Rule 17 Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners
Rule 17 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (RPC) 2023 is about Conflict of interest. It is under Part II (Relation with Clients) of Chapter 1 (Conduct) of the Rules. It provides as follows:
(1) A lawyer shall, at the time of a retainer, disclose to the client all the circumstances of his relations with the parties, and any interest in or connection with the controversy which might influence the client in the selection of the lawyer.
(2) Except with the consent of his client after full disclosure, a lawyer shall not accept a retainer if the exercise of his professional judgment on behalf of his client will be or may reasonably be affected by his own financial, business, property, or personal interest.
(3) A lawyer shall not acquire a proprietary interest in a cause of action or subject matter of litigation which he is conducting for a client, except that he may—
(a) acquire a lien granted by law to secure his fees and expenses, or
(b) contract with a client for a reasonable contingent fee in a civil case.
(4) A lawyer shall not accept a proffered employment where the exercise of his independent professional judgment on behalf of a client will be or is likely to be adversely affected by the acceptance of the proffered employment, or if it is likely to involve him in representing differing interests, unless it is obvious that the lawyer can adequately represent the interest of each, and each consents to the representation after full disclosure of the possible effect of such representation on the exercise of his independent professional judgment on behalf
of each.
(5) A lawyer shall not appear as counsel for a client in a legal proceeding in which the lawyer is himself a party.
(6) Where a lawyer is required to decline employment or to withdraw from employment under this rule, no partner, associate or any other lawyer affiliated with him or his firm may accept or continue such employment.
