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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ABA-395

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31-Protecting and Disclosing Confidences and Secrets
A lawyer who represents one member of a defense "consortium" may not later be adverse to another member of the consortium without the client's consent (because the use of confidential information may put the former client at risk). The lawyer may have a fiduciary duty to other members of the consortium that would require the lawyer's disqualification in later cases, but has no ethical duty because they were not clients.

Copyright 2000, Thomas E. Spahn