According to MRPC Rule 1.10(b), when can a lawyer represent a client after leaving a firm?

The correct answer reflects the provisions outlined in MRPC Rule 1.10(b), which governs imputation of conflicts of interest and the circumstances under which a departing lawyer may represent a new client after leaving a firm. Specifically, the rule allows a lawyer to represent a client if they have not participated in the same matter and there is no conflict of interest.

This means that if the lawyer did not have a personal involvement in the case while at their previous firm, and there is no overlap with any current clients of the former firm that would create a conflict, the lawyer is free to accept the new representation. This principle ensures that the new representation does not compromise the integrity or loyalty of the former law firm or affect their client relationships.

The other options do not accurately reflect the conditions laid out by the rule. For instance, permission from the previous firm is not a requisite for the lawyer to take on new clients when there is no conflict or participation in the same matter, and establishing a new firm does not itself create a basis for representation under the MRPC. Lastly, while unrelated cases may give rise to opportunities for representation, it is the absence of participation in that specific matter and the lack of conflict that are the critical factors under Rule 1.10