Navigating Conflicts: A Primer for In-House Counsel | Page 19

2 . Can the lateral ’ s portable matters come to the firm ? a .

LATERAL HIRES

Two primary areas of concern :

1 .

Can the firm hire this person ?
a .
Lateral ’ s former clients : is prior work related to the firm ’ s ongoing work ?
b .
Confidential information : can it be used against the lateral ’ s former clients ?

2 . Can the lateral ’ s portable matters come to the firm ? a .

b .
All related parties in portable matters are checked for conflicts in the same way as any new matter . However , conflicts are checked at an earlier stage – before new matter is opened – to avoid surprises in the hiring process .
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