As consulting firms grow, conflict management is no longer just a risk function. It has become a strategic capability that directly impacts speed to revenue, reputation, and client trust.
That reality was front and center in Consulting Magazine’s recent webinar, “Scale with confidence: the strategic conflict framework for high-growth firms” sponsored by Intapp. Industry leaders Jey Purushotham, Practice Group Leader at Intapp, Joe Embleton of InOutsource, and Andrew Margolies of Margolies Technologies shared how consulting firms can modernize conflict management to keep pace with growth, private equity investment, and rising regulatory scrutiny.
This recap highlights the most practical insights from the session and explains why many consulting firms are moving away from manual conflict checks toward AI-enabled conflict management.
Why conflicts management is a growth issue for consulting firms
What is conflicts management in consulting firms?
Conflicts management is the process of identifying, reviewing, and resolving potential conflicts of interest in order to properly “accept” new clients, engagements, or new business via acquisitions. For consulting firms, this includes entity conflicts, client relationships, prior and existing engagements, and advisory independence.
As firms scale through mergers, acquisitions, and global expansion, conflict risk grows faster than the headcount required to manage that risk. Jey Purushotham explained that many consulting firms still rely on email-driven reviews and spreadsheets, approaches that do not scale for fast-growing firms.
Manual conflicts processes often lead to:
- Slower client onboarding
- Inconsistent risk decisions
- Increased reputational exposure
- Delayed revenue recognition
For firms under pressure to grow, these delays create real commercial risk.
How private equity and M&A intensify conflict complexity
Private equity investment has accelerated growth across the consulting industry. With that growth comes a sharp increase in conflict volume and complexity.
Each acquisition introduces hundreds or thousands of new client relationships, historical engagements, and industry overlaps. According to the panel, firms that lack a centralized conflict system often struggle to integrate this data quickly, leading to blind spots when accepting the business of the acquired firm. Purushotham noted that firms pursuing aggressive growth strategies need conflict management frameworks that scale without adding linear headcount. Without automation, firms risk slowing down precisely when speed matters most.
Why automation and AI are reshaping conflict management
How does AI improve conflict management for consulting firms?
AI-driven conflict management helps firms analyze large volumes of firm and third-party data quickly, identify relevant risk signals, and surface potential conflicts earlier in the intake process.
During the webinar, Purushotham emphasized that automation does not eliminate risk judgment. Instead, automation allows risk teams to focus on those higher-value decisions by filtering out noise and accelerating routine reviews.
Joe Embleton reinforced the importance of strong data foundations. Integrating CRM, engagement systems, and compliance tools ensures conflict reviews are based on complete and current information. When data flows cleanly across systems, firms reduce bottlenecks and improve consistency in risk decisions.
Reframing conflicts as a business enabler, not a blocker
One of the strongest themes from the discussion was cultural. Many consulting firms still view conflicts as a necessary hurdle rather than a strategic advantage.
Purushotham challenged that mindset directly. Effective conflict management does not stop growth. It enables firms to pursue the right work with confidence by making risks visible earlier.
As he explained during the session, strong processes do not say “no” by default. They say “yes, with eyes open.” That distinction matters for consulting firms balancing growth targets, client relationships, and industry reputation.
Andrew Margolies added that successful firms align risk leadership with firm strategy. When compliance teams connect conflicts management to initiatives firm executives are aligned with, for example revenue protection and brand reputation, executive buy-in becomes easier.
Practical steps consulting firms can take now
The panel closed with clear guidance for firms looking to modernize their approach:
- Define what conflicts of interest means for your firm
This is a basic step but cannot be overlooked. Establish a consistent definition of conflicts of interest across practices, geographies, and service lines. - Audit where conflict-related data lives
Identify the systems within your firm that hold client, engagement, and relationship data needed for accurate reviews. - Document policies and escalation paths
Clear documentation ensures faster, more consistent decisions as volume increases.
These steps help firms move from reactive conflict reviews to proactive, scalable risk management.
Why modern conflict management is becoming table stakes
For consulting firms navigating organic growth, acquisitions, and client expectations, conflict management has moved beyond compliance.
Modern, AI-enabled conflict management supports:
- Faster client onboarding
- Reduced reputational risk
- More consistent decision-making
- Greater confidence when pursuing complex engagements
The Consulting Magazine webinar made one point clear. Firms that continue to rely on manual conflict checks risk falling behind competitors who have invested in scalable, data-driven approaches.
Continue the conversation
Ready to move from awareness to action? Watch the full Consulting Magazine webinar on demand to see how leading consulting firms are modernizing conflict management. You will gain practical guidance to help you pinpoint inefficiencies, reduce risk exposure, and remove friction that can delay new business.