These summaries were prepared by McGuireWoods LLP lawyer Thomas E. Spahn. They are based on the letter opinions issued by the Virginia State Bar. Any editorial comments reflect Mr. Spahn's current personal views, and not the opinions of the Virginia State Bar, McGuireWoods or its clients. 
 
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2-Adversity to Former Clients

9-Government Lawyer Conflicts

10-Former Government Lawyer Conflicts

58-Real Estate Lawyers

A home builder sued the buyer for failure to pay, and the buyer counterclaimed for construction defects. The buyer also complained to the local Board of Building Code Appeals, which was represented by the county attorney. The board found that the builder had complied with the code but its finding was overturned on appeal. The county attorney was later hired to represent the builder in the civil lawsuit with the home buyer. However, the county attorney was barred from the representation because the role was "substantially related" to the work the lawyer did as a public lawyer, and would also place the lawyer in the untenable position of having to challenge the findings of the Board that the lawyer had earlier defended.

Copyright 2000, Thomas E. Spahn