do you have to serve both attorneys when a party is represented by more than 1 attorney

by Cedrick Wisoky 4 min read

Can I have two different lawyers represent me?

Yes, one defendant can have multiple attorneys. It is important that the attorneys have a good working relationship and find a way to share the work in order to best benefit the client...Mar 17, 2012

What is the rule about simultaneously representing two clients whose interests are adverse?

Paragraph (a) prohibits representation of opposing parties in litigation. Simultaneous representation of parties whose interests in litigation are not actually directly adverse but where the potential for conflict exists, such as co-plaintiffs or co-defendants, is governed by paragraph (b).

Can a lawyer represent two opposing clients?

The California Rules generally permit a lawyer to represent multiple clients with conflicting interests so long as all the clients have provided their informed written consent.May 1, 2020

Can represented parties talk to each other?

Parties to a matter may communicate directly with each other, and a lawyer is not prohibited from advising a client concerning a communication that the client is legally entitled to make.

What is the 1.7 rule?

[1] Rule 1.7 is intended to provide clear notice of circumstances that may constitute a conflict of interest. Rule 1.7(a) sets out the limited circumstances in which representation of conflicting interests is absolutely prohibited even with the informed consent of all involved clients.

What risks are involved when a lawyer simultaneously represents two or more clients on the same side of litigation?

[11] When lawyers representing different clients in the same matter or in substantially related matters are closely related by blood or marriage, there may be a significant risk that client confidences will be revealed and that the lawyer's family relationship will interfere with both loyalty and independent ...

Are lawyers allowed to represent family members?

Can a lawyer advise friends, family members and their spouse? Lawyers are allowed to advise friends, family members, spouses and other people with whom they are acquainted. A lawyer is not in a conflict of interest simply because the lawyer is representing a family member or a friend.

What are some examples of conflicts of interest?

Some types of conflicts of interest include:Nepotism. ... Self-dealing. ... Gift issuance. ... Insider trading. ... Review the employee handbook. ... Attend business ethics training. ... Report conflicts of interest. ... Disclose.Apr 1, 2021

What is a conflict waiver?

Conflict waivers serve as a memorialization or proof that a client has given informed consent for a lawyer to handle a legal matter despite a “disqualifying conflict of interest.”

Should a lawyer communicate with another party whom the lawyer knows is represented by counsel?

(a) In representing a client, a lawyer shall not communicate directly or indirectly about the subject of the representation with a person* the lawyer knows* to be represented by another lawyer in the matter, unless the lawyer has the consent of the other lawyer.

When a lawyer acts on someone's behalf during proceedings?

Pro se legal representation (/ˌproʊ ˈsiː/ or /ˌproʊ ˈseɪ/) comes from Latin pro se, meaning "for oneself" or "on behalf of themselves", which in modern law means to argue on one's own behalf in a legal proceeding as a defendant or plaintiff in civil cases or a defendant in criminal cases.

Can my lawyer talk to the other party?

6.03 (5) A lawyer shall not in the course of a professional practice send correspondence or otherwise communicate to a client, another licensee, or any other person in a manner that is abusive, offensive, or otherwise inconsistent with the proper tone of a professional communication from a lawyer.

Do you have to serve a summons on the other party?

However, there are certain things that almost always have to be served on the other party and not the attorney - things like the original summons and petition and an order to show cause for contempt all, generally, have to be personally served. Report Abuse. Report Abuse.

Does the other party have an attorney?

If you are referring to the initial service of papers to start the case, the other party's attorney is not "of record" in the case yet so, technically, the other party doesn't have an attorney.

Can you serve an attorney after filing a complaint?

If the attorney agrees to accept service on behalf of the person, then they may be served. Additionally after the initial documents have been filed, you must serve the attorney except for documents which must be personally served. Report Abuse. Report Abuse.

Do you have to serve a complaint on an individual?

The initial complaint must be served on the individual unless his/her attorney has given prior consent to accept service on the individuals behalf. Once the initial complaint has been filed and the other party has retained an attorney most pleadings will than be served on the attorney. Report Abuse. Report Abuse.

Do you have to serve a complaint on an attorney?

The initial complaint must be served on the individual unless his/her attorney has given prior consent to accept service on the individuals behalf. Once the initial complaint has been filed and the other party has retained an attorney most pleadings will than be served on the attorney.

What is NYRPC Rule 4.2?

Rule 4.2 prohibits contact when a lawyer “knows” that a person is represented by counsel. NYRPC Rule 4.2. It does not say “has reason to know;” and Rule 1.0 (k) defines knowledge as “actual knowledge of the fact in question.”. NYRPC Rule 1.0 (k).

Can a lawyer contact an adverse party?

Lawyers sometimes want to contact a person who is connected with an adverse party or formerly connected with an adverse party in a transaction or litigation. It may surprise you to learn that, while you generally cannot do that, you sometimes can. To avoid problems and complaints you need to understand the rules and the limits and spirit ...

What is the rule for a lawyer who represents two or more clients?

Settlement raises a number of difficult issues when representing multiple plaintiffs. Rule 1.8 (g) provides that: "A lawyer who represents two or more clients shall not participate in making an aggregate settlement of the claims of or against the clients . . . unless each client consents after consultation, including disclosure of the existence and nature of all the claims . . . involved and of the participation of each person in the settlement." See Rule 1.8. Under Model Rule 1.2 (a), a lawyer must abide by a client's decisions concerning the objectives of representation and whether to accept an offer of settlement.

What happens if a lawyer cannot represent all parties?

If all conflicts cannot be resolved, the lawyer cannot continue to represent all parties. Under Rule 1.16 (a), the lawyer must withdraw from a representation if he or she determines that the representation will result in violation of the rules of professional conduct or other law.

What is the problem implicated by successive representation?

The problem implicated by successive representation is the potential for the use of confidences gained from a former client to the detriment of that client. A related problem is the failure to use information favorable to the present client in order to protect the confidentiality of the former client.

Why was the Disciplinary Rule not implicated in the settlement agreement?

It opined that, because the settlement agreement did not directly restrict plaintiff's attorneys from subsequent representation adverse to the defendant employer and because the employers' employment of plaintiffs' attorneys was not a ruse to circumvent DR 2-106 (B), the Disciplinary Rule was not implicated.

Why were plaintiffs' lawyers hired?

As part of the settlement agreement the plaintiffs' lawyers were hired for a fee by the defendant employer to provide advice regarding its employment practices . As a result the plaintiffs' lawyers were conflicted out of future cases against the defendant employer.

Can an outside counsel represent both a defendant employer and its managerial or supervisory employees who are also individual defendants?

The issue of whether in-house or outside counsel can represent both a defendant employer and its managerial or supervisory employees who are also individual defendants, which frequently occurs in other legal contexts (e.g., white collar defense and securities derivatives litigation), has become increasingly important in employment discrimination litigation.

Can a lawyer proceed with a counterclaim?

The Committee made clear, however, that a lawyer can proceed with such representation only if the lawyer concludes that zealous representation is possible and obtains fully informed consent. Another problem can arise when a defendant files a counterclaim against one of the plaintiffs.

Benjamin J Lieberman

The difficulty is getting the lawyers to play nicely with each other. If you can get that to happen and feel that it would be in your best interests to do so go for it. As far as the courts are concerned you can have as many lawyers as you want so long as you are paying for it.

Joseph A Lo Piccolo

It is okay to have more than 1 attorney as long as they are willing to work together. Joseph A. Lo Piccolo, Esq. President, Criminal Courts Bar Association 11'-12'...

Howard A. Schwartz

Yes, one defendant can have multiple attorneys. It is important that the attorneys have a good working relationship and find a way to share the work in order to best benefit the client.

Mark W. Oakley

If the person being served is a named party in the case and an attorney has entered their appearance on their behalf, then yes, you can serve their lawyer. If not, then you can only serve the attorney if they tell you they are authorized to accept service on behalf of their client. Otherwise, you must serve the person. More

Jay B. Shuster

You can file a Motion for Alternate Service, giving your reasons for wanting to serve the attorney and maybe the judge wil OK. Otherwise, no.

What is Rule 4.2?

In conclusion, Rule 4.2 (or an analogous rule) likely restricts an attorney who is a pro se litigant from contacting or conversing with an adverse party represented by counsel about the subject matter of a pending litigation.

Who said "He who represents himself has a fool for a client"?

The well-known old saying often credited to Abraham Lincoln states that “He who represents himself has a fool for a client.”. This article will not comment on the advisability of representing yourself in litigation, but will instead discuss the ethical issues that arise when an attorney is either a pro se litigant (representing him or herself) ...

Is an attorney acting as both counsel and client?

In this situation, the attorney is not acting as both counsel and client, but is rather is only a client who has retained representation. PBA Opinion 2017-200 found that when an attorney is represented by counsel, Rule 4.2 does not apply, reasoning that Rule 4.2 only applies when an attorney is acting in the role of representing a client ...

Is Rule 4.2 a role rule?

PBA stated that: “Rule 4.2 is a “role rule” since by its terms it applies to lawyers only when they are representing clients. It does not apply to lawyers simply because they are lawyers.”. [7] (We note that this seems somewhat at odds with the notion of protecting people from an attorney’s specialized skills).

Is Rule 4.2 an identity rule?

In determining that Rule 4.2 is an identity rule, these jurisdictions found that the legal system benefited from a policy preventing attorneys from using their specialized legal knowledge and skills to influence an adversary, even when both sides were represented by counsel.

Can a lawyer communicate with another lawyer?

In representing a client, a lawyer shall not communicate about the subject of the representation with a person the lawyer knows to be represented by another lawyer in the matter, unless the lawyer has the consent of the other lawyer or is authorized to do so by law or a court order.

Can an attorney speak with an adverse party?

However, an attorney who is a pro se litigant is also the attorney representing themselves, and it can be argued that pursuant to Model Rule 4.2, the attorney is ethically prohibited from speaking with an adverse party represented by counsel without “consent of the other lawyer or is authorized to do so by law or a court order.”.

image