Senior Conflicts Attorney
Toronto, ON, CA Edmonton, AB, CA Calgary, AB, CA Ottawa, ON, CA
Dentons is designed to be different. Our firm leads the way in a rapidly changing legal marketplace. We challenge the status quo and deliver consistent results as well as uncompromising quality and value to our clients. Our global presence is renowned as a firm with over 21,000 individuals in more than 200 offices serving clients across 80+ countries.
Dentons Canada is committed to its people and communities. We are consistently recognized as an employer of choice having received numerous awards including being selected as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers (2025); Canada’s Top Employers for Young People (2024), and Canada’s Best Diversity Employers (2024).
This role is an opportunity for you to join the world’s largest law firm, a firm that offers opportunities to build your career while growing your skills and deepening your expertise.
The Opportunity
A fully remote position, we are specifically seeking appropriate US candidates with substantive and significant conflicts experience (minimum 4 years, ideally more) under the US rules (or Canada or the SRA rules) at preferably an international business, or large national, law firm—this is an essential requirement. We are open to you working remotely from the US. Relocation to Canada assisted by the Firm may be a possibility for the right candidate and depending on the circumstances. Training in the applicable Canadian professional rules will be provided— this is not needed in advance.
A prior fee earning background of minimum a few years at preferably an international business law firm is highly desirable but not essential. Specific, demonstrable conflicts experience in: (a) lateral attorney hires and / or; (b) review of conflicts provisions in client terms or OCGs; and/ or (c) conflicts input into RFPs/Expressions of Interests is highly desirable but not essential. Commercial acumen in essential. Intapp experience is highly preferred. The ability to perform searches independently (ideally on Intapp, or another similar platform) from scratch is essential.
There is a preference the for Pacific time zone, but all time zones will be considered.
The Role
Are you interested in utilizing and expanding your experience in the areas of conflicts and ethics, while working with innovative leaders and colleagues around the globe? Are you a lawyer who looks for creative solutions to problems and enjoys collaborating within a dynamic team?
Are you interested in thought provoking and challenging work, while maintaining a standard work schedule, with the option to work remotely? If so, we would love to talk to you about joining our team of conflicts professionals!
Dentons Canada is currently seeking a Senior Conflicts Attorney to join our Canada Conflicts team. Working primarily from and with the Office of the General Counsel in the Canada Region, the Senior Conflicts Attorney will assist with potential conflict of interest issues firm wide while playing an integral role in the firm’s client-matter intake process.
Primary Responsibilities – the below are indicative
- *****Please note that training in the applicable Canadian professional rules will be provided— this is not needed in advance.
- Develop search strategies, conduct, review and analyze legal conflicts of interest and confidential information issues arising from:
- a range of complex potential and existing matters;
- new clients;
- potential lateral hires completing the conflicts analysis and navigating potential issues in relation to Firm responses to RFPs.
- Review client terms and advising on potential conflicts issues, including providing commercially appropriate solutions in light of how the Firm is positioned vis-à-vis other clients / market sectors etc.
- Advise on, and assist with, the implementation of commercially appropriate solutions to resolve legal conflicts and confidentiality issues, including, where appropriate drafting consent terms and coordinating the implementation of information barriers.
- Assess conflicts compliance with relevant rules of professional conduct generally and the Firm’s own conflicts policies.
- Identify, analyze and facilitate resolution of potential commercial conflicts of interest issues with lawyers and professionals firm wide.
- Brokering discussions between partners firmwide and other stakeholders as necessary to navigate and resolve legal and commercial conflicts, and confidentiality issues
- Act as a senior point of escalation for other colleagues.
- Provide ad hoc advice to partners and other fee earners as required.
- Draft and review conflicts-related language for client engagement letters.
- As necessary, advise lawyers and professionals as to the firm’s conflicts rights and obligations under existing client engagement agreements
- Become proficient working in the firm’s client-matter intake platform (Intapp Open)
- Contribute to the department's 'know how' system.
- From time to time, assist other colleagues with queries and help train junior members, if needed.
- From time-to-time, develop and deliver training / Continuing Professional Development courses to firm lawyers
- Other duties as assigned to fully meet the requirements of the position.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Minimum of a bachelor's degree and/or LLB or JD.
- Prior substantive and demonstrable conflicts experience under the US rules is essential—minimum 4 years, preferably with an international business law firm, or a large national law firm.
- Highly desirable but not essential – a prior fee earning background of minimum a few years at preferably an international business law firm
- Comprehensive knowledge of Canada or US conflicts rules and guidelines—US knowledge is transferable to the Canadian context.
- Knowledge of a variety of practice areas to understand where possible conflicts issues may arise within them.
- Intapp experience preferred.
- The ability to perform searches independently (ideally on Intapp, or another similar platform) from scratch is essential.
Personal Skills and Attributes
- Excellent commercial acumen.
- Ability to work under pressure and manage competing deadlines effectively.
- Demonstrates efficiency and thoroughness in work, with a methodical and organized approach.
- Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion with sensitive information.
- Exhibits strong teamwork acumen, able to team and interact positively at all levels within the Firm.
- Exercises sound judgment, making informed decisions and remaining composed under pressure.
- Proactive and client-focused with an ability to leverage problem-solving and analytical skills to solution complex issues.
- Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, and can manage difficult situations under pressure and within tight deadlines.
- Upholds the Firm's values, promoting equal opportunities and diversity.
- Acts as a professional ambassador for the Firm, demonstrating commitment to privacy and ethical conduct.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
At Dentons we are committed to offering equitable and competitive pay, we achieve this by aligning internal salary ranges for specific roles to similar positions in the external market. In the normal course, our practice is to hire, transfer and promote employees within the entry part of our range, adjusting as needed based on the prior experience, skills and competencies required for the role along with any market differentials.
Recognizing our exceptional talent means providing a comprehensive total rewards package beyond a competitive salary. We have curated our employee benefits portfolio to offer inclusive and comprehensive wellbeing and developmental programs for our people. With extended benefits and mental health plans, paid time off, savings plans, fitness subsidy, parental leave top up and more, our benefits are flexible, aligned to our core values and supports the various needs of our people. Additionally, our personal and professional development programs include people networks, mentorships, and leadership series programming to help people grow their career.
Note: Availability of the benefits and perks may be subject to your location and employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements. Dentons reserves the right to alter these programs and offerings in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.
Equal Opportunity Statement
At Dentons Canada, inclusion, diversity and equity (ID&E) are not just ancillary values, they are foundational to our business. We believe that ID&E is essential to the shared success of our team and our clients. Our forward-thinking and inclusive culture supports the professional development of all our people, enhances the leading services we offer to our clients, and informs our commitment to make a positive impact in the communities where we live and work. As a testament to our commitment to ID&E, we have been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employer’s for 14 consecutive years (2011-2024), as well as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People (2024) for the seventh time.
Dentons Canada is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome your application. All employment decisions, including hiring, will be made without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, colour, creed, disability, ethnic origin, family status, gender assigned at birth, gender identity, marital status, place of origin, race, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by applicable human rights legislation.
We are committed to providing you with an inclusive, barrier-free and accessible workplace to support your success. Should you require accommodation during the recruitment process, for example as a result of a disability, please contact us at careers.canada@dentons.com.