Head of Conflicts, Europe & US

Managing the firm's strategy and approach to regulatory and commercial risks associated with the conflicts of interest. The role forms an integral part of the firm's new business strategy and alignments, dealing with partners and senior management, advise on and resolve complex legal, strategic and commercial alignment issues.

Key Internal Relationships:

• Executive Partner, Practices
• Executive Partner, EMEA, UK & US
• Global General Counsel
• Global Managing Partners
• Global Sector Lead Partners
• Director of New Business Intake (West)
• Head of Conflicts (Asia & Australia)
• Head of New Business Intake Operations (Australia)
• Head of Financial Crime, Asia & Australia
• Head of Enterprise Risk & Assurance (UK)
• Head of Financial Crime Advisory
• Global New Business Intake team
• Conflicts Partners

Primary Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership in Conflicts of Interest Management

• Lead the strategic direction and operational excellence of the NBI team (London), in collaboration with the Director of New Business Intake, West.
• Oversee and make high-level decisions on client/matter acceptance, ensuring alignment with the firm's strategic goals and risk management policies.
• Provide strategic oversight and resolution for complex legal and commercial conflict matters, ensuring timely and effective decision-making.
• Partner with the Chief New Business & Enterprise Risk Officer and Director of New Business Intake, West to recruit, develop, and retain top talent within the Conflicts Team, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Ensure the rigorous review and negotiation of conflict provisions in engagement letters, client agreements, and tender terms, maintaining the firm's high standards of compliance and client service.
• Inspire and lead the Conflicts Team by setting clear strategic goals, fostering a culture of excellence, providing coaching and mentorship, and holding team members accountable for high performance and ethical standards.

Advisory - Strategic Client/Matter Acceptance

• Act as a key advisor to the CNB & ERO and firm's senior management on strategic decisions related to client and matter acceptance, providing insights and recommendations based on thorough analysis and risk assessment.
• Facilitate high-level discussions with senior management on complex conflict queries, ensuring informed and strategic decision-making.
• Lead the resolution of post-acceptance legal and commercial conflict issues, ensuring alignment with the firm's strategic objectives and risk management framework.
• Design and deliver advanced training programs for partners and lawyers on strategic management of legal and commercial conflicts of interest, enhancing the firm's overall risk management capabilities.

Strategic Development of New Business Intake

• Collaborate with the Heads of New Business Intake globally to drive the strategic development and implementation of innovative client and matter acceptance policies, precedents, and processes.
• Lead the design, development, and deployment market leading reporting and insights around new business acceptance, ensuring they meet the strategic needs of the firm and enhance operational efficiency.

• Collaborate with the Director of New Business Intake (West), Head of Conflicts (Asia & Australia) and the Conflicts Team in London in the design, development and testing of new NBI software as required.

Qualifications, skills and experience

• Senior-level lawyer (Executive Counsel or Special Counsel) with a proven track record in strategic leadership and conflict management.
• Demonstrates exceptional autonomy and confidence in engaging with senior stakeholders, including partners and executive management.
• Exhibits superior communication and mediation skills, with the ability to influence and drive strategic outcomes.
• Possesses strong judgment and decision-making capabilities on complex legal, strategic, and commercial issues.
• Thrives under pressure and consistently meets tight deadlines, delivering high-quality outcomes.
• Proven experience in leading high-performance teams and delivering exceptional legal and analytical services on a regional or global scale.
• Demonstrates exceptional cross team working and collaboration in a complex global environment with the ability to engage with complex policies and processes outside of core expertise (i.e. financial crime).

Competencies

Collaborates with others

• Contributes to the training and development of the Financial Crime team, NBI and the wider Firm.
• Works well within a global team in managing workflow and sharing know-how.
• Takes ownership of significant projects, leads and provides guidance to project team members.
• Develops innovative solutions by valuing diversity of thought, expertise and experience.

• Brings a positive energy to the way they work and inspires this in others.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise.
• Excellent service orientation skills.

Focuses on Clients

• Understands the importance of clients to the firm and acts with the firm's clients in mind.
• Prioritises initiatives that will positively impact the client experience and their business.
• Has a wider understanding of the Firm and its clients' commercial needs and is able to balance these appropriately with the Firms' wider regulatory obligations.

Innovates

• Understands the Firm's existing processes and is able to suggest and contribute to their improvement.
• Ability to use initiative and be pro-active.
• Seeks out market trends and introduces relevant ideas

Achieves results

• Takes personal responsibility for getting things done and is able work independently with minimal guidance.
• Ability to cope with conflicting demands and meeting deadlines
• Remains focused on long term objectives and broad firm issues.