If a lawyer has an ongoing relationship with one party, what must they disclose before taking on both parties as clients?

In situations where a lawyer has an ongoing relationship with one party in a matter, it is crucial for ethical and professional reasons to disclose the existence of that relationship before representing both parties as clients. This disclosure is necessary to ensure transparency and to allow both parties to understand the potential implications of the lawyer’s previous connections on their current representation.

The longstanding relationship could influence the objectivity of the lawyer, potentially leading to conflicts of interest that may affect the fairness of the legal process. By informing both parties of this relationship, the lawyer provides them with the opportunity to assess whether they are comfortable proceeding with the lawyer in this dual capacity or would prefer to seek independent representation.

Other options, while potentially relevant in different contexts, do not directly address the core issue of transparency regarding prior relationships that may affect the current legal representation.