Conflicts Analyst

Ropes & Gray is a global law firm that operates across 17 time zones and has more than 1,400 lawyers based in the United States, Europe and Asia who collaborate seamlessly to provide clients with high-quality representation in innovative industries that shape the global economy. Our clients include private equity firms, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, financial institutions, mutual funds, hospital systems, and more. Client by client, we’ve built a reputation for first-class work, a pragmatic approach, and impeccable standards of service and ethics. We count many of the world’s most respected companies and institutions as longtime clients, and serve organizations at all stages of development. Clients trust us with their most important matters because they know we understand their businesses and deliver the results they need. 

Our deeply rooted culture of teamwork means that our lawyers work closely with colleagues around the world to provide support to clients. This collaborative approach encourages our lawyers to work alongside partners and clients on sophisticated matters. We work as a team to support a range of leading legal practices, including private equity, M&A, capital markets, finance, asset management, real estate, tax, antitrust, life sciences, health care, intellectual property, litigation & enforcement, data, privacy & cybersecurity, and business restructuring. 

Ropes & Gray London is one of the largest offices in the Ropes & Gray network, and the hub of the firm’s EMEA network and set up in London in 2010. While we are now an established presence in the UK, we’ve retained all the buzz of our start-up years. It makes us a little bit different: it means we have the stature and resources of a major international law firm combined with the pace, inclusivity and career progression of a specialist firm. Our clients like to work with us. We are, of course, always professional, but we are personal, and personable with it. As a group, we’re international, diverse and our team is always professional, but uniquely personable. With around 31 partners, 137 fee earners and a trainee intake of 13, everybody in the office knows everyone else. That means that every hire we make is an important investment for the firm, because each team member has a distinct role to play in delivering excellent service to our clients. 

Overview of the Role

The Conflicts Analyst supports the firm's critical risk management function by performing all duties associated with conflict of interest reporting, including:  conducting detailed, extensive research from multiple sources; analyzing the corporate business structure and history of potential clients and adversaries; recognizing and understanding the complexities of the corporate family tree structure and applying this knowledge to build corporate trees based on the department’s algorithms; reviewing, analyzing, and interpreting complex search results as part of the conflict analysis and reporting process; generating conflicts reports; assisting with drafting and revising waiver language, as necessary and subject to appropriate supervision; and requesting and recording all necessary conflict resolution documentation, including waiver or engagement letters.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

• Conducts detailed, extensive research from multiple sources; analyzes the corporate business structure and history of potential clients and adversaries; recognizes and understands the complexities of the corporate family tree structure and applies this knowledge to build corporate trees based on the department’s algorithms.
• Reviews, analyzes, and interprets complex search results as part of the conflict analysis and reporting process and pursuant to the rules of professional conduct.
• Generates conflict reports and follows up on outstanding conflict requests, often performed on an urgent basis.
• Performs self-evaluative quality control checks of conflict reports prior to delivery.
• Reviews contents of conflicts reports, provides analysis of relevant conflict issues, and identifies means for resolution.
• Communicates relevant substantive information and appropriate next steps to attorneys, including the need for waivers, reviews basic contents of waivers once returned, and escalates complex issues, as appropriate.
• Assists with drafting and revising waiver language, as necessary and subject to appropriate supervision.
• Requests and records all necessary conflict resolution documentation, including waivers or engagement letters, to facilitate the clearance of actual or potential conflicts.
• Assists in triaging and processing lateral, bankruptcy, and independence memo searches.
• Creates new matter files and maintains client and matter data in the Elite billing system.
• Manages and maintains internal conflicts data in iManager’s Conflicts Manager database.
• Provides training and guidance to internal customers regarding conflicts and intake policies and procedures.
• Assists in the maintains of ethical walls and in respects of the firm’s anti-money laundering compliance obligations.
• Performs other special projects, as assigned.

Essential Skills

• Must demonstrate the ability to maintain strict confidentiality of the firm’s internal and personnel affairs.
• Must willingly accept and proactively perform delegated assignments in a cooperative manner, subject to Manager supervision.
• Able to interact effectively with colleagues at the firm, including attorneys and support staff.
•  Able to be a proactive self-starter who understands the details within a much larger context.
• Must be flexible in order to respond quickly and positively to shifting demands and opportunities; able to work under tight deadlines and handle multiple, detailed tasks.
• Must be team-oriented and able to share information, goals, opportunities, successes and failures with the appropriate parties.
• Able to plan, organize and carry out multiple projects simultaneously.
• Able to work in a multi-office environment.
• Able to work effectively in a culturally and educationally diverse environment
• Must pay attention to details and have the ability to follow up and follow through.

Education, Experience and Skills Required

• Bachelor’s degree or eqivalent required.
• Experience in a legal conflicts environment preferred.
• Database research experience (such as Lexis, Elite/3E and Intapp or iManage) preferred.
• Must possess exceptional customer service orientation and interpersonal skills, strong PC and data entry skills, analytical and problem-solving skills, verbal and written communication skills, and solid work ethic.