Conflicts Lawyer/Advisor - United Kingdom - Simmons & Simmons

Description

Conflicts Lawyer/Advisor [Permanent] page is loaded

Conflicts Lawyer/Advisor [Permanent]

The role:

We have a brilliant opportunity for a Conflicts Advisor or Lawyer to join our Business Acceptance team on a permanent basis.

The role is support the Head of Business Intake in ensuring compliance with the firm's legal and professional requirements by carrying out conflict checks and advising/assisting lawyers in relation to the management of legal/commercial conflicts issues (including confidentiality conflicts).

What will you do:

• Carry out checks to ascertain whether prospective new business could give rise to a legal or commercial conflict of interests for the firm – currently using Microsoft Dynamics AX (changing to Intapp Conflicts in spring
• Analyse results and identify any potential conflicts issues to partners.
• Be a subject matter expert for conflicts and confidentiality issues, providing proactive advice and guidance on whether work can be taken on under the conflicts rules, and/or whether any steps need to be taken before proceeding, and providing assistance with those steps (e.g. client consent wording, erection of information barriers etc).
• Regularly liaise with partners and senior stakeholders to answer their queries, and act as an intermediary between them where necessary (i.e. for confidentiality reasons) to resolve conflicts issues.
• Act as a point of escalation for conflicts issues from more junior conflicts analysts.
• Train staff members on the conflicts rules and processes, including conflicts analysts and occasionally lawyers and secretaries.
• Consider the CDD implications for clients of new matters in light of new risk factors (e.g. related parties subject matter etc), attribute a risk rating to the matter and escalate to the AML team where applicable.
• Assist with identifying matter-related AML and sanctions issues and referring to management where appropriate.
• Review and ensure that partners properly complete their risk profile requirements and raise queries where necessary.
• Be a senior point of escalation for analysts.
• Triage work and allocate it to appropriate members of the Conflicts team.
• Train new members of the Conflicts team on the conflicts rules, the firm's conflicts policy and processes, and how to carry out checks using the firm's system.

What we are looking for:

Education / Qualifications:

• Educated to degree level or have relevant specialist qualifications.
• Law degree or background in legal profession preferred.

Knowledge and Technical Skills:

• A strong and developed understanding of rules around conflicts (legal and commercial) and experience of applying them in a law firm as part of a client/matter onboarding process.
• Broad IT skills, in particular, experience of using a workflow tool (e.g. Intapp Conflicts) and of interrogating external commercial databases (such as Dun & Bradstreet and Accuity).
• Good business research skills (e.g. establishing and understanding the legal nature and ownership structure of the firm's client base).
• An understanding of, and experience in applying, the AML rules insofar as they are relevant to taking on new matters for existing clients.

General Skills/experience:

• Articulate with excellent oral and written communications in English.
• Experience of dealing with partners and assisting them to resolve conflicts issues.
• Ability to organise workloads, work under pressure, and meet deadlines.
• Strong sense of teamwork.

Here at Simmons & Simmons:

Simmons & Simmons is a place where dynamic minds thrive. Our culture is built on work that matters, you will work on inspirational and thought-provoking projects, using your influence to create positive impact for our clients, society and the planet. We also ensure that everyone's voice is heard from day one, irrespective of job title, qualification, or background. You'll be encouraged to have an enquiring mind and share ideas that can drive the firm forward. Through innovative learning and development opportunities, you will be provided with a platform to excel, enabling you to exceed your career ambitions and do things you never thought were possible.

Some key information:

• We offer a competitive package including bonuses dependant on role/level, private medical insurance and pension contribution.
• Our global skills academy provides our people, regardless of their role and location, with excellent learning opportunities (including live workshops, podcasts, short videos and practical learning experiences).
• We have adopted a hybrid working approach with a requirement for a minimum of three days in the office with flexibility dependant on role/team/client demands.
• We bring together the best legal advice from our established legal teams with non-traditional capabilities via Simmons & Simmons Solutions that enhance, expand and differentiate the Simmons offering.
• We are proud to rank as a top 30 Employer for Working Families and a top 25 Employer for Social Mobility.
• We have a range of social and sports committees, summer and winter parties and monthly get togethers.
• We have a range of diversity networks to connect people and celebrate our differences which is integral to our inclusive culture.
• All UK offices have their own artwork collections – including Damien Hurst and Tracey Emin pieces in the London office. We have a long-standing history in supporting the art community especially up-and-coming artists.

Equal opportunities:

• We are committed to promoting equality and diversity in the firm and to equal opportunities in employment.
• We believe in equality of opportunity, irrespective of race or ethnicity, religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender re-assignment and gender identity, marriage or civil partnership, and pregnancy, maternity and paternity. This also includes any incidents of perceptive or associative discrimination and harassment. We ensure that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly during the recruitment and selection processes.
• At Simmons & Simmons we seek to attract and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, to create an exciting and rewarding place to work. We are supportive of flexible working arrangements wherever possible and we would encourage you to discuss this with us, should this be something you are interested in.

If you're interested in finding out more about this position, please contact the Recruitment Team . To apply for the role, click on the link at the bottom of the page or visit our career page, where there is a detailed job description.

About Us

Every day, our expert teams across Europe, the Middle East and Asia come together to solve some of the world's most complex challenges. We're an international melting pot of perspectives and experiences, united in helping to shape a better future for our clients, our people and our communities.