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When a client, other party or representative is added to a file, ContactsLaw performs a check (based on existing data) to determine whether the contact poses a potential conflict of interest.

Party conflicts

A proposed party contact will be flagged as a potential conflict of interest if they have been added to any other file, active or archived, in a conflicting role:
  • If the contact is being added as a client:
    • If the contact is an individual:
      • A conflict is flagged if the contact or any of their associated entities appear on another file as an other party or representative.
    • If the contact is an entity:
      • A conflict is flagged if the contact or any associated individuals appear on another file as an other party or representative.
  • If the contact is being added as an other party:
    • If the contact is an individual:
      • A conflict is flagged if the contact or any of their associated entities appear on another file as a client.
    • If the contact is an entity:
      • A conflict is flagged if the contact or any associated individuals appear on another file as a client.

Note: Conflicts will not be triggered by parties on prospect files once those files have been archived. This ensures that matters which do not ultimately transition into client files are not regarded as potential conflicts of interest.

If a conflict is detected during file creation, the user is presented with a list of the existing files that triggered it, and is given the option to stop and review, or to ignore the conflict and proceed. When contacts are added to existing files, conflicts appear as a warning icon beside the contact; double-clicking the icon displays the same list of files.

Contacts can also be added to a file through Document cataloguing or Document creation; any new clients or other parties will be subject to the same conflict checks at the conclusion of these activities.

Representative conflicts

During file creation and subsequent editing, ContactsLaw will also check to see whether The Practice or any related contact (including members) has been added as the representative for an other party on the file. If so, this poses a potential conflict of interest because the firm is representing both sides in relation to the matter. In such cases, a written authority may be required and ContactsLaw will alert the user to this fact.