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-435

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1-Adversity to Current Clients

31-Protecting and Disclosing Confidences and Secrets

54-Insurance Defense Lawyers

A lawyer may represent a client against an adversary insured by an insurance company that the lawyer represents in unrelated matters, unless the insurance company becomes a formal party because the lawyer's litigation client and the insurance company are economically rather than legally adverse. The lawyer might be prohibited from taking discovery of the insurance company client, depending upon the adverseness involved. The lawyer might be unable to represent the litigation client if the lawyer has protected information from the insurance company client that "would materially help the plaintiff in his claims against the insured defendant."

Copyright 2000, Thomas E. Spahn