit, we are excited to hear from you.

See their careers page for more on the company and work environment, see the [description PDF here] and to apply: [application link here].

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 spotlight an open position at Fredrikson: “Conflicts Analyst” —

• We are seeking a Conflicts Analyst to join our Conflicts Team.
• This fully remote position (available to candidates located in Iowa or Minnesota) is essential to ensuring timely, accurate conflicts reporting and analysis to minimize risk to the Firm.
• The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, collaborative, and has a strong understanding of conflict rules and legal risk analysis. This position reports to the Conflicts Manager and works closely with attorneys and staff across the Firm.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Ensure accurate entry of parties into the conflicts database, including corporate family structures.
• Conduct corporate research using multiple tools to assess conflicts for new business intake and other matters.
• Prepare and deliver thorough written and verbal conflict analyses.
• Analyze new business intake reports, lateral hire conflicts, RFPs, and other materials with a critical lens.
• Assist in managing attorney and staff requests, providing prompt and clear guidance.
• Support lateral candidate conflict reviews and engagement letter/conflict waiver processes.
• Conduct conflict searches and reviews independently, escalating only complex issues as needed.
• Maintain professional and efficient communication at all times.

Our Ideal Candidates Will Have

• A minimum of 3 years of experience in a large law firm setting.
• Knowledge of conflicts rules under the Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience; bachelor’s degree or paralegal certificate strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with conflicts software such as Intapp-Open, Elite, and legal research tools like Dun & Bradstreet Family Tree Portal.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage confidential information and interact effectively with legal professionals at all levels.
• Understanding of conflict resolution methods such as waivers and ethical screens.

Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits options include medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, short-and long-term disability, employee resource benefits (inclusive of counseling, coaching, and care-giving guidance), paid-parental leave, parenting classes, pre-tax parking and transportation options, and much more! Our retirement plan includes financial planning, Social Security/Medicare planning, 401k/Roth investment options, and a firm-paid profit-sharing contribution. Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms and conditions.

About Fredrikson

Diversity and inclusion are core values of Fredrikson & Byron. To best serve our clients, we provide innovative solutions to legal needs by cultivating a diverse workforce. With a reputation as the firm “where law and business meet,” our attorneys and staff bring business acumen and entrepreneurial thinking to operate as business advisors, strategic partners, and legal counselors to our clients. The firm’s 400+ attorneys serve clients through our ten locations around the world: Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Mankato, MN; Bismarck and Fargo, ND; Ames and Des Moines, IA; Madison, WI; Saltillo, Mexico; and Shanghai, China. Visit www.fredlaw.com for more information.

Fredrikson is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. Fredrikson does not discriminate in its recruiting, hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military or veteran status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, and any other characteristics protected by applicable local, state, and/or federal laws.

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.

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