About the role
BIC Onboarding Analyst (Specialized Conflicts) Cooley is seeking a BIC Onboarding Analyst (Specialized Conflicts) to join the Business Intake and Conflicts team. Position s ummary: The B usiness I ntake and C onflicts function is essential to the f irm’s (1) compliance with (a) ethical obligations prevailing in jurisdictions in which the Firm maintains offices and in which it practices and (b) the f irm’s r isk m anagement 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 f irm policies and accurate client management records
Prepare and present onboarding approval materials summarizing conflicts, risk considerations, business issues, and approval requirements for review by f irm 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
r esponsibilities :
- 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
primary analyst 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
Cooley offers a competitive compensation and excellent benefits package and is committed to fair and equitable employment practices. EOE.
The expected hourly pay range for this position with a work schedule of 40 hours per week is $39.50 - $58.00 ($82,160.00 - $120,640.00 annually). Please note that final offer amount will be dependent on geographic location, applicable experience and skillset of the candidate.
We offer a full range of elective benefits including medical, health savings account (with applicable medical plan), dental, vision, health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long-term care coverage, backup care for children and/or adults and other parental support bene