Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Policy

This policy explains how Standing Lawyers protects client information and how conflicts of interest are identified and managed. The professional duty of confidentiality an advocate owes a client is broader than anything a website policy can describe; this sets out the practical measures behind it.

Confidentiality

Everything a client tells us about a matter is confidential and stays confidential after the matter ends. It is disclosed outside the firm only with the client's instruction, or where the law or a court compels disclosure — and where we are compelled, we tell the client unless we are prohibited from doing so.

• Client material is accessible only to the people working on the matter
• Matter files are marked so privileged material is identifiable
• Documents are shared through channels agreed with the client, not over open email where the content is sensitive
• Anyone engaged to assist on a matter is bound to the same duty in writing

Identifying conflicts

Before accepting any new matter we check it against the clients and matters we already act on. A conflict may be direct — acting for two parties on opposite sides — or indirect, where information we hold for one client is relevant to another. Both are grounds to decline.

When a conflict is found

If a conflict exists at the outset, we decline the matter and say why, to the extent we can without breaching confidentiality. If one emerges during a matter, we stop work on it, tell the clients affected, and withdraw from one or both engagements as the position requires. We do not proceed on the basis of a waiver that leaves either client materially exposed.

Former clients

The duty of confidentiality survives the engagement, so information held for a former client can prevent us acting against them later. Conflict checks therefore run against closed matters as well as open ones.