December 8, 2023

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Eastern

Ethics Webinar: My Client, My Enemy? Ethical Challenges When Representing Cities

This presentation will discuss ABA Rules 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.7 when discussing the challenges faced with representing cities. Rule 1.3 addresses organizations as clients, and Comment 1 touches upon entities acting through their officers, directors, etc. Complexities arise when Rule 1.1 calls for competent representation and the need to abide by client decisions under Rule 1.2, but individual city officers find themselves in positions contrary to the city they serve. Rule 1.7 provides guidance on Conflicts of Interest. Rule 1.3 requires lawyers dealing with a city’s officers to explain the nature of the relationship and address when interests diverge. This presentation will provide a variety of scenarios and pose hypothetical questions illustrating these points.

Speaker: Alan Bojorquez

Alan Bojorquez: Through his firm in Austin, Alan is a Municipal Attorney who advises cities across Texas. Early in his career he served as a staff attorney for the Texas Municipal League. Alan is the Past-President of Texas City Attorneys Association and a Board Member for the International Municipal Lawyers Association. He graduated from Texas Tech University with a BA in English, MPA, and JD. He authors the Texas Municipal Law & Procedure Manual.