Head of Conflicts - UK & EMEA

Job description

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Conflicts - UK & EMEA to join our Business Acceptance Unit (BAU) in the London office. This role will will lead the firm’s conflicts function outside of the US, overseeing conflicts clearance, risk management, and compliance with the applicable conflict rules applied by A&O Shearman and will include the SRA Code of Conduct and other relevant jurisdictional requirements and firm policies. A working knowledge of the application of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and State bar regulations in the US is also needed. This role will act as the primary escalation point for UK and EMEA conflicts issues, working closely with the Managing Director of the BAU, the partners, business teams, and global conflicts functions to ensure seamless client onboarding and regulatory compliance. The role will provide strategic guidance to partners and business teams on conflict risk management and play a key role in developing the best practices for conflicts resolution within a global law firm environment.

In addition to overseeing the services provided to the business by the UK and EMEA Conflicts Team, the role will also be ultimately responsible for the management of those In-House and Senior In-House Lawyers and will assist the UK EMEA Conflicts Manager with the management of the analyst team to include, but not limited to, all aspects of training, development and performance.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Team Management

• Having principal responsibility and accountability for the UK and EMEA Conflict Lawyers, including (i) ensuring the team’s service levels are maintained at a high level and that workload is managed by the team and completed, (ii) maintaining the trusted relationships between the BAU and the firm's Partners and (iii) further building close links between the BAU team and the firm’s business.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture, ensuring adherence to firm-wide conflicts policies.
• Responsibility for the day-to-day management and development of the UK EMEA Conflict Lawyers, working close with the Managing Director responsible for the BAU to ensure that global standards are met and that each Attorney feels supported in their career and development.
• Leading on resource management/strategy within the UK EMEA team, including leading on formulating business cases for any proposed new hires and other changes to the UK and EMEA team’s responsibilities, resources and structures.
• Ensure and drive dynamic and consistent collaboration with all other parts of the Global BAU team.

Conflicts Analysis and Risk Management

• Review and analyze complex conflict reports related to new business intake, lateral hires, and ongoing client relationships.
• Provide strategic oversight and to be the senior escalation point in the UK and EMEA on conflict resolution, whether commercial or legal, and ensure a consistent approach to risk management. Exercising judgment and help BAU Attorneys to exercise judgment as to when to refer complex issues to Managing Director responsible for the BAU and senior management.
• Work closely with Managing Director responsible for the BAU, partners, fee earners, and business teams to resolve conflicts efficiently and support, where needed, other areas of client onboarding and the BAU to include AML and Financial Crime and The Engagement Terms Team.,
• Draft appropriate consents, information barrier memos and engagement letters, ensuring compliance with applicable professional conduct rules.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies to improve conflicts management within the firm on any of the applicable policies or procedures under the remit of the UK and EMEA Conflicts Team.Having principal responsibility and accountability for the UK and EMEA Conflict Lawyers, including (i) ensuring the team’s service levels are maintained at a high level and that workload is managed by the team and completed, (ii) maintaining the trusted relationships between the BAU and the firm's Partners and (iii) further building close links between the BAU team and the firm’s business.

Policy Development and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with the SRA Code of Conduct and other relevant jurisdictional requirements and global firm policies.
• Collaborate with the broader conflicts team to align policies and procedures globally.
• Maintaining structures within the BAU for the monitoring of changes in practice, professional rules, regulations and the law as it affects UK conflicts so that these can be reflected in the business acceptance and client engagement process and policies and (where needed) in communications to Partners and others.

Stakeholder Engagement and Training

• Act as a trusted advisor to partners, senior leadership, and business teams, offering expert guidance on conflicts risks.
• Develop and deliver training programs for partners, fee earners, and business services teams on conflicts resolution and compliance.
• Chair regular UK and EMEA team meetings and conference calls to facilitate training and knowledge sharing.
• Ensuring that the UK and EMEA Conflict team creates and maintains precedents and know how resources for use within the Global BAU and develops appropriate business acceptance and conflicts know how (e.g. via briefings) for use throughout the firm.
• Engage with other risk-related teams, including Data Privacy, In House Legal, Financial Crime and Sanctions and Client Engagement Terms, to ensure a holistic approach to firm-wide risk management.
• Leading on the UK and other (non-US) conflicts aspects of major projects and work-streams, for example which could arise in the future from group lateral hirings, new office openings or similar.
• Developing and implementing structures, strategies and plans for the future development of the BAU team, its policies and processes and the fulfilment of its responsibilities.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Degree from an accredited law school.
• Solicitor with active bar membership in good standing.
• Extensive experience in conflicts analysis, professional responsibility, or risk management within a UK or European law firm.
• Expert knowledge of the SRA Code of Conduct and other global/jurisdictional conflicts requirements and conflicts management best practices.
• Proven leadership experience in managing conflicts teams and processes as well as mentoring and developing a team.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior partners and business teams.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a strong attention to detail and a commercial mindset.
• A proven ability to analyse facts and scenarios thoroughly and efficiently, proactively to put forward resolutions to legal and commercial problems and confidently to make decisions and judgments on complex issues.
• Ability to work in a high-pressure environment and manage multiple complex conflicts matters efficiently and under time pressure.
• Highly enthusiastic, confident, ambitious, self-motivated and pro-active with the credibility and experience to build very strong, trusted relationships with the firm’s Partners and senior staff

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

Our approach to hybrid working seeks to combine and maximise the benefits of effective remote working with the benefits of being in the office. Our current hybrid working arrangements require office based working for a minimum of 60% of your time ( i.e. three days per week for a full time role ) in accordance with our hybrid working policy.

Additional information - External

A&O Shearman is a global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 28 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world’s leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to an inclusive environment, and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.