Spencer Fane attorney Keith Call and summer associate Hailey Winn-Cotton recently authored an article published in the July/August issue of the Utah Bar Journal for Keith’s ongoing feature, Focus on Ethics & Civility.
In their piece, Avoiding Imputed Disqualification with Prospective Clients, Keith and Hailey provide tips to legal professionals for avoiding imputing conflicts with colleagues when discussing matters with a prospective client. They discuss applicable rules and a relevant American Bar Association ethics opinion, define “disqualifying information,” and outline reasonable measures to avoid exposure.
“Carefully limit the information you receive from the prospect only to what is reasonably necessary to determine if you can or want to represent them,” they share. “This will keep other members of your firm happy, make your firm more profitable, and help steer you clear of lawsuits and Bar complaints.”
The publication also features the latest in the Appellate Highlights series authored by Rodney Parker, Dani Cepernich, Robert Cummings, and Andrew Roth.
At Spencer Fane, Keith helps corporate and individual clients with all of their litigation needs so they can stay focused on their core businesses and personal interests. He excels in defending lawyers in professional ethics and liability matters, as well as complex commercial, technology, and IP litigation.
Hailey is a 2L at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney School of Law and a member of the 2024 Spencer Fane Summer Associate class. In addition to the summer associate program, she has gained broad internal and external experience through student organizations and a previous summer clerkship.
Read the full article and issue here.