Associate Director, Client Intake & Compliance

THE FIRM

As a leading international law firm, we are dedicated to excellence through impactful communication, collaboration, and community involvement. Our company culture has earned us one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" for 27 consecutive years. This honor, along with many others, highlights our commitment to innovation and professional development. At Alston & Bird LLP, our foundation is made of trust, reliability, and compassion.

JOB DESCRIPTION

SUMMARY

The Associate Director, Client Intake & Compliance (AD), will lead the firm’s enterprise‑wide conflict‑of‑interest, new business intake, and risk management functions. This leader will have full autonomy to imagine, rebuild, and direct the Conflicts Department—including operational strategy, staffing, technology, governance, workflows, and firmwide training. The AD will partner closely with the General Counsel, firm leadership, and administrative stakeholders to ensure a modern, efficient, and defensible conflicts infrastructure.  The AD is expected to serve as a positive role model and mentor for the staff, and to perform all responsibilities with a commitment to providing superior service to the firm’s lawyers, efficient and effective departmental operations, and an atmosphere of teamwork and continuous improvement. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Execute strategic vision of Director of Business Information Governance and Office of General Counsel

• Direct the firm’s new business intake, conflicts, and risk compliance on a firm wide basis

• Serve as point of contact to partnership on client intake and conflicts needs and issues, with escalation to the Director of Business Information Governance and General Counsel as needed

• Continually assessing technology and staffing needs, advance recommendations to Director of Business Information Governance.

• Manage direct reports

• Develop and maintain policies and procedures related to risk including client due diligence, lateral transfer processes, intake and conflicts process, ethical wall process, audit letter process, and matter closing process

• Oversee training for new and existing personnel

• Maintain expertise in the full life cycle of business intake policies and procedures, including file closure, and advise firm leadership on best practices and areas for improvement. 

• Align processes across offices and work closely with Office of General Counsel in providing service to partnership.

• Maintain expertise in risk management policies and procedures, advise firm leadership on best practices and areas for improvement.

• Develop and maintain internal training manuals and documentation.

• Respond to inquiries from firm staff and attorneys regarding the new business intake, conflicts, and other risk compliance processes.

• Apply expertise and experience to develop staff to reach their fullest potential in support of extraordinary service to the partnership and clients.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL:

• Demonstrate project management skills and ability to lead others on potentially lengthy, complex projects and initiatives

• Superior written communication skills and the ability to draft and execute complex communications including policies and procedures, instructional documents, etc.

• Superior interpersonal skills, including strong oral communication skills and the ability to communicate potentially detailed and complex information to others

• Commitment to confidentiality of firm, department and client information

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adjust to changing priorities in a professional manner

• Strong leadership and managerial skills

• Strong research skills, including via internet, databases and other sources

• Strong service orientation, and an ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with users, peers, office and firm management, and outside business partners

• Ability to work well under pressure, facilitate solutions, and meet deadlines and milestones

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• 10+ years of progressively more responsible new business intake and conflict/compliance experience, preferably with manager or associate director-level experience

• Bachelor’s Degree/Master of Studies or MBA is preferred

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Alston & Bird LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer does not discriminate on the bases of any status protected under federal, state, or local law. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in relation to our recruiting, hiring, and promoting practices.

The statements contained in this position description are not necessarily all-inclusive, additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned, and requirements may vary from time to time.

Professional business references and a background screening will be required for all final applicants selected for a position.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability you may contact donavan.mclean@alston.com.

Alston & Bird is not currently accepting resumes from agencies for this position. If you are a recruiter, search firm, or employment agency, you will not be compensated in any way for your referral of a candidate even if Alston & Bird hires the candidate.