Conflicts of interest

Conflicts of interest are a nightmare for lawyers. Once upon a time lawyers could act for both sides in a transaction, as long as they erected "Chinese walls" to separate out the parties. Nowadays such things are frowned upon, and law firms employ people just to do conflict clearances so that no-one gets into trouble with the Law Society or, worse still, winds up being sued by their clients.

The trouble is, turning down business is hard. And who wants to turn down a multi-million pound instruction from Glaxo just because there is a conflct with old Mrs Davies' will? In the end, business is business. Even laywers have to make a living.