IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON
In the Matter of Amendment to the |
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At its public meeting on October 10, 2006, the court considered and approved certain amendments to Rules 1.6, 1.9, 1.10, 1.13, 3.1, 3.5, 4.4, 7.1 and 8.4 of the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the attached amendments to Rules 1.6, 1.9, 1.10, 1.13, 3.1, 3.5, 4.4, 7.1 and 8.4 of the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct are approved and effective December 1, 2006 (new text in boldface; deleted text in brackets and italics).
Dated this 16th day of November, 2006.
Paul J. De Muniz
Chief Justice
Rule 1.6 Confidentiality of Information
(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:
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(6) to provide the following information in discussions preliminary to the sale of a law practice under Rule 1.17 with respect to each client potentially subject to the transfer: the client's identity; the identities of any adverse parties; the nature and extent of the legal services involved; and fee and payment information. A potential purchasing lawyer shall have the same responsibilities as the selling lawyer to preserve [confidences and secrets] information relating to the representation of such clients whether or not the sale of the practice closes or the client ultimately consents to representation by the purchasing lawyer.
Rule 1.9 Duties to Former Clients
(a) A lawyer who has formerly represented a client in a matter shall not thereafter represent another person in the same or a substantially related matter in which that person's interests are materially adverse to the interests of the former client unless each affected client gives informed consent, confirmed in writing.
(b) A lawyer shall not knowingly represent a person in the same or a substantially related matter in which a firm with which the lawyer formerly was associated had previously represented a client:
(1) whose interests are materially adverse to that person; and
(2) about whom the lawyer had acquired information protected by Rules 1.6 and 1.9(c) that is material to the matter, unless each affected client gives informed consent, confirmed in writing.
(c) A lawyer who has formerly represented a client in a matter or whose present or former firm has formerly represented a client in a matter shall not thereafter:
(1) use information relating to the representation to the disadvantage of the former client except as these Rules would permit or require with respect to a client, or when the information has become generally known; or
(2) reveal information relating to the representation except as these Rules would permit or require with respect to a client.
(d) For purposes of this rule, matters are--substantially related--if (1) the lawyer's representation of the current client will injure or damage the former client in connection with the same transaction or legal dispute in which the lawyer previously represented the former client; or (2) there is a substantial risk that confidential factual information as would normally have been obtained in the prior representation of the former client would materially advance the current client's position in the subsequent matter.
Rule 1.10 Imputation of Conflicts of Interest; Screening
(a) While lawyers are associated in a firm, none of them shall knowingly represent a client when any one of them practicing alone would be prohibited from doing so by Rules 1.7 or 1.9, unless the prohibition is based on a personal interest of the prohibited lawyer or on Rule 1.7(a)(3) and does not present a significant risk of materially limiting the representation of the client by the remaining lawyers in the firm.
Rule 1.13 Organization as Client
(a) A lawyer employed or retained by an organization represents the organization acting through its duly authorized constituents.
(b) If a lawyer for an organization knows [facts from which a reasonable lawyer, under the circumstances, would conclude] that an officer, employee or other person associated with the organization is engaged in action, intends to act or refuses to act in a matter related to the representation that is a violation of a legal obligation to the organization, or a violation of law which reasonably might be imputed to the organization, and that is likely to result in substantial injury to the organization, then the lawyer shall proceed as is reasonably necessary in the best interest of the organization. Unless the lawyer reasonably believes that it is not necessary in the best interest of the organization to do so, the lawyer shall refer the matter to higher authority in the organization, including, if warranted by the circumstances, referral to the highest authority that can act on behalf of the organization as determined by applicable law.
(c) Except as provided in paragraph (d), if
(1) [if] despite the lawyer's efforts in accordance with paragraph (b) the highest authority that can act on behalf of the organization insists upon or fails to address in a timely and appropriate manner an action or a refusal to act, that is clearly a violation of law, and
(2) the lawyer reasonably believes that the violation is reasonably certain to result in substantial injury to the organization, then the lawyer may reveal information relating to the representation whether or not Rule 1.6 permits such disclosure, but only if and to the extent the lawyer reasonably believes necessary to prevent substantial injury to the organization.
Rule 3.1 Meritorious Claims and Contentions
In representing a client or the lawyer's own interests, [A] a lawyer shall not knowingly bring or defend a proceeding, assert a position therein, delay a trial or take other action on behalf of a client, unless there is a basis in law and fact for doing so that is not frivolous, which includes a good faith argument for an extension, modification or reversal of existing law, except that a lawyer for the defendant in a criminal proceeding, or the respondent in a proceeding that could result in incarceration may, nevertheless so defend the proceeding as to require that every element of the case be established.
Rule 3.5 Impartiality and Decorum of the Tribunal
A lawyer shall not:
(a) seek to influence a judge, juror, prospective juror or other official by means prohibited by law;
(b) communicate ex parte on the merits of a cause with such a person during the proceeding unless authorized to do so by law or court order;
Rule 4.4 Respect for the Rights of Third Persons; Inadvertently Sent Documents
(a) In representing a client or the lawyer's own interests, a lawyer shall not use means that have no substantial purpose other than to embarrass, delay, harass or burden a third person, or knowingly use methods of obtaining evidence that violate the legal rights of such a person.
Rule 7.1 Communication Concerning a Lawyer's Services
(a) A lawyer shall not make or cause to be made any communication about the lawyer or the lawyer's firm, whether in person, in writing, electronically, by telephone or otherwise, if the communication:
(1) contains a material misrepresentation of fact or law, or omits a statement of fact or law necessary to make the communication considered as a whole not materially misleading;
(2) is intended or is reasonably likely to create a false or misleading expectation about results the lawyer or the lawyer's firm can achieve;
(3) except upon request of a client or potential client, compares the quality of the lawyer's or the lawyer's firm's services with the quality of the services of other lawyers or law firms;
(4) states or implies that the lawyer or the lawyer's firm specializes in, concentrates a practice in, limits a practice to, is experienced in, is presently handling or is qualified to handle matters or areas of law if the statement or implication is false or misleading;
(5) states or implies [an ability] that the lawyer or the lawyer's firm is in a position to [influence] improperly influence [a government agency or official or to achieve results by means that violate these Rules or other law]any court or other public body or office;
Rule 8.4 4 Misconduct
(a) It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to:
style="text-indent: 0.48in; margin-left: 0.519167in; margin-bottom: 0.0416667in; margin-top: 0.0416667in">(1) violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assist or induce another to do so, or do so through the acts of another;
(2) commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects;
(3) engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation that reflects adversely on the lawyer's fitness to practice law;
(4) engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice; [or]
(5) state or imply an ability to influence improperly a government agency or official or to achieve results by means that violate these Rules or other law; or
(6) knowingly assist a judge or judicial officer in conduct that is a violation of applicable rules of judicial conduct or other law.
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