What conflict does Rule 1.10 concern?

Rule 1.10 of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct addresses the issue of conflicts of interest that arise from the association of lawyers within a single law firm. The rule specifically deals with the imputation of conflicts when one lawyer in a firm has a conflict of interest due to prior representation that is substantially related to a matter that another lawyer in the same firm is handling.

This rule is designed to ensure that the collective knowledge of the firm is considered when determining whether a conflict exists, as the prohibition is not just limited to individual lawyers but extends to the entire firm. As a result, if one lawyer cannot represent a client because of a conflicting interest, the same conflict is imputed to all lawyers in that firm, thereby preventing them from representing the client in question.

This focus on conflicts arising from members of the same firm distinguishes Rule 1.10 from other potential sources of conflict, such as personal relationships, financial investments, or issues related to friends of clients, which are governed by different rules. Hence, the correct answer accurately reflects the specific context of Rule 1.10 regarding intra-firm conflicts of interest.