[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 37, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 37CFR10.66]

[Page 359-360]
 
              TITLE 37--PATENTS, TRADEMARKS, AND COPYRIGHTS
 
                         DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
PART 10--REPRESENTATION OF OTHERS BEFORE THE PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 10.66  Refusing to accept or continue employment if the interests of another client may impair the independent professional judgment of the practitioner.

    (a) A practitioner shall decline proffered employment if the 
exercise of the practitioner's independent professional judgment in 
behalf of a client will be or is likely to be adversely affected by the 
acceptance of the proffered employment, or if it would be likely to 
involve the practitioner in representing differing interests, except to 
the extent permitted under paragraph (c) of this section.
    (b) A practitioner shall not continue multiple employment if the 
exercise of the practitioner's independent professional judgment in 
behalf of a client will be or is likely to be adversely affected by the 
practitoner's representation of another client, or if it would be likely 
to involve the practitioner in representing differing interests, except 
to the extent permitted under paragraph (c) of this section.
    (c) In the situations covered by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this 
section a practitioner may represent multiple clients if it is obvious 
that the practitioner can adequately represent the interest of each and 
if each consents to the representation after full disclosure of the 
possible effect of such representation on the exercise of the 
practitioner's independent professional judgment on behalf of each.
    (d) If a practitioner is required to decline employment or to 
withdraw from employment under a Disciplinary Rule, no partner, or 
associate, or any other

[[Page 360]]

practitioner affiliated with the practitioner or the practitioner's 
firm, may accept or continue such employment unless otherwise ordered by 
the Director or Commissioner.