Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Denika Leishman

Summary

Compliance Analyst with experience in both Conflicts and Client Due Diligence/Anti-Money Laundering. Delivering timely information to legal teams to maximise business results.

Overview

4
4
years of professional experience

Work history

Conflicts and Compliance Analyst

Clyde & Co LLP
11.2023 - Current


Providing compliance support across Europe, APAC, with a focus on MEA.


Conflicts


  • Reviewing requests for new clients and matters using Intapp, to assess for legal conflicts; commercial conflicts; and regulatory risks.
  • Checking that new clients and matters can be accepted in the context of internal firm-wide policies.
  • Ensuring that all relevant details are captured on new requests, to ensure comprehensive conflict and risk analysis.
  • Liaising with stakeholders about potential conflicts and risks to assist with timely delivery of new business.
  • Conducting research and analysis for escalation of conflict issues to management.
  • Identifying and implementing information barriers, to protect confidentiality.


Anti-Money Laundering


  • Identifying new clients using via online sources and databases. Engaging with the legal team for further information where it cannot be found publicly.
  • Creating comprehensive Client Due Diligence packs.
  • Ongoing monitoring of clients, frequency dependent on a client's risk rating.
  • Determining a client's risk rating based on: jurisdiction, industry activities, presence of PEPs, presence of adverse media.
  • Understanding a client's corporate structure. Where relevant, determining its UBO; source of funds; and source of wealth.
  • Escalating clients to Financial Crime Lawyers where significant risk factors have been identified.
  • Reviewing and providing feedback on CDD packs completed by AML Paralegals.

Compliance Analyst

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
01.2022 - 11.2023
  • Conducted conflict and risk checks for new business matters using Intapp.
  • Made judgements on how to approach clearances based on client terms, outside counsel guidelines, engagement letters, and US conflict rules.
  • Identified and communicated potential legal and commercial conflicts with partners, and working collaboratively to reach a solution.
  • Ensured all relevant matter information is available to determine conflict and risk checks are accurate.
  • Conducted Client Due Diligence/Anti-Money Laundering checks on clients and third party payers using Orbis, Acuity, and Companies House.
  • Set up and maintained information barriers to protect potential confidential/ price sensitive information.
  • Managed high volumes of compliance queries coming from wider business into Business Acceptance Team inbox.
  • Completed reports for matter referrals to management, e.g. where matters involve: sanctions, negative media and/or politically exposed person (PEP) concerns.
  • Completed Environmental, Social and Governance research to help assess whether client relationships/matters should be onboarded/expanded.
  • Organised the team weekly meeting.
  • Provided training for new analysts, and legal apprentices during their seat in Compliance.
  • Performed Intapp Open upgrade testing.

First Notification of Loss Claim Handler

Bott and Co Solicitors
06.2021 - 01.2022
  • First point of contact for potential clients to pursue personal injury legal cases.
  • Carried out risk assessments to assist with the acceptance and rejection of cases based on conflicts of interest, liability, prospects of success.
  • Ensured GDPR and SRA standards were met and maintained.
  • Responsible for the training of new starters.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Psychology

University of Bristol
2019

A-Levels -

Cardinal Langley RC High School
2013

GCSE -

Cardinal Langley RC High School
2011

Skills

  • Clear, empathetic communication
  • Self-motivated
  • Information gathering
  • Analysing and interpreting complex data
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Risk assessment
  • US Conflicts
  • Conducting CDD and AML checks
  • Familiarity with SRA standards and regulations
  • Training and development
  • Report handling
  • Handling confidential data
  • Intapp software

Timeline

Conflicts and Compliance Analyst

Clyde & Co LLP
11.2023 - Current

Compliance Analyst

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
01.2022 - 11.2023

First Notification of Loss Claim Handler

Bott and Co Solicitors
06.2021 - 01.2022

Bachelor of Science - Psychology

University of Bristol

A-Levels -

Cardinal Langley RC High School

GCSE -

Cardinal Langley RC High School
Denika Leishman