QUESTION: Attorney has an office sharing arrangement with another firm. Attorney´s description of the arrangement describes a true office sharing arrangement. A member of the other firm previously represented Clients A and B to obtain a guardianship. Clients A and B have had a falling out and Client A now wants Attorney´s representation in seeking to be the sole guardian. May Attorney do so? ANSWER: Based upon the information Attorney has provided, attorney does not have a conflict of interest under the Rules of Professional Conduct that would prohibit Attorney from representing Client A.

Informal Opinions are ethics advisory opinions issued by the Office of Legal Ethics Counsel to members of the Bar about Rule 4 (Rules of Professional Conduct), Rule 5 (Complaints and Proceedings Thereon), and Rule 6 (Fees to Practice Law) pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5.30(c). Written summaries of select Informal Opinions are published for informational purposes as determined by the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri pursuant to Rule 5.30(c). Informal opinion summaries are advisory in nature and are not binding. These opinions are published as an educational service and do not constitute legal advice.

To request an Informal Opinion, please visit: https://mo-legal-ethics.org/for lawyers/requesting-an-informal-advisory-opinion/.

© Copyright 2023