When companies come under investigation, employees who were involved or otherwise knowledgeable of the conduct at issue often need to have their own counsel. This is because the interests of a company and the personal interests of an employee are not always aligned, particularly during a criminal investigation in which an employee's liberty is at stake. In these situations, it is commonplace for a company to pay for the employee's attorney, either out of legal obligation or personal loyalty. There are many advantages to this arrangement from the company's perspective, not the least of which is the possibility for the company's and employee's attorneys to share information under a joint defense agreement when appropriate.