Mark Hinderks of Stinson LLP. Courtesy photo

Dear Ethics Lawyer

This column, written by Mark Hinderks, of Stinson LLP, focuses on ethics questions. The discussion here is based on the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, but the Model Rules are often adopted in different and amended versions, and interpreted in different ways in various places. Always check the rules and authorities applicable in your relevant jurisdiction—the result may be completely different.

Question: I am a lawyer with a midsized firm. With the mobility of lawyers moving laterally in recent years, it is not uncommon for a lawyer to join us as a new partner with their own set of clients whose matters they bring with them to the firm. Regrettably, we also sometimes lose partners to other firms, who then depart with some or all of the clients with whom they have built relationships. This type of movement seems to be a part of the modern practice of law but creates sometimes confusing conflict of interest issues.

Recently, one of our partners left the firm to join another firm. We were able to amicably and jointly communicate to clients for which she was responsible about her departure, some of which chose to stay with our firm and some of which determined to transfer their files and matters to the exiting partner's new firm. X Company, a client that the partner had earlier brought to the firm chose to move all their matters with her to her new firm. She took all of the client files (paper and electronic), and also took with her the only associate who had worked on any of X Company's matters.