Assistant In-House General Counsel

Best Best & Krieger LLP is a nationally recognized law firm focused on delivering effective and client-service oriented solutions to complex legal issues facing public agencies, businesses and individuals across the U.S. BBK is proud to trace the firm's success back to the groundwork of professionalism and community service laid by its founders 135 years ago. Today, with nearly 250 attorneys in offices throughout California and in Oregon and Washington, D.C., we efficiently and meaningfully assist our clients with complex, multi-disciplinary issues and provide creative solutions.
 
At BBK, we place a high degree of value in creating and nurturing a work environment that attracts the best talent and reflects our commitment to inclusiveness and collaboration. We are proud of our diverse workplace, where we respect and value our colleagues for their unique perspectives and experiences.

We have an immediate opening for an Assistant General Counsel to work with the Firm’s in-house General Counsel and advise the General Counsel, Executive Committee, attorneys and professional staff regarding the rules and regulations that govern the legal profession. 

Position Summary:

Guided by department objectives and priorities, and under the direction of the General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel is responsible for advising the firm regarding the rules and regulations that govern the legal profession. Areas of focus will include analyzing and navigating complicated conflicts issues posed in both new business and lateral scenarios, rendering advice pursuant to rules of professional conduct, and working with conflicts department leadership to implement efficient approaches to conflicts resolution and client management. Areas of focus may include:

• Analyzing and navigating complicated conflicts issues posed in both new business and lateral scenarios and liaising with firm attorneys and leadership to resolve new business and lateral conflicts issues

• Supervising and advising members of the Docketing and Conflicts & Intake teams and act as an escalation point for the more difficult and complex clearance issues

• Rendering advice pursuant to rules of professional conduct, analyzing existing conflicts processes and working with department leadership to implement more efficient and effective approaches to conflicts resolution and client management

• Performing legal research, including review of case law and ethics opinions, and assisting with drafting correspondence or briefs related to conflicts issues

• Working with the General Counsel to oversee and coordinate ethical compliance throughout the firm

• Assisting with conflicts training for lawyers and business professionals across the firm

• Staying up to date on legal ethics and work with the General Counsel to provide education and alerts

• Overseeing processes regarding conflicts resolution including implementation of ethical walls and waivers, perform legal research, including review of case law and ethics opinions, and assist with drafting correspondence or briefs related to conflicts issues

• Conducting privileged discussions on ethics and professional responsibility issues, compliance with applicable rules of professional conduct

• Liaising with in-house Labor & Employment and Human Resources personnel on employment issues

• Assisting as-needed with leasing and contract review

• All other duties as assigned or required.

Skills and Experience:

5+ years of experience as a licensed (preferably in California) and practicing attorney, and at least 2 years’ experience working in the risk/new business function of a major law firm focusing on conflicts, or as a lawyer for a state bar regulator/disciplinary committee.  Experience analyzing conflicts of interest and advising lawyers in connection with the rules of professional conduct is required and a thorough understanding of the conflicts rules in California, coupled with strong working knowledge and awareness of the current conflicts and compliance landscape, of best practices and developments in this sector, and the ability to apply this knowledge to promote continuous improvement.  Experience developing and implementing processes to improve work quality and efficiency.  Expertise in the Intapp Open conflicts system and Compulaw.  Supervisory experience is required.   

The reasonably expected pay scale for this position seeking an attorney with 5 or more years of experience is $160,000 - $200,000.  The actual salary within that range will depend on the selected candidate’s years of practice and experience.  We encourage all interested candidates to apply.  

Best Best & Krieger is an equal opportunity employer.