Policies

Conflicts Policy

1. We will decline to act where there is a conflict of interests, namely:-
   
   • where we already act for one client and are asked to act for another client whose interests in the matter in question conflict or are likely to conflict with those of the first client;
   • and/or where we hold confidential information of one client and could only act in the best interests of another client by breaching our duty of confidence to that first client;
   • save that in circumstances of urgency, where our refusal to act would cause irreparable harm to a client, we will act by doing the bare minimum required to preserve that client's position while alternative representation is found.
2. Prima facie, we will not consider ourselves unable to act in situations of pure 'commercial conflict', including, but not limited to, situations where:-
   
   1. we are asked to act for competing clients in offices in different countries;
   2. we are asked to perform wholly different types of work for competing clients, even in the same country; and
   3. we are asked to perform bulk searching or renewals, and do not have direct contact with, or provide substantive advice to, the ultimate client.
3. In exceptional circumstances, however, we are prepared to discuss restricting ourselves in circumstances envisaged by paragraph 2. above. Such restrictions should be for a finite period and must be approved by the relevant Business Unit Head and Group Managing Director and agreed in writing with our client. Such restrictions may be reviewed from time to time in light of changed circumstances; however, any variations must be approved by the relevant Business Unit Head and Group Managing Director.
4. For all new matters, an internal conflict check must be made in any event.
5. If in doubt, matters should be specifically referred to the relevant Business Unit Head and Group Managing Director for guidance.