COURSE DESCRIPTION
Joint representations in civil litigation present unique opportunities and significant ethical minefields that can derail cases and careers. This two-part program provides essential guidance on when joint representation serves clients' interests and when it creates insurmountable conflicts. Practitioners will learn to navigate these complex arrangements while maintaining ethical compliance and effective advocacy.
Part 1:
- Evaluate when joint representation benefits multiple parties in litigation
- Identify potential conflicts before they become ethical violations
- Master consent procedures and documentation for joint representations
- Understand the scope of shared confidentiality in joint arrangements
- Learn to structure retainer agreements for multiple-client representations
Part 2:
- Navigate withdrawal obligations when conflicts develop mid-litigation
- Handle strategic considerations for managing divergent client interests
- Address privilege issues unique to joint representation scenarios
- Develop communication protocols that protect all parties' interests
- Master fee allocation and billing practices in joint representations
Speaker:
Elizabeth Treubert Simon is an ethics attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where she advises on a wide range of ethics and compliance-related matters to support Akin Gump’s offices worldwide. Previously, her practice focused on business and commercial litigation and providing counsel to clients regarding professional ethics and attorney disciplinary procedures. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Professional Discipline and the District of Columbia Rules of Professional Conduct Rules Review Committee. She is the immediate past chair of the District of Columbia Legal Ethics Committee. She writes and speaks extensively on attorney ethics issues. She received her B.A. and M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Albany Law School.