Join Goodwin’s Global Operations Team, and make a real impact on a global scale.
At Goodwin, we work with some of the world’s most successful and innovative
investors, entrepreneurs and disruptors in the life sciences, private equity,
real estate, technology and financial industries, and where they converge. As
part of the Global Operations Team – all business professionals at the firm –
you’ll collaborate with colleagues from varied backgrounds and experiences,
fostering an environment where cross-functional learning, networking, and
collaboration are at the core of what we do.
Here, we’re not just supporting a law firm; we’re partnering with attorneys and
clients to deliver cutting-edge solutions in high-stakes litigation and dispute
resolution, world-class regulatory compliance and advisory services, and complex
transactions. Our commitment to integrity, ingenuity, agility, and ambition
drives us, and we’re proud to have been recognised as the “Best Business Team”
by The American Lawyer.
This is your opportunity to grow professionally in a dynamic, global
environment, surrounded by forward-thinking peers.
As an Audit Response & Conflicts Attorney you will be responsible for
coordinating the firm’s timely, accurate, and compliant response to audit
letters issued by auditors of Firm clients, in accordance with Firm policies and
applicable professional responsibility rules or other legal requirements.
During periods of lower audit letter volume, this role will support the
Conflicts Department’s primary function of performing conflicts analysis and
clearance of conflicts issues, assisting with business intake, and advising
attorneys and business professionals regarding conflict and other risk
management issues.
What You Will Do:
Audit Response
* Coordinate the Firm's audit inquiry response process, including intake,
tracking, internal information gathering, preparation of responses, and
issuance of audit response letters.
* Review auditor requests, supporting documentation, and draft responses, to
ensure compliance with Firm policies, engagement terms, professional
responsibility obligations (including the ABA’s Statement of Policy Regarding
Lawyers' Responses to Auditors' Requests for Information), and applicable
legal standards.
* Identify pending or threatened claims, and other matters potentially
requiring disclosure in audit responses.
* Collaborate with partners and other timekeepers to obtain information
necessary to evaluate and prepare audit responses.
* Interface with Finance with respect to unpaid fee-related inquiries from
auditors.
* Draft, revise, and finalize audit response letters and related
communications, in collaboration with the client relationship partner for the
relevant client.
* Monitor audit response deadlines and proactively manage outstanding requests
to ensure timely completion of all responses.
Conflicts
* Review and triage new business intake requests to ensure completeness,
accuracy, and compliance with Firm policies.
* Develop search strategies and conduct conflicts searches to identify
relationships, matters, and other information relevant to conflicts and risk
assessment.
* Analyze conflicts search results to identify actual, potential, positional,
business, and other conflicts of interest, and assess associated legal,
ethical, and business risks.
* Prepare conflicts summaries with comprehensive analysis of conflicts and
other risk management issues in connection with new clients, new matters,
changes to existing clients or matters, lateral hires, and other internal
requests.
* Advise attorneys, administrative departments, and Firm leadership regarding
conflicts issues, proposed resolution strategies, and associated risk
considerations.
* Conduct legal research concerning conflicts of interest, professional
responsibility, confidentiality, and related ethical obligations.
* Implement ethical screens, draft waiver letters, and draft special engagement
letter language, as needed or instructed by partners or departmental
leadership.
* Analyze engagement letters and outside counsel guidelines to determine
client-specific requirements affecting conflicts review, waiver obligations,
information barriers, and related risk management considerations.
* Provide guidance to firm attorneys regarding professional responsibility and
related ethical obligations.
* Participate in departmental projects, policy development initiatives,
training programs, and process improvement efforts.
Who You Are:
* J.D. from an accredited law school is required.
* Admitted to practice and in good standing in a state in which the Firm has an
office.
* Experience with conflicts/business intake systems and ethical wall software
(ideally Intapp), document management systems, and proficiency in Word,
Excel, Outlook & PowerPoint.
* Preferred: 2+ years of professional experience at a large law firm or as
in-house counsel.
* Preferred: Experience handling audit inquiry responses, litigation
management, professional responsibility matters, conflicts analysis, new
business intake, or related legal risk management functions strongly
preferred.
* Ability to analyze complex legal, ethical, and business issues and develop
practical, risk-based solutions.
* Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to draft
concise, accurate, and professional correspondence.
* Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to
manage large volumes of work and competing deadlines.
* Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a
collaborative team.
* Ability to adapt to changing priorities, workflow demands, and business
needs.
* Preferred: Knowledge of audit letter practices, litigation disclosure
principles, confidentiality and privilege concerns, and related risk
management considerations.
* Preferred: Comprehensive understanding of the ABA Model Rules of Professional
Conduct, and analogous state rules, and the interpretation/application of
such rules as well as relevant caselaw.
* Ability to travel to various offices.
#LI-TD1
Benefits and More
At Goodwin, you will discover your next career opportunity with a rewarding
compensation package and comprehensive benefits, including:
* Health, dental, and vision insurance
* Life and disability insurance
* Retirement & Savings Plan
* Emergency back-up child and adult care
* Paid vacation, sick time off, and holidays
* Professional development and career advancement opportunities
* Employee recognition and reward programs
* Employee wellness and assistance programs
* Employee discounts and perks
This position is eligible for overtime: No
The Target Salary Range For This Position Varies By Location And Is Commensurate
With Relevant Experience: Boston $119,300 - $178,900 | Los Angeles $128,200 -
$192,300 | New York $128,200 - $192,300 | Orange County $128,200 - $192,300 |
Philadelphia $116,900 - $175,300 | San Diego $128,200 - $192,300 | San Francisco
$137,200 - $205,800 | Santa Monica $128,200 - $192,300