Conflicts Attorney

Join Goodwin’s Global Operations Team, and make a real impact on a global scale. At Goodwin, we work with some of the world’s most successful and innovative investors, entrepreneurs and disruptors in the life sciences, private equity, real estate, technology and financial industries, and where they converge. As part of the Global Operations Team – all business professionals at the firm – you’ll collaborate with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and experiences, fostering an environment where cross-functional learning, networking, and collaboration are at the core of what we do.
Here, we’re not just supporting a law firm; we’re partnering with attorneys and clients to deliver cutting-edge solutions in high-stakes litigation and dispute resolution, world-class regulatory compliance and advisory services, and complex transactions. Our commitment to integrity, ingenuity, agility, and ambition drives us, and we’re proud to have been recognised as the “Best Business Team” by The American Lawyer.
This is your opportunity to grow professionally in a dynamic, global environment, surrounded by forward-thinking peers.

The Conflicts Attorney will be responsible for conflicts clearance review and analysis for new business and lateral hires. You will work directly with the Department Director, as well as with Attorneys and the firm’s Ethics Advisory Committee, to identify and resolve potential ethics and business conflict issues. You will analyse the results of conflicts searches. You will assist the Director and Managers in training and overseeing the work of the Specialists.  This position requires strong knowledge of the rules of professional conduct and sound analysis of potential conflict issues, with a focus on US and English conflicts rules. The Attorneys and Ethics Advisory Committee rely upon the conflicts Attorney/Analyst’s information in making decisions about whether or not to accept new legal hires, clients and matters.

As this role will support our Hong Kong office, we are ideally looking for someone to work a 6am - 2.30pm day. We are open to this role being entirely remote (noting occasional visits to the London office will be required).

What you will do:

• Create and analyze complex conflict reports and exercise independent judgment to identify potential conflict of interest issues with legal hires, new business and marketing initiatives.  Conduct research to gather information and/or clarification on potential issues.  Take the initiative to analyze and resolve conflicts independently.

• Prepare communications to Attorneys, clearly identifying all potential issues found in conflict report.  Assist Attorneys in resolving conflict issues. Work directly with Attorneys, the Department Director, and the Ethics Advisory Committee, as necessary, to assist and facilitate conflict resolution.

• Provide guidance to Conflicts staff relative to conflict research and analysis and corporate family tree research with the goal of ensuring accuracy and consistency in preparation and analysis of conflict reports. 

• Assist in development and implementation of training programs for Conflict Analysts and Specialists.

• Assist Attorneys and Secretaries in understanding the firm’s conflicts and business intake policies and procedures.

• Assist Attorneys to draft engagement and waiver letters.

• Research appropriate jurisdictional conflict and/or ethical rules and/or opinions to assist in determining specific conflict resolution strategies.

• Request and maintain all necessary supporting documentation to clear actual or potential conflict issues.

• Prepare and implement information barriers.      

• Assist in the customization and implementation of new software for conflicts, business intake and information barriers.

• Maintain knowledge of trends, developments and new technologies impacting the conflicts group.

• Participate in providing coverage for conflict checking and analysis via on-call rotation on scheduled weekends.

Who you are:

• Law degree required.

• 5+ years of experience with law firm conflicts and/or new business department preferred.

• Prior experience using automated conflicts and/or workflow system preferred.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; strong customer service skills and ability to interact effectively with a broad range of people in a professional manner.

• Strong research skills; strong analytical and problem solving skills, strong attention to detail.

• Ability to use initiative and judgment to accomplish results.

• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment; work under pressure and complete job assignments in an accurate and timely manner; respond appropriately to shifting demands.

• Work independently, but able to escalate and communicate issues in a timely and effective manner.

• Able to maintain professional composure in challenging or difficult situations.

• Knowledge of IntApp conflict checking, information barrier and business intake software a plus.

Goodwin Procter LLP is an equal opportunity employer. This means that Goodwin Procter LLP considers applicants for employment, and makes employment decisions without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or other legally protected status.

Goodwin is a disability-inclusive employer. Please contact us if you require any disability-related adjustments during the interview process, or would like to have a confidential conversation with a member of the recruitment team. If there are any disability-related reasons which have impacted your profile, we may also be able to make adjustments for these. Please see our Disability-Related Screening Adjustments page if this applies to you. (Disability refers to sensory and physical conditions, long-term health conditions, neurodivergence and mental health conditions).