Ethics Attorney

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. We are currently seeking an Ethics Attorney in the General Counsel's Office, reporting to the Deputy General Counsel.

The role can reside in the Dallas, Houston, New York, Philadelphia or Washington, DC office with hybrid work capabilities and will be responsible for the timely and accurate identification and resolution of conflicts of interest and legal ethics issues to contribute to prompt client/matter openings. The Ethics Lawyer advises firm lawyers in multiple jurisdictions on compliance with their ethical obligations, and helps protect the firm and its clients from adversity and risk. This role involves analyzing and seeking to clear conflicts of interest on new business and lateral hires; evaluating engagement terms; assisting in preparing conflicts waivers and retention agreements to address conflicts and other ethics issues; drafting and establishing informational barriers / ethical screens; and analyzing, researching, and answering legal ethics questions. The Ethics Lawyer is to liaise with partners regarding conflicts and ethics issues, as appropriate. The Ethics Lawyer is to perform duties in coordination with the New Business Intake department to ensure a comprehensive and synchronized conflict-of-interest process. The Ethics Lawyer is to perform other duties within the General Counsel Office involving legal ethics as requested.

Key responsibilities of this position include:

• Review and analyze conflicts of interest reports for new business and lateral hires to seek to clear legal conflicts on a firm-wide basis.
• Communicate with lawyers firm-wide to issue spot and resolve identified legal and business conflicts and ethics issues.
• Liaise with the New Business Intake department regarding conflicts, corporate research, and analysis of client and adverse entity identification, ownership, corporate affiliations.
• Assist in developing and communicating firm policies and procedures relating to conflicts and intake, making recommendations for changes when appropriate.
• Assist partners in drafting conflicts waivers and other written communications to clients concerning conflicts or other ethics issues.
• Assist in reviewing engagement terms, including NDAs and outside counsel guidelines.
• Draft informational barriers/ ethical screens.
• Analyze, research, and answer legal ethics questions.
• Develop expertise in the substantive field of legal ethics and professional responsibility in multiple jurisdictions, and apply such expertise to specific practice areas of the firm.
• Understand the interplay of different legal ethics rules across jurisdictions in an international law firm environment.
• Assist with individual or group projects involving legal ethics issues. Research and communicate orally and in writing answers to the issues posed and recommend resolutions as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain expertise in department’s technologies and all other applications that are necessary to expertly perform job requirements; track work in software.
• Perform other duties related to the ethics role, as assigned.

Qualifications (Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

• Juris Doctorate degree (or international equivalent) with at least 3 years of post-admission (or PQE) experience in a law firm setting
• Experience in conflicts clearing and/or ethics required
• Excellent research and analytical skills
• Proficiency in legal database (Lexis and Westlaw) and internet research, including but not limited to Hoovers, Dun & Bradstreet, Thomson and other corporate databases
• Superior written and oral communication skills; ability to succinctly communicate detailed and complex information to firm lawyers and clients
• Superior interpersonal skills, including strong client service focus
• Proficient knowledge of large firm practice areas: financial restructuring, investment funds and management, and global energy and transactions
• Unfailing commitment to confidentiality of firm, department and client information
• Demonstrated strong knowledge of MS Office applications including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to learn and utilize specialized conflict checking software and multiple software applications and workflow processes of various departments
• Aptitude and willingness to work with complex procedures
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adjust to changing priorities in a professional manner
• Ability to work independently and with a team
• Ability to work effectively with all levels of personnel in a global market with tact and diplomacy
• Willingness and ability to assume new tasks and responsibilities
• Excellent judgment, discretion, and common sense
• Strong research skills, including via print resources, internet, databases and other sources
• Strong ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with users, peers, office and Firm management and outside business partners
• Ability to work well under pressure, facilitate solutions, and meet deadlines and milestones
• Ability to work extended hours as necessary to fulfill time sensitive responsibilities
• Commitment to the Firm Core Values
• Commitment to professional growth and development

The base salary range for this position in New York is $168,000 to $193,000. Additional information about benefits and rewards can be found here.

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