Senior Conflicts Attorney

The firm

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is one of the world's leading international law firms. The Firm was established in 1884 and has more than 1,000 lawyers. Headquartered in New York with offices in Beijing, Brussels, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Palo Alto, São Paulo, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., the Firm provides coordinated legal advice and transactional capability to clients around the globe.

Description/Job Summary
Under the oversight of the Chief of Global Conflicts & Legal Ethics and the Director of Conflicts & Legal Ethics, a Senior Conflicts Attorney supports part of the firm's critical risk management function, addressing all areas of conflicts of interest and new client intake inherent in a large global law firm.

A Senior Conflicts Attorney handles new matter and new client intake, conflict of interest research; identifying potential conflicts for new clients and new business matters. Senior Conflicts Attorneys work with partners, attorneys and clients to ensure potential conflicts are resolved firm-wide.

Responsibilities/Duties

• Act as primary contact for partner conflict inquiries on a firm-wide basis; interface with partners and associates to confirm the status of existing or pending transactions and resolve identified conflict issues
• Manage conflict research process and procedures ensuring potential conflicts are quickly and accurately identified and resolved and conflicts are cleared for new matters and new clients firm-wide
• Provide guidance, monitor processes with respect to new clients and matters, screening and waivers
• Advise attorneys on conflicts rules and assist in adherence to such rules and firm policies when drafting, reviewing and coordinating client engagement and conflict waiver letters
• Supervise the development, maintenance and communication of formal ethics screens
• Ensure firm policies and procedures relating to conflicts and client intake are communicated and make recommendations for changes when appropriate
• Provide guidance to attorneys, analysts and firm personnel related to conflict of interest rules and procedures as required
• Act as point person and subject matter expert on conflicts rules and approaches in specific practice areas; maintain current knowledge of conflicts rules in New York and all jurisdictions where the firm has offices and/or conducts business
• Review matters for potential illegality, unethical or otherwise improper behavior, escalate as appropriate
• Perform other duties as required

Required Skills

• 5+ years of legal experience as a law firm or in-house counsel required
• Proficient knowledge of large firm practice areas: financial organizations, banking and capital markets, private equity firms and other business organizations
• Ability to identify and resolve actual and potential conflicts of interest within various types of transactions, restructurings, bankruptcies and litigation.
• Proficiency in internet research, WCO, CapitalIQ and other corporate databases
• Ability to research corporate ownership/SEC filings to determine shareholders and substantial owners of target companies and other adverse parties
• Ability to research and understand complex corporate relationships and determine how proposed relationship relate to the firm's existing engagements
• Ability to work independently while using sound judgment, initiative, and discretion
• Ability to work effectively with all levels of personnel in a global market with tact and diplomacy
• Ability to communicate professionally, clearly, concisely, and diplomatically both verbally and in writing and articulate legal relationships and the nature of representations
• Ability to analyze and summarize conflict situations, articulate potential issues, and suggest resolutions to attorneys as required
• Proven analytical and organizational skills with the ability to provide a quality, accurate, and efficient work product in a high-volume environment.
• Ability to learn and utilize specialized internal conflict checking software and multiple software applications and workflow processes of various departments
• Ability to apply both logical and common sense understanding to carry out a variety of instructions

Details

Salary and Benefits: Competitive

Hybrid: Monday-Thursday in office, ability to WFH on Fridays

Equal Opportunities

Simpson Thacher is committed to ensuring that everyone can reach their full potential, irrespective of background, identity, or circumstance. We know that we are at our best when we bring together diverse experiences and perspectives. This is why we are focused on fostering a collegial environment which maximises collaboration, empowering every individual to thrive and succeed.