Conflicts Attorney

Description

Reports To: Chief Operating Officer

Salary: $120,000 - $145,000

Status: Exempt

Location: Seattle

About Us:

Williams Kastner is a premier multi-practice law firm in the Pacific Northwest with more than 60 attorneys in Washington and Oregon. We have been serving clients with high-quality legal services since 1929. As a firm we embrace diversity and inclusion through our people, our work and our support for, and participation in, community programs and projects which foster diversity. 

Williams Kastner Attorneys:

Williams Kastner attorneys are highly regarded in the legal field, with many receiving numerous accolades for their work and community involvement. We take pride in delivering quality legal services tailored to our clients' needs. Integrity is a core value for us, and we are passionate about the service we provide. At Williams Kastner, we invest in our attorneys to help them achieve their personal goals and become integral members of our thriving firm. Our attorneys collaborate to build successful practices that support our clients. They are often recognized as proactive, hardworking, dedicated, meticulous, approachable, and kind. Our attorneys embody the Williams Kastner ethos: exceptional, authentic, accountable, innovative, and resilient. 

Position Overview:

We are seeking a Conflicts Attorney in our Seattle office. This position will conduct and analyze advanced searches of existing and potential clients to avoid potential legal conflicts and oversee the firm’s records department.

Requirements

Responsibilities of Conflicts Attorney:

This position generally involves recurring work situations with occasional variation from average to moderate complexity. The employee must perform all duties with minimal supervision. Overtime might occur during periods of high workload.

Responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to the following: 

Conflicts Responsibilities:

• Review and analyze new matters and clients brought to the firm, including calling and emailing attorneys to verify information submitted.  Prepare a concise summary of potential conflicts identified to the requesting attorney, and recommend appropriate responsive action.
• Oversee new employee orientation regarding conflicts and records policies and procedures, coordinating conflicts and records issues as they pertain to lawyer arrivals and departures.
• Assist attorneys in communicating with their clients to determine the nature of the potential conflict and whether such conflict may be waived.
• Draft conflicts-of-interest waivers and requests, where applicable, for new matters brought to the firm. Waiver requests or conflict disclosures will be communicated by the requesting or responsible attorney to the prospective or existing client.
• Advise firm counsel and/or firm management, as necessary, during the conflict resolution process for appropriate approvals or decisions.
• Accurately document conflicts resolution with the appropriate client and matter file.
• Assist firm counsel in clearing new attorneys joining the firm (lateral or contract attorney candidates) by communicating with the candidate and prior employers as necessary.  
• Review conflicts reports and prior matter lists provided by new hires.
• Identify and remove out of date information from the conflicts database through research and communication with responsible attorneys.  
• Research and analyze potential and current client and adverse party corporate family affiliations and subsidiaries.
• Advise the firm’s internal Business Intake Committee on client engagement agreements, litigation guidelines, or any other additional client originated supplemental engagement terms or agreements (e.g., Outside Counsel Guidelines, or “OCG’s”).
• Research and advise attorneys on client-related ethical issues pertaining to conflicts, confidentiality, client property, and other pertinent Rules of Professional Conduct.

Records Responsibilities:

• Plan, develop, and implement records management policies and procedures intended to standardize filing, protection, and retrieval of records, reports, and other information. 
• Develop and promote policies and procedures for determining and verifying the appropriate disposition of all records related to the legal practice and administrative functions of the firm and its members and employees.
• Research, develop, and implement records retention schedules as needed for all administrative and client files.
• Draft and review agreements with outside vendors and clients as necessary.
• Facilitate transfer of files to the firm from external providers, as well as files from the firm to clients and outside counsel.
• Oversee and supervise support clerk duties related to document management, including records consolidation efforts, digitization initiatives, and handling of original documents.  
• Correspond with and coordinate with preferred records management vendors for scanning, storage, or secure destruction as needed.
• Maintain and supervise an accurate index and inventory of all on-site and off-site client records, ensuring compliant handling of client originals.
• Confirm and communicate with attorneys regarding client files stored on their behalf, returning records to the client as necessary and facilitating digitization for long-term storage.
• Perform necessary attorney departure management, including approval of trust and retainer refunds and application of advance payment to outstanding bills during matter transfer.

Management Responsibilities:

• Directly supervise two employees in the Conflicts & Records Department.  
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.  
• Interview, hire, and train employees on Conflicts & Records Department duties and policies as necessary.
• Plan, assign, and direct work and new projects as needed.
• Solicit, develop, and provide performance feedback to direct reports.
• Counsel and document performance problems and recommend disciplinary action when appropriate.

Qualifications of Conflicts Attorney: 

• 2+ years’ experience in conflicts of interest and/or ethics in a law firm environment.
• Ability to lead and manage a team.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• A risk management mindset with keen attention to detail.
• Ability to exercise discretion and good judgment.  
• Maintain flexibility as priorities/tasks change.
• Bachelor’s Degree Required.
• Juris Doctorate Required.
• Bar admission in at least one jurisdiction is required, preferably Oregon or Washington State

Additional experience and educational preferences: 

Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job will be considered.

• Experience with Orion Law Management Systems (by ProfitSolv) and NetDocuments is a plus.

Salary Range and Benefits:  

$120,000  – $145,000 This salary range is dependent upon a variety of factors, which include but are not limited to the following: the candidate’s relevant experience, skill level, and demonstrated ability to perform all of the essential functions of the position as well as the ability to perform tasks which would arise from the needs of the position or as assigned and all of the qualifications listed in the job description. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short & long-term disability, 401K, paid time off, and holiday pay.   

Working Conditions: 

This position is capable of working partially remote, based on the needs of the firm. The need to be in the office cannot be predicted as the work assigned will be based on multiple factors. When in the office normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, temperature, etc. Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time; frequently operates a computer and other office machinery such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer; often works under deadlines; occasionally needs to move about the office to access file cabinets, machinery, etc. Ability to occasionally lift objects weighing up to 25 pounds. Travel outside the office may be necessary occasionally.