[1] ER 1.10(b) operates to permit a law firm, under certain circumstances, to represent a person with interests directly adverse to those of a client represented by a lawyer who formerly was associated with the firm. The Rule applies regardless of when the formerly associated lawyer represented the client. However, the law firm may not represent a person with interests adverse to those of a present client of the firm, which would violate
ER 1.7. Moreover, the firm may not represent the person where the matter is the same or substantially related to that in which the formerly associated lawyer represented the client and any other lawyer currently in the firm has material information protected by ERs 1.6 and 1.9(c). For purposes of determining whether any current lawyer in the firm has such material information, information maintained by a firm in the form of documents, including electronically stored information, will not be imputed to the remaining lawyers if the firm adopts screening procedures that are reasonably adequate under the circumstances to prevent the remaining lawyers from accessing such information. In determining whether screening procedures are reasonably adequate, factors to be considered include whether technology is available and has been implemented to restrict lawyer access to electronically stored information maintained by the firm and whether adequate notice is provided to lawyers in the firm regarding the screening procedures. Further guidance is provided in
ER 1.0, comments [8]--[10]. In addition, the firm should consider whether its lawyers have access to internal electronic databases that utilize research memoranda or other work product from past client representations, to ensure that any protected information is removed from such databases or that access is appropriately restricted.