Final answer:
The general rule preventing a firm from representing a client if any single lawyer would have a conflict of interest has exceptions, mostly involving waivable conflicts with informed consent.
Step-by-step explanation:
Exceptions to Conflict of Interest Rules in Legal Firms
Generally, if any lawyer within a firm is disqualified from representing a client due to a conflict of interest, the entire firm is prohibited from taking on that representation. This principle ensures adherence to ethical standards and protects the right to an attorney who can act in the client's best interest. However, there are exceptions to this rule where the conflict might be considered waivable and where informed consent from all affected parties is obtained. The landmark case of Glasser v. United States highlighted the importance of conflict-free legal representation, as the Assistance of Counsel Clause of the Sixth Amendment was violated due to a lawyer's simultaneous representation of codefendants.
The general rule that when lawyers are associated in a firm, none of them may knowingly represent a client if any one of them practicing alone would be disqualified from doing so because of a conflict of interest does not apply if: 1) The conflict of interest issue is disclosed to the client and the client gives informed consent to the representation. 2) The conflict is not directly related to the representation and is unlikely to materially and adversely affect the representation of the client.