Conflicts Specialist

ABOUT GOWLING WLG

At Gowling WLG, our dedication to excellence and quality service begins with our people. As a global law firm with offices across Canada, the U.K., Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we pride ourselves on sourcing and retaining top talent who bring energy, passion and commitment to the delivery of outstanding client service.

Employee satisfaction is important to us. We work hard to ensure that our people are motivated, engaged and empowered. We are guided by our firm’s Core Values - The Power of Teamwork, Always Striving to be Better, We all Bring Something Different - in all that we do.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are an integral part of our firm’s core values. We are always striving to build a more equitable, engaging and rewarding workplace by attracting and retaining talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. Our aim is to help everyone reach their full potential and achieve their personal and professional goals.

Our diverse group of legal professionals, law students, law clerks, paralegals, legal administrative assistants and business services team members work together, and are respected and valued for their individual contributions.

PROFILE

As a member of Gowling WLG’s Conflicts Assessment and Matter Analysis Team (CAMAT), the Conflicts Specialist assesses and assists with the resolution of conflicts of interest in relation to the Firm’s global work. The Conflicts Specialist will also help with the construction and management of ethical screens.

This position can be based in either our Vancouver or Calgary office.

RESPONSIBILITIES
• Constructing ethical screens to manage conflicts and confidentiality concerns;
• Perform conflict searches for all Canadian offices of Gowling WLG (Canada), of varying levels of complexity and across diverse sectors, practices, and geographies, using the IntappOpen system, and application of appropriate Legal Profession Rules/Codes of Conduct and firm procedures to consider commercial, contractual, confidential information, legal or other forms of possible conflict of interest for each new business intake request;
• Conduct a detailed analysis using advanced technology to assess new clients and matters and casual searches against the Firm’s client and matter databases, identifying possible conflicts of interest, applying sound judgment to ensure effective review of conflicts and knowing when to escalate issues, providing recommendations to resolve them and ensuring clear documentation of conflicts resolutions;
• Identify potential issues raised by European files, and draft referrals to the Gowling WLG (UK) CAMAT. Negotiate with Birmingham on straightforward non-complex conflicts issues and provide support to the two conflicts lawyers on more complex issues;
• Respond to the professionals and assistants on the results, in a timely manner;
• Assist with testing and provide feedback in a major project revising the process of client onboarding and conflicts assessment, including regulatory compliance.
• Developing and maintaining substantive knowledge of and familiarity with the legal ethics, and professional responsibility rules applicable in the Firm’s geographic jurisdictions and procedures, policies, and practices relating to conflicts and other ethical issues.
• Assisting professional staff and other members of the conflicts team in identifying, evaluating, and resolving ethical conflict and business conflict issues relating to conflicts checks for lateral hires and new business matters.
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS
• The successful candidate will have at least a community college diploma, plus a minimum of three years of experience working in the legal sector;
• Experience in a customer service role, information management and/or research would be an asset. An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be accepted;
• Strong interest in technology and advanced computer literacy; experience with MS Office, accounting software and database applications; willingness to learn new applications including IntappOpen, InProtech, iManage, SPM, Aderant and Kira;
• Advanced research and problem solving skills with the ability to conduct conflict of interest searches and exercise good judgment to resolve related issues;
• Accuracy of work product and strong attention to detail;
• Ability to be flexible, adaptable, and show initiative while working in a high-volume/pressure and deadline-driven environment;
• Capacity to work independently, as well as in a virtual team environment, and to ensure consistency and consensus in response;
• Advanced time management and organization skills with the ability to multi-task among detail-oriented tasks and prioritize conflicting demands;
• Strong communication, interpersonal and customer service skills;
• Strong negotiation and teamwork skills to interact/collaborate with various groups, including partners and management;
• Understanding of the ethical, professional and legal dimensions of our roles and responsibilities, including the significance of our confidentiality commitments.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Bilingualism in French, both written and verbal, is an asset.

Gowling WLG employees benefit from a hybrid work environment.

Not sure if you meet all the requirements? If you are excited about this opportunity but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Gowling WLG is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation at any time during the recruitment process, please let us know.

While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Canada
Alberta
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