Reference Note: Effective July 1, 2007, Rule 4-1.18, Duties to Prospective Client, was adopted, and amended effective Sep. 26, 2017.  Rule 4-1.18 would govern this question and should be consulted with this opinion.

QUESTION: Attorney seeks to represent H in a domestic case. W has previously consulted another attorney with whom Attorney has an office sharing arrangement. Does this create a conflict for Attorney?
ANSWER: Based upon the information Attorney has provided, which establishes that this is a true office sharing arrangement, Attorney does not have a conflict of interest which prevents Attorney from representing H.

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/.

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