Hinderks' "Dear Ethics Lawyer: Representing Multiple Clients in Claims Against One Defendant" Featured in The Legal Intelligencer

08.10.2022

Stinson LLP Partner and former Managing Partner Mark Hinderks published a column in The Legal Intelligencer that features insight into the complicated realm of representing multiple clients against one defendant and the potential conflicts of interest this may create.

"Facts concerning the size or validity of the respective claims (or defenses to them) of the various transportation companies either known now or discovered during the course of the case, could put you in a conflict situation," Hinderks said. "A conflict could also arise in the event of a dispute among your clients about strategy, costs, or other matters."

Hinderks also discusses confidentiality/privilege waiver issues concerning communications, and asks readers to "Consider whether you will always communicate separately and individually with each client or whether, under the law of the relevant jurisdiction, a common interest/joint defense agreement that would facilitate group communications and discussions is appropriate and useful to facilitate communication and discussion."

Hinderks leads the firm's Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility practice. He is the author of Dear Ethics Lawyer^TM, a twice-monthly newsletter with questions and answers concerning legal ethics, and a co-founder and presenter of "Ethics for Good," a twice-annual stage show which uses humor, skits and real-world scenarios to teach legal ethics to lawyers. Hinderks has presented more than 125 programs on legal ethics over the past 30 years, has authored 11 articles and handbook chapters on legal ethics, and has been deeply involved in professional organizations with legal ethics and professional responsibility as their focus.

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