Rule 1.10 Imputation of Conflicts of Interest; Screening
Client-lawyer Relationship
Rule Text
(a) While lawyers or LPs are associated in a firm, none of them shall knowingly represent a client when any one of them practicing alone would be prohibited from doing so by Rules 1.7, 1.9, or the equivalent LP Rules, unless the prohibition is based on a personal interest of the prohibited lawyer or LP or on Rule 1.7(a)(3), or the equivalent LP Rule, and does not present a significant risk of materially limiting the representation of the client by the remaining lawyers in the firm.
(b) When a lawyer has terminated an association with a firm, the firm is not prohibited from thereafter representing a person with interests materially adverse to those of a client represented by the formerly associated lawyer and not currently represented by the firm, unless: (1) the matter is the same or substantially related to that in which the formerly associated lawyer represented the client; and (2) any lawyer remaining in the firm has information protected by Rules 1.6 and 1.9(c) that is material to the matter.
(c) When a lawyer or LP becomes associated with a firm, no lawyer associated in the firm shall knowingly represent a person in a matter in which that lawyer or LP is disqualified under Rule 1.9 or the equivalent LP Rule, unless the personally disqualified lawyer or LP is promptly screened from any form of participation or representation in the matter and written notice of the screening procedures employed is promptly given to any affected former client.
(d) A disqualification prescribed by this rule may be waived by the affected clients under the conditions stated in Rule 1.7.
(e) The disqualification of lawyers associated in a firm with former or current government lawyers is governed by Rule 1.11.
Amendment history: Adopted 01/01/05. Amended 12/01/06: Paragraph (a) amended to include reference to Rule 1.7(a)(3). Amended 01/01/14: Paragraph (c) revised to eliminate detailed screening requirements and to require notice to the affected client rather than the lawyer’s former firm. Amended 01/01/26: Paragraphs (a) and (c) amended to add references to LPs.