Thomas Wilkinson and Douglas Fox will be presenting a webinar for The Federal Bar Association.
The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has issued two recent Formal Opinions (491 and 494) that provide important ethics guidance to practitioners and are especially relevant in light of the pandemic and other current events. This course will provide an ethics update and practical advice to lawyers relating to these recent Formal Opinions. The topics will include 1) Navigating Attorney Relationship Conflicts That May Imperil Cases, and 2) Lawyers’ Duties to Avoid Counseling or Assisting A Client’s Fraudulent or Criminal Behavior.
Key topics to be discussed:
• ABA Formal Opinion 494, titled “Conflicts Arising Out of a Lawyer’s Personal Relationship with Opposing Counsel”
• Formal Opinion 491, titled “Obligations Under Rule 1.2(d) to Avoid Counseling or Assisting in a Crime or Fraud in Non-Litigation Settings.”
• How Personal Relationships May Create Potential Conflicts of Interest and Client Confidentiality Concerns
• Circumstances That May Give Rise to The Need to Decline or Withdraw from A Representation