When are conflicts of interest typically imputed to all lawyers within the same firm?

Conflicts of interest are generally imputed to all lawyers within the same firm to ensure that the ethical obligations to clients are upheld consistently across the firm. This is based on the principle that lawyers in the same firm are considered to be in a position to share information and resources, and therefore, if one lawyer has a conflict that could affect their ability to represent a client, that conflict could reasonably be expected to affect the entire firm's representation.

The rule typically allows for some exceptions with respect to personal conflicts. Personal conflicts arise from a lawyer's individual relationships or interests that are not related to the practice of law and do not necessarily implicate the firm's duty to its clients. However, all other forms of conflicts, especially those that relate directly to client relationships and interests, are imputed across the firm. This approach is designed to protect clients by preventing the sharing of confidential information and ensuring that clients receive unbiased representation without potential interference from any underlying conflicts that might exist among different lawyers in the firm.

In this way, the imputation of conflicts seeks to maintain the integrity of the legal profession and safeguard clients' interests.