Advisory Opinion: 1115

Year Issued: 1987

RPC(s): RPC 1.9; 1.10

Subject: Conflict of interest; new firm represents clients adverse to clients of former firm

The Committee considered your inquiry concerning your obligations in a situation where you have left one law firm and joined a new law firm which represents parties adverse to clients of your former law firm. The Committee understands the facts to be that you had not worked on the cases while a member of the former firm nor had you worked on any other matters for those clients, and had not acquired any confidences or secrets.

Based upon these facts, the Committee was of the opinion that nothing in the Rules of Professional Conduct would prohibit you from now working on either case for your new law firm.

Advisory Opinions are provided for the education of the Bar and reflect the opinion of the Committee on Professional Ethics (CPE) or its predecessors. Advisory Opinions are provided pursuant to the authorization granted by the Board of Governors, but are not individually approved by the Board and do not reflect the official position of the Bar association. Laws other than the Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct may apply to the inquiry. The Committee's answer does not include or opine about any other applicable law other than the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct.