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Key Ethical Issues When Ending the Attorney-Client Relationship

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Key Ethical Issues When Ending the Attorney-Client Relationship Key Ethical Issues When Ending the Attorney-Client Relationship Wendy Wen Yun Chang and Matthew R. Watson Withdrawing Prior to Natural Conclusion of Representation Background The client has the right to terminate the representation at any time, with or without cause, subject to terms of the engagement agreement. Model Rule 1.16, Comment [4]. An attorney may only withdraw for specially enumerated reasons, and if representation is before a tribunal, leave of the tribunal is required. Mandatory Withdrawal Model Rule 1.16(a) "Except as stated in paragraph (c), a lawyer shall not represent a client or, where representation has commenced, shall withdraw from the representation of a client if: (1) the representation will result in violation of the rules of professional conduct or other law; (2) the lawyer's physical or mental condition materially impairs the lawyer's ability to represent the client; or (3) the lawyer is discharged." Comment [2]: "A lawyer ordinarily must decline or withdraw from representation if the client demands that the lawyer engage in conduct that is illegal or violates the Rules of Professional Conduct or other law. The lawyer is not obliged to decline or withdraw simply because the client suggests such a course of conduct; a client may make such a suggestion in the hope that a lawyer will not be constrained by a professional obligation." Permissive Withdrawal Model Rule 1.16(b) "Except as stated in paragraph (c), a lawyer may withdraw from representing a client if: (1) withdrawal can be accomplished without material adverse effect on the interests of the client; (2) the client persists in a course of action involving the lawyer's services that the lawyer reasonably believes is criminal or fraudulent; (3) the client has used the lawyer's services to perpetrate a crime or fraud; (4) the client insists upon taking action that the lawyer considers repugnant or with which the lawyer has a fundamental disagreement; (5) the client fails substantially to fulfill an obligation to the lawyer regarding the lawyer's services and has been given reasonable warning that the lawyer will withdraw unless the obligation is fulfilled; (6) the representation will result in an unreasonable financial burden on the lawyer or has been rendered unreasonably difficult by the client; or (7) other good cause for withdrawal exists." Comment [7]: "A lawyer may withdraw from representation in some circumstances. The lawyer has the option to withdraw if it can be accomplished without material adverse effect on the client's interests. Withdrawal is also justified if the client persists in a course of action that the lawyer reasonably believes is criminal or fraudulent, for a lawyer is not required to be associated with such conduct even if the lawyer does not further it. Withdrawal is also permitted if the lawyer's services were misused in the past even if that would materially prejudice the client. The lawyer may also withdraw where the client insists on taking action that the lawyer considers repugnant or with which the lawyer has a fundamental disagreement." Comment [8]: "A lawyer may withdraw if the client refuses to abide by the terms of an agreement relating to the representation, such as an agreement concerning fees or court costs or an agreement limiting the objectives of the representation." The "Hot Potato" Rule Adopted by many jurisdictions, the so-called "hot potato" rule provides that a "firm may not drop a client like a hot potato, especially if it is in order to keep happy a far more lucrative client." Picker Int'l, Inc. v. Varian Assocs., Inc., 670 F. Supp. 1363, 1365 (N.D. Ohio 1987), aff'd, 869 F.2d 578 (Fed. Cir. 1989). As a result, even though withdrawal from a client representation may be permissive under Model Rule 1.16(b), if the reason for the withdrawal is to commence or continue representation of another client on a more profitable or favorable matter, the withdrawal may be precluded by the "hot potato" rule (where applicable). Protecting Against Prejudice Model Rule 1.16(d) "Upon termination of representation, a lawyer shall take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client's interests, such as giving reasonable notice to the client, allowing time for employment of other counsel, surrendering papers and property to which the client is entitled and refunding any advance payment of fee or expense that has not been earned or incurred. The lawyer may retain papers relating to the client to the extent permitted by other law." Comment [9]: "Even if the lawyer has been unfairly discharged by the client, a lawyer must take all reasonable steps to mitigate the consequences to the client. The lawyer may retain papers as security for a fee only to the extent permitted by law." Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP | 2 What Can / Must Be Disclosed in Withdrawal Motions Model Rule 1.16(c) "A lawyer must comply with applicable law requiring notice to or permission of a tribunal when terminating a representation. When ordered to do so by a tribunal, a lawyer shall continue representation notwithstanding good cause for terminating the representation." Model Rule 1.6 Exceptions vs. Cal B&P §6068(e) "At Every Peril" Model Rule 1.6 "(a) A lawyer shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent, the disclosure is impliedly authorized in order to carry out the representation or the disclosure is permitted by paragraph (b). (b) A lawyer may reveal information relating to the representation of a client to the extent the lawyer reasonably believes necessary: (1) to prevent reasonably certain death or substantial bodily harm; (2) to prevent the client from committing a crime or fraud that is reasonably certain to result in substantial injury to the financial interests or property of another and in furtherance of which the client has used or is using the lawyer's services; (3) to prevent, mitigate or rectify substantial injury to the financial interests or property of another that is reasonably certain to result or has resulted from the client's commission of a crime or fraud in furtherance of which the client has used the lawyer's services; (4) to secure legal advice about the lawyer's compliance with these Rules; (5) to establish a claim or defense on behalf of the lawyer in a controversy between the lawyer and the client, to establish a defense to a criminal charge or civil claim against the lawyer based upon conduct in which the client was involved, or to respond to allegations in any proceeding concerning the lawyer's representation of the client; (6) to comply with other law or a court order; or (7) to detect and resolve conflicts of interest arising from the lawyer's change of employment or from changes in the composition or ownership of a firm, but only if the revealed information would not compromise the attorney-client privilege or otherwise prejudice the client. (c) A lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to prevent the inadvertent or unauthorized disclosure of, or unauthorized access to, information relating to the representation of a client." California Business & Professions Code §6068(e) "It is the duty of an attorney to do all of the following [….] (e)(1) To maintain inviolate the confidence, and at every peril to himself or herself to preserve the secrets, of his or her client. Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP | 3 (e)(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an attorney may, but is not required to, reveal confidential information relating to the representation of a client to the extent that the attorney reasonably believes the disclosure is necessary to prevent a criminal act that the attorney reasonably believes is likely to result in death of, or substantial bodily harm to, an individual." Accord see Cal. Rules Prof. Conduct Rule 3-100 Court Orders of Disclosure of Confidential Information Cal. Formal Opinion 2015-192 —Digest An attorney may disclose to the court only as much as is reasonably necessary to demonstrate her need to withdraw, and ordinarily it will be sufficient to say only words to the effect that ethical considerations require withdrawal or that there has been an irreconcilable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship. In attempting to demonstrate to the court her need to withdraw, an attorney may not disclose confidential communications with the client, either in open court or in camera. To the extent the court orders an attorney to disclose confidential information, the attorney faces a dilemma in that she may not be able to comply with both the duty to maintain client confidences and the duty to obey court orders. Once an attorney has exhausted reasonable avenues of appeal or other further review of such an order, the attorney must evaluate for herself the relevant legal authorities and the particular circumstances, including the potential prejudice to the client, and reach her own conclusion on how to proceed. Although this Committee cannot categorically opine on whether or not it is acceptable to disclose client confidences even when faced with an order compelling disclosure, this Committee does opine that, whatever choice the attorney makes, she must take reasonable steps to minimize the impact of that choice on the client. Risk Management Concerns Abandonment (Ethical / Legal Malpractice Issues) Maples v. Thomas, 132 S. Ct. 912, 916, 181 L. Ed. 2d 807 (2012) Cory R. Maples ("Maples") was convicted in Alabama of murdering two individuals and sentenced to death in 1997. Thereafter, in 2001, two New York attorneys serving pro bono filed a petition for post- conviction relief contending that Maples received ineffective assistance of counsel and citing other trial infirmities.
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