Rule 1.7. Conflict of interest: Current clients. (a) Except as provided in paragraph
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Rhode Island Court Rules › Supreme Court › Supreme Court Rules Article V - Rules of Professional Conduct › R.I. Sup. Ct. art. V, R. 1.7
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(b), a lawyer shall not represent a client if the representation involves a concurrent
conflict of interest. A concurrent conflict of interest exists if:
(1) the representation of one client will be directly adverse to another client; or
(2) there is a significant risk that the representation of one or more clients will be
materially limited by the lawyer's responsibilities to another client, a former client or
a third person or by a personal interest of the lawyer.
(b) Notwithstanding the existence of a concurrent conflict of interest under
paragraph (a), a lawyer may represent a client if:
(1) the lawyer reasonably believes that the lawyer will be able to provide
competent and diligent representation to each affected client;
(2) the representation is not prohibited by law;
(3) the representation does not involve the assertion of a claim by one client
against another client represented by the lawyer in the same litigation or other
proceeding before a tribunal; and
(4) each affected client gives informed consent, confirmed in writing.
COMMENTARY
General Principles
[1] Loyalty and independent judgment are essential elements in the lawyer's
relationship to a client. Concurrent conflicts of interest can arise from the lawyer's
responsibilities to another client, a former client or a third person or from the lawyer's
own interests. For specific Rules regarding certain concurrent conflicts of interest, see
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