Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP seeks an experienced Director of Risk and Compliance. The firm will consider qualified candidates seeking partially-remote or hybrid work arrangements. Reporting to the Office of the General Counsel, the Director of Risk and Compliance manages the firm’s risk mitigation policies and procedures, and oversees important areas of legal and regulatory compliance, including conflicts and acceptance of new business, professional liability and commercial risk, confidentiality issues, anti-money laundering, sanctions, data protection, client guidelines, and compliance with firm policies, the Rules of Professional Conduct, and other applicable regulatory obligations.
Play key role in the firm’s business intake process by analyzing, reporting and resolving conflicts of interest, conducting or overseeing business suitability review of new clients and matters, ensuring uniform compliance with applicable firm policies regarding business intake and conflicts, and advising on issues related to confidential information, joint representation, anti-money laundering, sanctions, and reputational risk.
Oversee the firm’s Conflicts and New Business Intake Analysts.
Review and advise on client engagement letters and outside counsel guidelines, particularly with respect to conflicts of interest and compliance with firm policies.
Advise Finance Department of relevant pricing or billing guidelines contained in outside counsel guidelines and engagement letters.
Undertake due diligence and reputational risk assessment of new clients and matters, including working with the CIO to analyze potential phishing and ransomware threats.
Conduct due diligence assessments of global vendor agreements, both when the firm is a vendor and when the firm is contracting with a third party; review agreements for the retention of third-party service providers directly or indirectly for the benefit of clients.
Analyze the firm’s insurance coverage needs and manage applications and renewals of professional liability, management, employment practices liability, cyber and commercial business insurance.
Liaise with internal departments and individual attorneys regarding client and prospective client requests for information regarding the firm’s policies, practices, and compliance with rules, laws, and regulations and client requirements.
Oversee the firm’s response to a variety of client surveys and other inquiries.
Respond to ad hoc attorney inquiries relating to ethics and compliance issues.
Oversee internal compliance with external requirements and internal policies and procedures, including managing required certifications.
Bachelor’s degree from four-year college or university, JD, and membership in good standing of at least one state bar.
At least five years’ experience working as a lawyer in the compliance, conflicts, risk management or business acceptance department of a law firm or similar background in legal risk management and compliance. Prior experience in private practice is a plus.
Experience supervising other employees and providing requisite training regarding conflicts and other areas of expertise.
Excellent oral and written communication skills. Must be able to give clear advice succinctly (orally and in writing) on complex issues.
Excellent working knowledge of legal ethics, risk management, and loss prevention concepts.
Ability to adapt to change and balance competing demands, including performing emergency conflicts checks and analyses when needed.
Outstanding commitment to confidentiality, integrity, and professionalism.
Ability to strategically identify and propose procedures to improve the quality and efficiency of the firm’s operations, including suggesting policy updates or revisions.
Strong working knowledge of legal database applications and the Microsoft Office 365 suite of software. 3E experience is a plus.
Reputation as a proactive problem solver, who displays the ability to apply pragmatic commercial thinking to complex ethical, regulatory, and compliance issues
Morris Nichols has achieved a significant national presence, while retaining its character as a Delaware firm: collegial, dedicated to its community and bar, and eminently qualified to serve clients in local, national, and global markets.
Our commitment to the highest quality of service requires equally high levels of commitment and talent from our greatest resource: our people. Attorneys and staff cultivate and enjoy the greatest respect for each other. These relationships sustain us day after day and during times of peak effort and inspire us to continue to grow and develop as individuals, as colleagues and as coworkers.
