BIC Onboarding Analyst (Specialized Conflicts)

Cooley is seeking a BIC Onboarding Analyst (Specialized Conflicts) to join the Business Intake and Conflicts team.

Position summary:  The Business Intake and Conflicts function is essential to the firm’s (1) compliance with (a) ethical obligations prevailing in jurisdictions in which the Firm maintains offices and in which it practices and (b) the firm’s risk management policies and procedures, (2) avoidance of malpractice claims and ethical violations, and (3) ability to onboard new business, in the form of new clients and new matters for existing clients, new timekeepers and new employees in a timely fashion. 

Working closely with the Associate Director of Conflicts, BIC Supervisor (Specialized Conflicts) other Directors and Managers of the New Business, Specialized Conflicts, Compliance & QA, and Operations teams as well as the Conflicts Staff Attorneys, the BIC Onboarding Analyst (Specialized Conflicts) is responsible for participation and research related to department initiatives.  This includes assisting with policy and procedure drafting and editing cycles, lateral candidate submission coordination, lateral partner client/matter onboarding, and operations function. Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: 

Position responsibilities:   

• Serve as lead analyst and project manager for all lateral partner conflicts clearances and onboarding activities, including: 

• Analyze lateral partner questionnaires, portable business information, financial data, and engagement histories to identify conflicts, business risks, and issues requiring review by Firm leadership 

• Conduct complex conflicts searches across clients, matters, related parties, mass arbitration proceedings, and bankruptcy matters, and evaluate results for legal, ethical, and business conflicts 

• Perform corporate research and investigative analysis to identify affiliated entities, ownership structures, beneficial ownership interests, and related parties that may impact conflicts assessments 

• Conduct comprehensive due diligence and risk assessments on prospective clients and lateral partner representations, preparing detailed reports and recommendations for Firm leadership and the General Counsel's Office 

• Identify and evaluate high-risk representations involving areas such as cannabis, cryptocurrency, export controls, sanctions, politically exposed persons, and other heightened-risk engagements, escalating findings and recommendations, as appropriate 

• Analyze conflicts search results and related research to identify strategic conflicts, business sensitivities, black-book restrictions, and other issues requiring review by Conflicts Staff Attorneys and Firm leadership 

• Perform substantive review and analysis of partner candidate conflict reports, including identification of existing and potential conflicts under applicable Rules of Professional Conduct and firm policies 

• Evaluate professional liability and fiduciary concerns, analyze approval requirements, and monitor resolution of identified issues 

• Analyze client relationship structures and attorney responsibility changes to ensure compliance with firm policies and accurate client management records 

• Prepare and present onboarding approval materials summarizing conflicts, risk considerations, business issues, and approval requirements for review by firm leadership 

• Review and validate client and matter-opening requests associated with lateral arrivals to ensure compliance with Firm policies and intake standards 

• Monitor onboarding workstreams and identify risks, bottlenecks, and priority issues requiring escalation or intervention 

• Analyze trends and metrics related to lateral partner conflicts, onboarding activities, regulatory requirements, and approval processes; prepare reporting and recommendations for the Director of Business Intake & Conflicts, Associate Director of Conflicts (Specialized Conflicts), Director of Strategic Growth, Chief Executive Officer, and General Counsel's Office 

• Evaluate onboarding priorities, workload demands, and competing deadlines to ensure timely processing of high-priority lateral partner matters 

• Lead cross-functional collaboration with Recruiting, Operations, Information Governance, Pricing, Legal Support, and other business teams to resolve conflicts and onboarding issues 

Additional responsibilities: 

• Facilitate and participate in internal strategy discussions regarding complex lateral partner conflicts, business risk assessments, and onboarding issues 

• Draft and review engagement letters and related documentation, ensuring consistency with Firm policies and risk management requirements 

• Serve as primaryanalyst for Summer Associate conflicts reviews and clearances, including evaluation of potential conflicts and risk issues 

• Prepare reports and analyses regarding candidate submission pipelines, trends, risks, and outstanding matters for leadership review 

• Review firm-wide conflict check submissions and perform preliminary conflict analysis to identify issues requiring legal review or escalation 

• Organize and analyze large-scale conflict reviews, including bankruptcy, mass tort, and mass arbitration matters involving thousands of related parties and affiliated entities 

• Maintain and enhance the Firm's conflicts and cross-reference databases through research, data validation, and issue resolution 

• Identify trends, recurring issues, and process improvement opportunities and recommend enhancements to Specialized Conflicts workflows, policies, and procedures 

• Conduct conflicts analysis for contract attorneys, temporary personnel, and other non-partner candidates, evaluating legal, ethical, and business conflict considerations 

• Perform legal ethics, professional responsibility, sanctions, and conflicts research to support Firm decision-making and policy development 

• Develop and deliver conflicts and risk-management training to attorneys and business professionals 

• Participate in departmental initiatives, policy development efforts, operational improvement projects, and strategic risk management programs 

• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned 

Skills and experience  

Required: 

• After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications 

• Available to work overtime, as required 

• 3+ years direct applicable years’ experience (e.g., business intake and conflicts, legal or professional services) 

• Proficiency in IntApp Open and Contract Express of similar groups 

• Overall understanding of corporate law practice 

Preferred: 

• Bachelor’s degree 

• Paralegal certificate  

• Experience working in a law firm or other professional services environment 

Competencies:   

• Excellent written and oral communication skills 

• Strong organizational skills and careful attention to detail 

• Ability to work independently with little or no supervision 

• Ability to work in a fast-paced challenging environment 

• Strong ability to prioritize and juggle multiple tasks 

• Ability to take initiative on time sensitive issues 

• Punctual and reliable