Conflicts Counsel

Husch Blackwell LLP is a full-service litigation and business law firm with multiple locations across the United States, serving clients with domestic and international operations.

At Husch Blackwell we believe that diverse, equitable and inclusive teams lead to better outcomes. The firm is committed to retaining, recruiting, developing, and promoting talented lawyers and business professionals with diverse backgrounds and experiences, and fostering an engaged, diverse, and inclusive team culture of accountability and purpose.

The Conflicts Counsel may be filled remotely, or in any of our locations.

The Conflicts Counsel will be a member of the Conflicts Department who collaborates with colleagues within the Conflicts, Client Engagement, and Risk Management departments of the firm to identify and resolve conflicts of interest issues related to the intake and maintenance of new and existing business, lateral clearance, outside counsel guidelines, requests for proposals, and other conflicts-related issues, as needed.

Conflicts Counsel directs and conducts specific processes in the Conflicts department, including efficient review, identification, and resolution of conflicts of interest, drafting conflicts waivers, review of lateral candidates, OCGs, and provides recommendations regarding ethical wall implementation and conflicts-related language for engagement letters. Further responsibilities include timely and clear communication with partners, staff, and firm leadership regarding conflicts requests and complex conflicts questions; maintaining thorough and accurate records of conflicts resolutions; and assistance with identifying, resolving, and documenting erroneous, outdated, or incomplete conflicts information in existing records in order to maintain the integrity of information.

The Conflicts Counsel exercises discretion and independent judgment while complying with departmental and firm policies and procedures. This position is responsible for assuring compliance with applicable Rules of Professional Conduct related to conflicts of interest and client engagement agreements.

• Maintains a thorough working knowledge of the technologies that support the daily operations of the Conflicts department, including but not limited to Intapp Open and Intapp Terms.
• Serves as a resource for conflicts analysts regarding the identification and resolution of conflicts of interest, and communication to attorneys and staff regarding same.
• Discusses conflict of interest issues with attorneys, analysts, business intake, other support staff, and firm leadership to identify and resolve potential conflicts of interest, while maintaining objectivity and professional independence.
• Reviews requests submitted to the Conflicts Department to provide a concise and complete evaluation of potential conflict issues along with communicating and executing steps for resolution of conflicts issues or potential issues, and documents same.
• Drafts and reviews language in waiver and engagement letters to ensure that it adequately addresses conflicts issues and is executed by those with appropriate authority.
• Reviews existing conflict waivers from clients for applicability to a new conflict of interest with that client.
• Makes requests and recommendations related to the implementation of ethical walls.
• Develops and maintains knowledge of legal ethics, case law, and professional responsibility rules related to conflicts of interest, and relevant procedures, policies, and practices of the firm related to conflicts, risk, and ethics issues.
• Reviews client outside counsel guidelines and engagement agreements to identify deviations from the Firm’s policies and works with billing and relationship Partners to appropriately address deviations.
• Assists with the review and clearance of new hire candidates, including complete conflicts analysis and resolution, drafting engagement agreements and waivers, communicating with recruiting and firm leadership regarding the status of conflicts issues for a candidate, and providing training to a new lateral partner hire.
• Reviews outside counsel guidelines and works with partners to prepare responses to clients that align with firm needs and requirements and assists in the maintenance and documentation of clients’ agreements within our conflicts software and databases.
• Assists Client Development team and partners in reviewing and responding to Requests for Proposals and similar business opportunities.
• Prepares and delivers trainings for the Conflicts team as well as firm attorneys and staff on topics related to conflicts, ethics, and professional responsibility.
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

• Juris Doctor and active law license in the U.S. in the jurisdiction in which the candidate resides.
• Three or more years of direct, full-time conflicts experience at a large law firm.
• Computer proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and Outlook) required. Experience with online reference materials and Boolean searching techniques preferred.
• Experience with Intapp Open and Intapp Terms strongly preferred.
• Ability to identify and analyze conflict of interest issues and to recommend and implement solutions; ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.
• Ability to track, manage, and effectively prioritize numerous responsibilities, emails, and conflicts requests.
• Strong writing skills, with the ability to clearly and concisely communicate in an effective manner, particularly with respect to summarizing and simplifying complex or numerous conflicts issues.
• Ability and availability to travel to other Firm locations on occasion as needed.

Compensation And Benefits

• State of California: $131,000 – $268,000
• State of Colorado: $121,000 – $215,000
• State of Illinois: $119,000 – $230,000
• State of Maryland: $127,000 – $193,000
• State of Massachusetts: $131,000 – $251,000
• State of Minnesota: $131,000 – $217,000
• Jersey City, NJ: $143,000 – $258,000
• State of New York: $122,000 – $264,000
• State of Vermont: $130,000 – $249,000
• State of Washington: $127,000 – $242,000
• Washington, D.C.: $169,000 – $249,000

• 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.

The above salaries do not include a discretionary bonus, however bonus opportunities are non-guaranteed, and are dependent upon individual and firm performance.

Please include a cover letter and resume when applying.

EOE/Minority/Female/Disabled/Vet. Principal Applicants Only.