The Price of Being Big: Law Firm Hiring Hits Conflicts Snag (1)

Major law firms’ checks of potential hires for conflicts of interest are becoming so extensive that they often slow the recruiting process and sometimes sink employment deals altogether.

Running the checks is often “the single most difficult job” law firms have, said Jeffrey Lowe, a legal recruiter for Major, Lindsey & Africa in Washington. “You have to get it exactly right, not mostly right,” he said.

Firms often review a wide range of information in checking for conflicts, including client representations, stock holdings and criminal records. They look largely for factors that could pose a conflict with the firm’s client ...