The twice-monthly “Dear Ethics Lawyer” column is part of a training regimen of the Legal Ethics Project, authored by Mark Hinderks, former managing partner and counsel to an AmLaw 200 firm. Read More

April 2022

Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, I agreed to represent a husband and wife in putting together an estate plan. It appeared to be easy: they provided a list of assets and income, and a plan for distribution in the event that one or both passes. Then the husband called the following day and advised me that he also has a separate investment account (with a family member other than the wife currently named as a beneficiary) that contains a fairly large amount that he does not wish to advise his wife about just now. He may later decide to include it in the estate plan, but for now he wishes to keep it separate. What do I do now?

Continue Reading April 15, 2022 Issue – Joint Clients in Estate Planning

Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, We represent a large company in corporate and real estate matters that generate a lot of fees for our firm. They have an equally large competitor in the same industry which they view as an arch-enemy, but we are not currently adverse to it. The competitor has asked for our help representing it in a city where we have an office to make a small acquisition. This is probably a one-shot thing that will be over in 90 days or so. The conflict check comes back clean. Can we do it? 

Continue Reading April 1, 2022 Issue – Representing Economic Competitors