Rule 1.6 Confidentiality of Information

(a) A lawyer shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent, the disclosure is impliedly authorized in order to carry out the representation, or the disclosure is required by paragraph (b) or permitted by paragraph (c).

(b) A lawyer must reveal information relating to the representation of a client when required by other provisions of these rules or to the extent the lawyer reasonably believes necessary:

(1) to prevent the client or another person from committing a criminal act that the lawyer reasonably believes is likely to result in the death of, or substantial bodily harm to, a person other than the person committing the act; or

(2) to prevent the client from committing a crime or fraud that is reasonably certain to result in substantial injury to the financial interests or property of another and in furtherance of which the client has used or is using the lawyer’s services; or

(3) to prevent, mitigate or rectify substantial injury to the financial interests or property of another that is reasonably certain to result or has resulted from the client’s commission of a crime or fraud in furtherance of which the client has used the lawyer’s services.

(c) A lawyer may reveal information relating to the representation of a client, though disclosure is not required by paragraph (b), when permitted under these rules or required by another provision of law or by court order or when the lawyer reasonably believes that disclosure is necessary:

(1) to prevent the client from committing a crime in circumstances other than those in which disclosure is required by paragraph (b) or to prevent the client or another person from committing an act that the lawyer reasonably believes is likely to result in the death of, or substantial bodily harm to, the person committing the act;

(2) to secure legal advice about the lawyer’s compliance with these rules;

(3) to secure guidance from bar counsel;

(4) to establish a claim or defense on behalf of the lawyer in a controversy between the lawyer and the client, to establish a defense to a criminal charge or civil claim against the lawyer based upon conduct in which the client was involved, or to respond to allegations in any proceeding concerning the lawyer’s representation of the client; or

(5) to detect and resolve conflicts of interest arising from the lawyer’s change or potential change of employment or from changes in the composition or ownership of a firm, but only if the revealed information would not compromise the attorney-client privilege or otherwise prejudice the client.

(d) A lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to prevent the inadvertent disclosure of, or unauthorized access to, information relating to the representation of a client.