The Department

The Risk and Compliance team work in collaboration with the business to ensure best practice across the Firm, effectively managing all aspects of the regulation surrounding the efficient running of our Firm.

As the Firm continues to grow and expand the Mishcon Group both here and abroad, the challenges facing the team are also increasing. As the Firm attracts new talent it generates an increasing number of strategic initiatives which often involves the GC Team. We are therefore embedded into the senior management of the Firm, working closely with a range of stakeholders who seek our counsel and input into projects and initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Conflicts Manager will focus on managing conflict escalations and work closely with the COLP and Conflicts team. They will have responsibility for ensuring a timely and efficient process is adhered to in the conflicts stage of new matter inception, client and matter risk assessments and clearing conflicts, ensuring the highest legal standards are maintained.

The key role of the Conflicts Manager is to provide support to the COLP / General Counsel (Legal Practice) in executing the MDR Group's strategy for management of processes related to the analysis and resolution of potential conflicts. They will provide subject matter expertise resolving issues or deciding on the right course of action. Additionally, the Conflicts Manager will play a critical role in supporting the management, training and development of the Conflict team, working in close collaboration with the AML Managers.

As a result of our Firm's continued evolvement, this role will require an individual who has a flexible and agile approach to their work, with the ability to turn their hand to a multitude of tasks with a solutions-focussed approach. Strong interpersonal and communications skills are essential. An appetite for continuous personal development as well as a keenness to support other team members with their growth is required.

Conflicts Escalation and training

• Provide the Conflict Advisors and wider Analyst team with an escalation point for legal conflicts across the MDR Group, resolving higher risk conflict queries which includes identifying and recommending courses of action and escalating issues to the COLP for review where appropriate.
• Develop and lead on Conflicts team training the team where necessary in relation to conflicts, new business and the process for onboarding clients.
• Work in close collaboration with other Managers on the recruitment, management, development and retention of the Conflicts team.
• Provide the highest standards of service to Partners and Senior Stakeholders with consideration for both regulatory/ethical requirements as well as the Firm's strategic objectives.
• Ensure all conflicts requests are being handled accurately and in compliance with the MDR Groups Conflicts Process and all KPIs are achieved. This may include audit and quality assurance responsibilities.
• Periodically review the conflict checking processes to suggest continuous improvement to the conflicts or new clients onboarding procedures.
• Working alongside the COLP on reviewing, drafting and implement certain conflict related policies, including for lateral hires and MDR Group growth initiatives (and other points related to conflicts policies and procedures).
• Maintain knowledge of legislation and rules relating to conflicts and ensure consistent conflicts and ethics practices across all of the MDR Group.
• Support with general queries including those from our People Team and wider Business Operations Teams relating to lateral hires across the MDR Group.
• To build relationships across the Firm with key stakeholders, to be able to provide advice and guidance as and when requested.
• To work in collaboration with the AML Managers as and when required.
• To represent our risk function on a range of Group-wide projects or initiatives, working with a range of stakeholders across the business.
• Supporting the General Counsel team with general queries, advice and other ad-hoc work where appropriate.
• To provide ad-hoc out of hours support (including weekends) to Partners and Lawyers on emergency matters relating to Conflicts (this responsibility will be shared amongst the Conflicts team and only takes place in exceptional circumstances).

Conflicts Team Management

• Management and development of the Conflicts and AML Analyst team.
• To support in maintaining a collaborative team environment that delivers the highest standards of advice and guidance to the business.
• When required, assist with the recruitment and subsequent onboarding processes, continuously acting as an ambassador for Mishcon, to support and embed new colleagues into the team.
• To act as a role model for our colleagues within the wider Risk & Compliance Department - to provide support or mentoring for junior colleagues as and when required.

Skills/Experience

• Meaningful experience with Intapp (our Matter Opening system) is essential.
• Experience of advising on conflicts and regulatory issues preferably within an international law firm.
• Excellent working knowledge of regulatory issues affecting law firms, including the SRA Code of Conduct.
• Proven experience of managing key processes and procedures is crucial.
• Project management skills are desirable, but not essential.
• People management experience is highly desirable.
• We encourage applications from qualified lawyers, or equivalent foreign qualification or non-qualified individuals with relevant experience currently operating within a conflicts focussed role.
• We welcome applications from candidates who are interested in or already studying for the SQE.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

About The Mishcon de Reya Group

The Mishcon de Reya Group is an independent, international professional services business with law at its heart, employing over 1450 people with over 650 lawyers. It includes the law firm Mishcon de Reya LLP and a collection of leading consultancy businesses that complement the firm's legal services.

Mishcon de Reya LLP is based in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore and Hong Kong (through its association with Karas So LLP ). The firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply. Its work is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex, spanning seven core practice areas: Corporate ; Dispute Resolution ; Employment ; Impact; Innovation ; Private ; and Real Estate .

TheMishcon de Reya Groupincludes consultancy businesses MDR Discover,MDRi (in Hong Kong),MDR Mayfair(in London, Singapore and Dubai),MDR ONE andMDRx. The Group also includesMDR Lab, which invests in the most promising early stage legaltech companies as well as the Mishcon Academy, its in-house place of learning and platform for thought leadership.

Earlier this year, the Group announced its first strategic acquisition in the alternative legal services market, flexible legal resourcing business Flex Legal. It also acquired a majority stake in Somos, a global group actions management business.

We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.

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