Opinion 1616

The Committee reviewed your inquiry regarding potential representation of a client adverse to a client of your former law firm. The Committee understood the facts to be that you did not personally work for the adverse client while you were associated with your former law firm, nor obtained confidences or secrets of that client. You refer to a written waiver of conflicts which was previously executed. Since the Committee did not have the language of that waiver, the Committee had no comment on it. However, the Committee was of the opinion that under the facts presented there would be no violation of Rules 1.6 or 1.9 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

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.