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State and Local Government Law

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

2014

In-house counsel

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Full-Text Articles in Law

Intra Law Firm Communications Regarding Questionable Attorney Conduct., Evan King, Jeffrey A. Parness Jan 2014

Intra Law Firm Communications Regarding Questionable Attorney Conduct., Evan King, Jeffrey A. Parness

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

When questions are raised regarding a law firm attorney's representation of a firm client, the questioned attorney often wishes to seek legal counsel. A conferral will often benefit the attorney, the firm, and the client. Conferences regarding questioned conduct should be encouraged, not discouraged. To encourage these beneficial conferrals, a broad attorney-client communication privilege and a broad work-product protection (or privilege) should be available. Availability should not be dependent upon whether in-house, outside, or other legal counsel is employed. While earlier federal precedents were split regarding the availability of the attorney-client communication privilege in the in-house counsel setting, increasingly therein …


Is Litigation Counsel Who Also Engages In Competitive Decision-Making Wrong For The Part?, David Hricik Jan 2014

Is Litigation Counsel Who Also Engages In Competitive Decision-Making Wrong For The Part?, David Hricik

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

In-house counsel wear different hats, and are often involved in business decisions regarding products, marketing, and other strategic issues. It was in this context that courts began to adopt protective orders that precluded in-house counsel who provided their clients advice with “competitive decision-making” from having access to information from a competitor disclosed in discovery. Prosecution bars present numerous issues for courts and counsel. It may be that because of prosecution counsel’s knowledge of the technology that her service as trial counsel would lead to cost savings and other benefits to her client. However, due to the myriad problems that arise …