Client Contracts Counsel

ABOUT JENNER & BLOCK

Jenner & Block LLP is a law firm with global reach, with offices in Century City, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. The firm is known for its prominent and successful litigation practice, global investigations practice, regulatory and government controversies work, and experience handling sophisticated and high-profile corporate transactions. Its clients include Fortune 100 companies, technology companies, large privately held corporations, emerging companies, Native American tribes, and venture capital and private equity investors. The American Lawyer has recognized Jenner & Block as the No. 1 pro bono firm in the United States 10 times.

OVERVIEW

Jenner & Block is seeking an innovative, meticulous, motivated individual for the Client Contracts Counsel role. This is an exciting opportunity to join Jenner & Block, where our foundation is one of shared values: a commitment to integrity and professionalism, an eye towards a brighter future, and a tireless pursuit of justice. We have built a supportive and inclusive culture, where front-runners in our field—lawyers and professional staff, alike—can think and act with bold determination – “Our people are the heart of Jenner & Block.”

The Client Contracts Counsel will primarily be responsible for providing support to the Office of General Counsel (“OGC”), including tracking, reviewing, and advising on engagement-related client contracts, engagement letters, and firm contracts. As part of the OGC, the candidate will also collaborate closely with our partners, clients, and internal departments to review and advise on contract terms and requirements set forth by our clients. The Client Contracts Counsel will assist lawyers with understanding, securing, and upholding their compliance duties, while supporting the success and sustainability of the Firm.

The ideal candidate will be self-motivated and have a collaborative mindset, effective communication, critical thinking, practical judgment and decision-making skills, the ability to provide creative ideas for process improvements and to move projects forward independently with limited oversight.

The Client Contracts Counsel primary responsibilities are as follows:

• Assist with maintaining, organizing, and cataloguing client and firm engagement terms, including outside counsel guidelines, RFPs, firm and client contracts, as well as engagement letters, to facilitate ready access to those materials.
• Assist with reviewing and analyzing outside counsel guidelines, RFPs, firm and client contracts, as well as engagement letters, to identify areas where modifications are necessary to ensure the firm's practices align with our clients' requirements. This involves a careful examination of provisions relating to conflicts of interest, billing practices, rates, confidentiality, work product retention, and other relevant provisions. Based on your review, you will provide guidance and advice to Firm Counsel, partners, lawyers, and staff members to help them understand potential issues that may arise and propose solutions to mitigate risks.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of best practices, procedures and processes related to engagement terms and other critical OGC functions. This involves staying up to date with industry trends and technological developments to continuously improve the firm's review, negotiation, and compliance processes.
• Assist with training sessions and provision of educational materials to lawyers and staff members on OGC processes to help ensure a consistent approach firmwide.
• Monitor and report on the status of OGC processes, including the resolution of outside counsel guidelines, RFPs, client and firm contracts, and engagement letters, tracking deviations or exceptions, and communicating status to relevant stakeholders.

Other responsibilities include:

• Assist the OGC as it advises Firm Management and lawyers on compliance, risk management, and other issues related to client terms of engagement.
• Respond to questions from various firm departments as well as clients in a timely and professional manner.
• Remain knowledgeable of the Rules of Professional Conduct, ALAS updates, and other relevant laws and regulations (e.g., domestic and international data protection laws).
• Identify, document, recommend, and implement process improvements for the OGC.
• Assist firm administrative staff and lawyers in understanding the firm's conflicts and intake procedures.
• Advise Business Intake and Business Services teams on issue-spotting, client contract process, etc., as needed.
• Participate in technology enhancement review in relation to outside counsel guidelines processes, provide recommendations to the OGCand Firm Management, and assist with implementation of technology enhancement review, as appropriate.

Jenner & Block LLP is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment and employment decisions are not made on the basis of an individual’s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability or medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity and/or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions, arrest record, matriculation, personal appearance, political affiliation, marital, parental, veteran, military, or order of protection status, or any other protected status or that of their relatives, friends, or associates.