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道德意见305

行业协会代表的道德考量

行业协会的代表权则不适用, 没有更多的, create an attorney-client relationship with each member of the association; particular circumstances of a representation, 然而, 是否可以与一个或多个成员建立靠谱的滚球平台-客户关系.

当一个行业协会的靠谱的滚球平台被要求在对该行业协会成员不利的事项中代表客户时, 靠谱的滚球平台必须考虑是否 事实上的 靠谱的滚球平台与客户之间存在关系, 以及未来的代理是否会因靠谱的滚球平台在行业协会的现有代理而受到损害.

适用的规则

  • 规则1.6(信息保密)
  • 规则1.7(利益冲突)
  • 规则1.13(机构作为客户)
  • 规则1.16(拒绝或终止代表)

调查

行业协会的激增,尤其是在华盛顿特区.C., 是否导致对靠谱的滚球平台对其所代表的行业协会的道德责任的询问, 也, 致协会成员.1 的 primary concern is the circumstances under which a lawyer representing a trade association may undertake a representation adverse to a member of the trade association.

讨论

规则1.13(a)规定“一个组织雇用或雇用的靠谱的滚球平台代表该组织通过其正式授权的组成部分行事.对规则1的评论.第13条进一步指出,“本评论规定的义务同样适用于非法人社团.对规则1的评论[13].7补充道:“代表……的靠谱的滚球平台 . . . 行业协会或其他组织类型的客户被视为代表该特定实体, 而不是它 . . . 成员或其他选民.’”当时是一家行业协会的靠谱的滚球平台, 不, 仅仅通过或通过这种表现, 与每个成员建立靠谱的滚球平台-客户关系.2

这一观点在其他地方得到了广泛认可. 看到 美国靠谱的滚球平台协会道德操守小组. No. 92-365(7月6日, 解释《靠谱的滚球平台》的可比条款(1983年), amended 1991); Oregon 靠谱的滚球平台操守行动. No. 1991-27 (a lawyer who represents a trade association may represent one member of the association against another member with respect to a matter unrelated to the work performed for the association without disclosure to or consent from the association).3 然而,这种方法并不能结束分析. 的re remains for consideration the penumbra where an attorney is asked to undertake a representation adverse to one or more members of the trade association that she represents.

1. 不利于委员的陈述

在一般情况下, 不禁止行业协会的靠谱的滚球平台以不利于会员的方式代表协会. 对规则1的评论[13].7; D.C. 靠谱的滚球平台操守行动. No. 216. 行业协会损害会员利益的情形, 对规则1的注释[8].第13条为行业协会的靠谱的滚球平台提供指导:

有时,组织的利益可能与一个或多个成员的利益相抵触. 在这种情况下,靠谱的滚球平台应向任何选民提供意见, 靠谱的滚球平台认为谁的利益与组织的利益相抵触, 利益冲突或潜在的利益冲突, 靠谱的滚球平台不能代表这样的选民, 并且这样的人可能希望获得独立的代表. . . .

参见影子岛公司. v. 美国安格斯协会., No. [j] .中国机械工程,1987,vol . 1, vol . 1, vol . 1.D. Mo. 9月. 22, 1987) (law firm not barred from continuing to represent trade association in suit brought by member where the association was the only client recognized by the firm). 除了, 因为会员不是协会靠谱的滚球平台的客户, 靠谱的滚球平台通常可以自由地代表利益对其不利的无关当事人. 对规则1的评论[13].7.

在某些情况下, 然而, 靠谱的滚球平台可被视为代表会员个人, 尽管没有正式的靠谱的滚球平台-委托人关系. 对规则1的注释[14].7. 另请参阅 纽约市靠谱的滚球平台协会(“ABCNY”)道德操守. No. 1999-01. “总的来说, 如选民根据事实有合理的理由相信既存在个人代表,也存在集体代表,则可隐含代表.对规则1的评论[14].7,引用美国靠谱的滚球平台协会道德操行. No. 92-365. 那么,阈值查询就是是否应该合理地将成员视为a 事实上的 靠谱的滚球平台委托人.

2. 与协会成员的靠谱的滚球平台-客户关系

“[D]etermining whether and to what extent the individual member has become a client requires careful examination of all of the circumstances of the firm’s relationship to and representation of the trade association.美国靠谱的滚球平台协会道德操守. No. 92-365. 没有明确约定的,可以建立靠谱的滚球平台-委托人关系, 并且“不依赖于费用的支付[或] . . . 在正式合同执行后.” 西屋电气加热器. 集团. v. 科麦奇公司., 580 F.1311,1317(第7章.), cert. 否认, 439 U.S. 955 (1978). 最重要的是行业协会会员是否向协会靠谱的滚球平台披露了保密信息, 以及周围的环境和期望. 美国靠谱的滚球平台协会道德操守小组. No. 92-365. 参见威斯汀豪斯, 580 F.2d在1319-1320; 格鲁伊克推测v. Jonathan Logan公司., 653 F.2d 746,749(第2d卷. 1981).

In 威斯汀豪斯, 这个问题的主要案例, 一家行业协会的靠谱的滚球平台事务所也在诉讼中代表了对该协会一些成员不利的一方. 受影响的会员要求取消该公司的资格. 这些成员以前曾代表协会向本公司提交过与立法工作有关的资料, 我们理解所有材料都将保密,并相信公司是代表会员行事. 尽管法院明确拒绝制定行业协会靠谱的滚球平台代表协会所有成员的规则, it disqualified the law firm because the association members reasonably believed they were submitting confidential information to a firm acting in their individual behalf.

关于行业协会代表权的意见, 美国靠谱的滚球平台协会道德与职业责任委员会 威斯汀豪斯 以及之前关于公司和合伙企业代表的冲突分析. 美国靠谱的滚球平台协会道德操守小组. No. 92-365; 另请参阅 abny道德操守. 1999-01, 引用 美国靠谱的滚球平台协会道德操守小组. 95-390. 的 factors considered by the ABA Committee included whether the lawyer involved had affirmatively assumed a duty of representation to the member of a trade association; whether the member had separate representation; whether the lawyer represented the member before commencing its representation of the association; and whether the member relied upon the lawyer’s representation of its individual interests. 除了, the Committee commented that the size of the trade association may bear on the reasonableness of any member’s expectation of representation; for example, 对于一个大型协会的成员来说,期望协会的靠谱的滚球平台代表其个人利益更可能是不合理的.

If, 根据上述分析, 靠谱的滚球平台的结论是,协会的个人成员应被视为靠谱的滚球平台事务所的客户, 靠谱的滚球平台必须考虑是否存在利益冲突.4 如果新的代理要求靠谱的滚球平台在同一件事上提出两个相反的立场, 然后规则1.7(a)禁止该陈述. 在其他情况下,适用规则为规则1.第7(b)条规定,靠谱的滚球平台不得就下列事项代表客户:

(1) that matter involves a specific party or parties and a position to be taken by that client in that matter is adverse to a position taken or to be taken by another client in the same matter even though that client is unrepresented or represented by a different lawyer;

(2)该等代理将受到或可能受到另一客户代理的不利影响;

(3) representation of another client will be or is likely to be adversely affected by such representation; or

(4) the lawyer’s professional judgment on behalf of the client will be or reasonably may be adversely affected by the lawyer’s responsibilities to or interests in a third party or the lawyer’s own financial, 业务, 财产, 或者个人兴趣.

规则1.6 .(信息保密).也可能牵涉到(推定取消资格). Cf. 威斯汀豪斯, 580 F.2d at 1321(参考《靠谱的滚球平台》的可比规则). 克服冲突,继续进行逆向代理, 靠谱的滚球平台必须披露这个问题,并获得会员和潜在客户的同意, 按照规则1.7(c).5

3. 丧失代表权

即使与该成员不存在靠谱的滚球平台-客户关系, 靠谱的滚球平台必须确定她对行业协会的代理是否会对其代理造成重大损害. 根据规则1的评论[14].7、陈述(没有知情同意)是不恰当的,如果:

(a)不利事项与, 或实质上与…相关, 靠谱的滚球平台代表组织客户所处理的事情. (原文如此)

(b)在代理组织客户的过程中,靠谱的滚球平台实际上获得了保密或秘密(定义见规则1).6(b)) of the organization client or an affiliate or constituent that could be used to the disadvantage of any of the organization client or its affiliate or constituents, or

(c)该等陈述寻求可能对组织客户的财务状况产生重大不利影响的结果.

参见格鲁伊克推测, 653 F.750度2d; abny道德操守. No. 1999-01. In 格鲁伊克推测,第二巡回法院通过了以下案文:

Disqualification will ordinarily be required whenever the subject matter of a suit is sufficiently related to the scope of the matters on which a firm represents an association as to create a realistic risk either that the plaintiff will not be represented with vigor or that unfair advantage will be taken of the defendant.

格鲁伊克推测, 653 F.750度2d. This test involves a careful analysis of the attorney’s relationship and dealings with the member and the member’s relationship and dealings with the association. 例如, 会员披露由靠谱的滚球平台承担的与协会事务有关的机密信息可能会被取消资格. Id.6 的 格鲁伊克推测 法院裁定一家靠谱的滚球平台事务所在集体谈判中代表行业协会的资格被取消. 该公司还代表该协会一名成员的前高管处理了一起违反劳动合同的纠纷. 运用“实质关系”检验, 法院的结论是, 在准备集体谈判时, 靠谱的滚球平台事务所很可能了解到该成员的政策或做法与该高管的解雇有关, 因此,初审法院并没有滥用其自由裁量权来取消靠谱的滚球平台事务所的资格. 格鲁伊克推测, 653 F.750度2d.7 Cf. 影子岛, 1987 WL 17337, at *4 (law firm not barred from continuing to represent trade association in suit brought by member where no danger of divided loyalty to two clients existed since the association was the only client recognized by the firm).

另外, the matter may not be undertaken if the result sought by the prospective client is likely to have a material adverse impact on the trade association’s finances. 看到 对规则1的注释[16].7. 以财务困难为由取消资格是适当的 北星酒店集团. v. 中城酒店协会., 118 F.R.D. 109 (D. 明尼苏达州. 1987), 公司代表酒店经理起诉拥有酒店的合伙企业. 该公司已经代表了两个发展伙伴,其普通合伙人也是酒店合伙企业的普通合伙人. 因为任何不利于酒店合作关系的判决都会对公司所代表的两个开发合作关系产生财务影响, 法院以“财务困境”引发的冲突为由取消了该公司的资格.” 118 F.R.D. at 112-13; 另请参阅 美国靠谱的滚球平台协会道德操守小组. No. 92 - 365,讨论 北星酒店集团.

如果分析表明靠谱的滚球平台代表行业协会将在很大程度上限制其代表潜在客户, 靠谱的滚球平台只有经行业协会和准委托人同意,方可接受或继续代理, 按照规则1.7(c). 看到 对规则1的注释[1].(16)“靠谱的滚球平台不应接受代理,除非代理能够胜任, 及时, 没有不当的利益冲突, 最后.”).

结论

代表行业协会的靠谱的滚球平台则不然, 没有更多的, 代表协会的成员. 当被要求代表客户在一个问题上,靠谱的滚球平台会对协会成员不利, 然而, the lawyer must consider the relevant facts and circumstances to determine if the member has a reasonable belief that an attorney-client relationship exists between the member and the lawyer. 如果是这样的话, 靠谱的滚球平台只有在获得潜在客户和会员双方同意的情况下才能接受新的代理. If no 靠谱的滚球平台与客户之间存在关系 but the lawyer’s representation would be impaired because of a substantial relationship between the subject of the new representation and its representation of the trade association, 或者新事件是否可能对协会造成财务上的不利影响, 然后,只有在客户和行业协会同意的情况下,代理才能进行.

调查没有. 00-6-15
通过日期:2001年1月16日

 


1. 行业协会是“有相似问题、从事相似领域的商业组织为相互保护而结成的协会”, 交换思想和统计数据,维护行业内的标准.《靠谱的足球滚球平台》1493年第6版. 1990). 参见Nat 'l Muffler经销商协会.公司. v. 美国,440美元.S. 472, 483 n.15(1979)(注意到商务部将行业协会定义为“非营利组织”, 合作, 自愿, 商业竞争对手的组织,旨在帮助其成员和其行业处理共同的商业问题.’”)(引文省略).
2. 本意见涉及行业协会, 这里讨论的原则可能适用于其他类型的组织. 见规则1.13.
3. Information obtained from a member while the lawyer is acting for the trade association is protected by the attorney-client privilege and subject to the confidentiality requirements of 规则1.6; 然而, it is the trade association that holds the privilege, not the member. 将[3]注释到规则1.13; D.C. 靠谱的滚球平台操守行动. No. 269. 如下所述, 然而, 可能出现的情况是,成员, 通过靠谱的滚球平台的“作为或不作为”, 有理由相信靠谱的滚球平台是单独代表的吗, 在这种情况下,规则1的保密要求.保护会员和行业协会的通讯. 看到维.C. 靠谱的滚球平台操守行动. No. 269 n.6.
4. 如果公司对行业协会的代表在假设的新事项提出时已经结束, 该协会是他的前客户, 规则1.9将控制:
  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 the former client consents after consultation.
5. 规则1.7(c) permits representation to go forward despite a conflict “if each potentially affected client provides consent to such representation after full disclosure of the existence and nature of the possible conflict and the possible adverse consequences of such representation.对规则1的评论[19].第7条载列披露的规定:
  Adequate disclosure requires such disclosure of the parties and their interests and positions as to enable each potential client to make a fully informed decision as to whether to proceed with the contemplated representation. . . . 充分披露还要求客户了解可能的额外费用, 带来的不便, 如果以后出现实际的立场冲突,靠谱的滚球平台被要求终止代理,可能会产生其他不利因素.
  规则的术语部分将“同意”定义为“客户对建议的行动方案的非强制同意”, 在就有关事项与靠谱的滚球平台协商后.”
6. 格鲁克和其他案例将这种情况下的行业协会成员称为“代理”或“衍生”客户. 正如ABCNY专业和司法道德委员会所指出的那样, 这样的名字对分析没有帮助. abny道德操守. 1999-01.
7. 关于该司法管辖区中“实质相关”检验的讨论,请参见规则1.9、布朗v. 哥伦比亚特区. 分区调整,486 A.2d 37 (D.C. 1984年)(全体会议).

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