Chief Risk Officer (General Counsel)

Founded in 1952, RubinBrown LLP is one of the nation’s leading accounting and professional consulting firms. The RubinBrown name and reputation are synonymous with experience, integrity and value.

RubinBrown redefines the full-service experience by combining technical and industry expertise with a commitment to personal and high-level relationships.

https://www.rubinbrown.com/

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic leader to serve as General Counsel and chief legal advisor to the firm. This individual will play a critical role in safeguarding the firm’s legal and regulatory integrity, managing enterprise risk, and advising leadership on a wide range of compliance, legal, reputational, operational, and strategic matters. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in legal and regulatory issues affecting professional services firms and a proactive, business-focused approach to risk management.

Key Responsibilities: 

Compliance

• Advise on Corporate Governance matters and interpret Partnership Agreements.
• Direct the firm and risk team on multi-state regulatory and licensing compliance.
• Ensure firm policies and procedures align with applicable regulations and risk management standards.

Legal

• Lead responses to legal matters including but not limited to actual claims, potential claims, regulatory inquiries/investigations, subpoenas, depositions, settlements, release agreements, litigation, and client bankruptcy proceedings.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for external legal counsel and oversee litigation strategy.
• Aiding partners and team members with respect to preparation of the firm’s client engagement letters, master service agreements, responses to requests for proposals, subcontractor agreements, Kovel agreements, non-disclosure agreements, employment agreements, vendor and other client-related agreements.
• Review leases for firm premises throughout the country.
• Assist firm IT resources and personnel to establish framework for protecting firm intellectual property and confidential data.
• Investigate and manage firm employment-related legal issues.
• Other projects as assigned.

Operational

• Design and implement tools, policies, and practices for identifying, analyzing, and reporting enterprise risk including but not limited to:
• Manage the firm’s insurance portfolio including professional liability, general liability, and insurance claims and serve as main point of contact at firm for insurance carrier/broker representatives and/or legal counsel when subpoena and/or potential or actual claims arise. 
• Develop and maintain the firm’s business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
• Assist in the development of the overall firm risk appetite and quality control/risk management framework including but not limited to:
• Conduct regular review of new and current services performed by firm and calculate firm risk exposure and appetite to take on or continue with the engagement.
• Review client lists with each partner on an annual basis and, if necessary, report back to Risk and/or Executive Committee on whether clients continue to fit within firm risk appetite.
• Review of completed Client Acceptance/Continuance forms 
• Ensure all accepted engagements have risk committee and/or full partnership approval.
• Follow-up with partners to review client acceptance/continuance forms and managing associated risks prior to formal acceptance of engagement
• Review and approve all engagement letters.
• Confirm receipt of signed engagement agreements each year.
• Annual review of conflicts of interest and independence impairment checks. 
• Facilitate all firm risk management training. 
• Review CPE with department heads to assess annual reporting, compliance and ascertain whether CPE is relevant. 
• Facilitate annual internal quality review process.
• Report to Risk and/or Executive Committee at least annually or as needed arises.

Reputational

• Advise on external risk issues related to marketing, public communications, and team member relations.
• Support crisis communication and reputation protection strategies as needed.

Information Technology

• Partner with the Chief Information Officer (CIO) to support information protection and cybersecurity initiatives.
• Guide risk assurance efforts to detect and mitigate technology vulnerabilities and threats.

Strategic

• Monitor emerging risks and provide regular reports to the Quality/Risk Committee and the Board of Directors.
• Provide legal support for mergers and acquisitions, including due diligence, drafting and review of LOIs and purchase agreements, and post-transaction integration.
• Develop and deliver firm-wide training on legal and risk-related topics including Ethics and Independence.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience advising on matters related to multi-state regulations, insurance, and IT/cybersecurity.
• Prior experience with M&A activity, including legal due diligence and integration planning.
• Strong presentation skills and the ability to train senior leaders and staff on legal and ethical topics.

Qualifications:

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school; admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 10+ years of relevant legal experience, preferably with a background in professional services, accounting, or a regulated industry.
• In-depth knowledge of legal, compliance, and enterprise risk issues affecting professional services firms with the ability to anticipate and identify emerging issues and strategically weigh risks to the firm 
• Proven ability to lead complex legal and strategic initiatives across multiple business units.
• Detail-oriented individual, with excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize competing deadlines
• Excellent communication, written, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Demonstrated experience drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and advising on a variety of contracts, including negotiation of agreements with clients, vendors, contractors, and other third parties as required
• Strong legal research experience dealing with nuanced issues in a variety of practice areas
• Ability to work independently as well as a team member
• Experience drafting court filings is desirable, but not required