In House Lawyer - BAU - Conflicts

Risk

USA - New York

Hybrid (combination of office & remote working)

Job description

Department purpose
The Business Acceptance Unit (BAU) is a dynamic, global, collegiate team responsible for assessing all new business before it is accepted by the firm’s partners, to ensure the firm’s commercial objectives and legal obligations are met. The team works closely with partners and other senior stakeholders to identify and resolve legal and commercial conflict issues, sanctions and anti-money laundering risks, as well as reputational and values issues in each of the jurisdictions in which Allen & Overy operates. 

Role purpose
The role of the In House Lawyer - Conflicts is to be a trusted adviser to the business, providing high quality, proactive business-focused support and solutions to colleagues on a variety of commercial and complex regulatory issues, focused mainly on conflicts of interest and other business acceptance matters. It requires an individual with the ability to develop strong working relationships to be a "go to" and accessible person for queries and concerns from around the world. 
 
Key relationships
          The BAU
          Partners and fee earners
          Practice group heads, sector heads and office/regional managing partners
          The Risk Function


Job description

Role and responsibilities
–          Analyzing and resolving professional, legal, regulatory and commercial issues relating to business acceptance and client engagement which are referred by business acceptance analysts and by partners and all other levels of lawyer and support staff, focusing on business/commercial conflict issues and professional and legal conflicts issues.
–          Undertaking an initial assessment regarding anti-money laundering, sanctions, reputational and suitability issues that arise in the assessment of new business and working with specialist teams within the BAU to resolve such issues.
–          Referring commercial issues to relevant stakeholders, including practice group heads and office/regional heads.
–          Exercising judgment as to when to refer business acceptance issues to the Global Head of Business Acceptance and/or other senior BAU members such as the Head of Financial Crime and Sanctions and facilitating the resolution of any such issues referred.
–          Responding, and managing the team's responses, within particular timeframes, to partners’ and fee earners’ requests relating to business acceptance and client engagement to ensure the service level expected by partners is met.
–          Drafting waivers and consent language required in the resolution of conflicts of interest issues.
–          Reviewing and analyzing conflicts of interest issues with respect to incoming lateral hires.
–          Assisting with lateral hire on-boarding, including the coordination of matter opening for transferred matters.
–          Assisting the Engagement Terms team within the BAU with reviewing and drafting conflicts of interest provisions within engagement terms, client relationship terms and client panel terms.
–          Monitoring changes in practice, professional rules, regulations and the law as affects business acceptance and client engagement globally so that these can be reflected in the business acceptance and client engagement process and policies.
–          Assisting in the creation and maintenance of precedents and know how resources for use within the business acceptance and client engagement team and the development of appropriate business acceptance and client engagement know how (e.g. briefings) for use throughout the firm.
–          Mentoring, supervising and assisting in the management and development of the Business Acceptance Unit's Analyst and Administrative staff.
–          Assisting in the creation, ongoing development and implementation of the firm's global business acceptance and client engagement policies, processes and systems.  
–          Intervention to issue directions on specific formalities required for business acceptance purposes 
–          Assistance in monitoring information barriers 
–          Assisting in the design, implementation and delivery of training presentations and other development programs for lawyers and support departments regarding risk management and, in particular, business acceptance and client engagement.
–          In relation to all the above, reporting to the Global Head of Business of Acceptance.

Key requirements
–          Experience in relation to conflicts of interest within a law firm environment is essential.
–          J.D. required. Preferably admitted in NY, DC, or CA
–          Must have strong academic background.
–          International experience with a leading top tier firm is highly advantageous with a strong background in multi-jurisdictional transactions or dispute resolution.
–          Interest in, and potential for, developing mentoring skills.
–          Commercial mindedness and possession of a strong legal skill set.
–          Ability to analyze facts and scenarios thoroughly (and yet quickly) and proactively to put forward resolutions 
–          Excellent task management skills and a proven ability to manage multiple tasks under time pressure.
–          Enthusiastic, self-motivated, and proactive.

For individuals assigned to or hired for this opportunity in New York or California, the estimated annualized base salary range for this position is $140,000-$220,000. The actual base salary offered will depend on the overall qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, including, if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job, and other job-relation factors permitted by law.

This role can be based in any of the firm's US offices (New York, Washington DC, Boston, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, or Los Angeles.)

Additional information - External

A&O Shearman is an equal opportunity employer. Every individual has the right to work in a professional environment that promotes equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination and harassment. It is A&O Shearman's policy to ensure equal employment opportunity for all individuals, without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status or alienage, disability, pregnancy or related medical issue, military or qualified veteran status, familial status, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, gender, including gender identity, gender expression or transition status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and/or sex offenses, sexual and reproductive health decisions, unemployment status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of an individual’s relationship with A&O Shearman, including, without limitation, recruitment, hiring, training and development, promotion, compensation, discipline, termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

If you are vision-impaired or have another disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law and wish to discuss accommodations related to applying for employment at A&O Shearman, please contact US HR Transactions at US-HRTransactions@aoshearman.com or call +1 212 610 6300 and ask for HR Transactions.