Conflicts Counsel - Ropes & Gray LLP

About Ropes & Gray:

Ropes & Gray is a preeminent, global law firm. The firm has been ranked in the top-three on The American Lawyer's prestigious "A-List" for seven years and is ranked #1 on Law.com International's "A-List" in the U.K.—rankings that honor the "Best of the Best" firms.

 

The firm has approximately 2,500 lawyers and professionals serving clients in major centers of business, finance, technology, and government in Boston, Chicago, Dublin, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington, D.C.

 

The firm has consistently been recognized for its leading practices in many areas, including asset management, private equity, M&A, finance, real estate, tax, antitrust, life sciences, health care, intellectual property, litigation & enforcement, privacy & cybersecurity, and business restructuring.

 

Ropes & Gray is an equal opportunity employer.

Overview:

Under the direction of the Director of CICC, the Conflicts Counsel oversees and participates as needed in all aspects of the firm’s critical risk management function, including without limitation with respect to the:  (i) review of new client intake materials submitted by the firm’s Client Intake/Conflict Control (“CICC”) department to the firm’s Intake Committee, (ii) drafting and negotiation of engagement terms, including outside counsel guidelines, and conflict of interest waivers, (iii) analysis and resolution of conflicts of interest that arise in connection with the firm’s lateral hiring function, (iv) the implementation and maintenance of ethical walls, (v) provision of advice to firm partners on the interpretation of conflicts reports and assisting them in all aspects of the conflicts resolution process, and (vi) research and analysis of complex or novel questions pertaining to conflicts of interest or other risk and compliance issues.  Upon request, the Conflicts Counsel also negotiates engagement and/or waiver terms directly with firm clients.  The Conflicts Counsel is an initial point of contact for complex conflicts inquiries requiring deliberation among key firm stakeholders.  The Conflicts Counsel participates actively in the development of relevant firm and department policies, training initiatives, and conflicts frameworks and algorithms, and acts as a general subject matter resource to firm partners, the Office of the General Counsel, and members of CICC and other support teams. 

 

Responsibilities:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Assists partners and oversees CICC personnel in coordinating the review of prospective clients with the firm’s intake and other committees.
2. Assists partners and oversees CICC personnel in drafting engagement terms, waivers, and other agreements pertaining to conflicts of interest, new client and matter intake, and the firm’s relationship with its clients and other parties. Participates as needed in the negotiation and documentation of the same.
3. Assists partners and business support teams, and oversees CICC personnel, in reviewing outside counsel guidelines and other client-tendered engagement terms with relevant stakeholders.
4. Assists partners and business support teams, and oversees CICC personnel, in the assessment and resolution of conflicts of interest pertaining to lateral hires and secondments.
5. Advises partners and business support teams, and oversees CICC personnel, in the implementation and maintenance of ethical walls.
6. Reviews, analyzes, and summarizes conflict reports and leads all aspects of the conflicts resolution process, as appropriate. Oversees CICC personnel in undertaking the same. 
7. Acts as a general subject matter resource with respect to conflicts of interest, intake, and other risk and compliance considerations for partners, the Office of the General Counsel, CICC personnel, and other support teams, including on sophisticated conflicts issues that call upon a specialized understanding of particular practice areas; drafts related research memoranda and makes related recommendations; develops related templates, algorithms, and frameworks of analysis; maintains familiarity with the conflicts rules of each jurisdiction where the firm has an office.
8. Leads calls among the Office of the General Counsel, practice group leadership, and other stakeholders to assist in deliberations and decision-making regarding complex firm conflict and intake scenarios, including those requiring escalation to the firm’s Policy Committee; acts as an initial point of contact for conflicts questions requiring the same.
9. Participates in the management, oversight, and development of department personnel, including with respect to the ongoing training of the department’s Conflicts Attorneys and Conflicts Analysts.
10. Supports the Office of the General Counsel, partners, firm leadership, and CICC personnel, as needed, in evaluating and responding to conflicts or other claims or inquiries that may be made by clients or third parties.
11. Assists in monitoring developments in conflicts of interest law and related market practices and makes recommendations for changes to department and firm policies and procedures; assists in documenting and communicating the same.
12. Assists in training firm personnel in conflict of interest rules and procedures and other risk and compliance subjects, and serving as a resource to them regarding same.
13. Undertakes ad hoc projects for the Director of CICC, the Office of the General Counsel, and firm leadership, and performs all other related duties as assigned, including administrative tasks, as necessary.

ESSENTIAL CAPABILITIES:

1. Maintains strict confidentiality of the firm's internal and personnel affairs.
2. Highly attentive to detail.
3. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
4. Strong project planning, management and execution skills.
5. Takes responsibility for achieving goals.
6. Interacts effectively with all levels of personnel, including partners and support.
7. Demonstrates flexibility in order to respond quickly and positively to shifting demands; available outside of ordinary business hours, as needed.

Qualifications:

J.D. required.  At least five (5) years law practice, or conflicts experience, at a large law firm preferred.  Strong evaluative, problem-solving, research, writing, and organizational skills.  Excellent service orientation and verbal and written communication skills.  Possesses superior leadership and mentoring abilities to guide department personnel in reaching goals.  Knowledge of conflict of interest principles should include the ability to: utilize third-party and proprietary research tools and databases and be able to interpret the data produced by those systems; apply the laws of professional responsibility in identifying and resolving actual and potential conflicts of interest; identify parties involved in various types of legal matters (including corporate, litigation, bankruptcy, labor & employment, and tax matters) and define relationships within the conflict of interest system; and determine when it is appropriate and/or necessary to escalate an issue to the Director of CICC or the Office of the General Counsel.

Compensation and Total Rewards Package:

Ropes & Gray is proud to offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package to our business support team members. The firm also offers comprehensive health and well-being benefits, personal and professional development, career growth opportunities and a collegial and supportive culture. The anticipated pay range for this role is $140,000 - $211,000 in the New York office, and $133,500 - 201,000 in the Boston office, which represents our good faith and reasonable estimate of the starting salary range at the time of posting. In addition, this role is eligible for a discretionary bonus based on performance. The actual offered rate for this position will be determined based on job-related, non-discriminatory factors, including qualifications and experience, geographic location, education, external market data and consideration of internal equity.  

Working Conditions:

This position requires hybrid on-site presence as an essential function of the role. Consistent and predictable on-site presence is required for ongoing business continuity, professional development and effective collaboration with colleagues and management.