ISBA Ethics Opinions on Communication With Corporate Employees

  • Opinion 09-01 | Communication With Corporate Employees | Communication With Represented Person | Communication With Unrepresented Person
    Communications with current and former corporate constituents

    A lawyer may communicate with a current constituent of a represented organization about the subject-matter of the representation without the consent of the organization’s counsel only when the constituent does not (i) supervise, direct or regularly consult with the organization’s lawyer concerning the matter; (ii) have authority to obligate the organization with respect to the matter; or (iii) have acts or omissions in connection with the matter that may be imputed to the organization for purposes of civil or criminal liability. Consent of the organization’s lawyer is not required for communication with former constituents about the matter of the representation. If the constituent has his or her own counsel, however, that counsel must consent to the communication.

ISBA Advisory Opinions on Professional Conduct are prepared as an educational service to members of the ISBA. While the opinions express the ISBA interpretation of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct and other relevant materials in response to a specific hypothesized fact situation, they do not have the weight of law and should not be relied upon as a substitute for individual legal advice. For more information, call the ISBA Legal Department at (217) 525-1760 or (800) 252-8908.

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