The Role

We require Conflicts Specialists to work within our newly re-structured Conflicts & Compliance Team, dedicated to helping the business to meet its obligations under the Solicitors Regulation Authority Codes of Conduct and manage its commercial risk.  This role offers a fantastic opportunity to be part of a team performing a critical function within an international law firm that brings together local knowledge, sector insight and an unrivalled transatlantic footprint. This role falls under our hybrid working policy, and we would ask that you are able to visit one of our offices at least two days per week as per current working practices.  Bristol, Plymouth or Southampton office locations would be advantageous but not essential.

What will the role involve?

The role provides a stimulating opportunity to be involved in the development of a new Conflicts and Compliance team, helping to determine whether a new client or matter can, or should, be accepted by us in line with the SRA Codes of Conduct, our existing caseload and our own Ethical Framework. The role will utilise and develop your commercial awareness and compliance knowledge, and will involve analysing some complex commercial matter and US related conflicts.

Role responsibilities will include:

• Analysing potential conflicts of interest using the Firm's conflict checking system, Intapp Open
• Working with partners and fee earners to obtain relevant information to assist your analysis
• Analysing potential legal conflicts and confidential information issues in accordance with applicable regulation and common law
• Identifying wider commercial risk issues at the client acceptance and conflict checking stage
• Providing partners and fee earners with advice and support throughout the conflict checking process
• Developing a good working relationship with the legal teams and practice groups to determine best practices and facilitate prompt and pragmatic outcomes
• Working closely with US counterparts to analyse potential conflicts of interest and liaise with colleagues to help achieve waivers in line with US ethical rules, where required
• Developing knowledge of the SRA Code of Conduct rules relating to conflicts of interest and the duties of confidentiality and disclosure

To be successful in this role, you'll need as a minimum:

• Either a law degree/GDL/LPC OR previous experience of working in a compliance function OR relevant experience from working within a commercial law firm (ideally as a conflicts analyst).
• Experience of gathering and analysing information and utilising it in a methodical way.
• Proven ability to work to competing deadlines, prioritise appropriately and maintain a positive working attitude.
• Highly organised with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to form and maintain good relationships with colleagues at all levels.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• High level of computer literacy and a willingness and ability to learn new software and systems.

We continually work hard to create an open culture that sets us apart from other firms. Our culture gives us much more of a human feel, emphasising that we're more than just suits!

As signatories to the Mindful Business Charter, it's important to us that our people are able to maintain healthy and happy lives, both in and out of work. We have a number of resources and initiatives designed to support health and wellbeing and we're very happy to talk flexible working, full-time or part-time working patterns.

Through our DEI initiatives we create an environment in which difference is valued. We have an Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group, led by our Board Sponsor, which works with our colleague networks (we currently have firm supported networks for race, ethnicity, and cultural heritage, LGBTQ+, disabilities, families, and women's career development and we're in constant dialogue with our people about how we expand our networks to better support everybody). Find out more about ED&I at WBD here. We encourage applicants from all social backgrounds, ethnicities, disabilities, gender identities and sexual orientations.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long term condition and need us to make any adjustments to give you the best possible recruitment process, please let us know by contacting the recruiter on the right hand side of this page. Please also let us know if you need this job advert or the application form in a different format.

We will offer an interview to candidates with a disability or long-term condition who meet the minimum criteria for this role. You can opt into this scheme within the application form. Your response to this question is only used for this purpose, is only visible to the recruitment team and is not used for data monitoring. 

We are an in-house recruitment team and will always aim to fill our roles directly in the first instance. If you're an agency, please click here for ways that you can work with us.