The Court allowed the appeal and held that the law firm breached the duty of loyalty by accepting a retainer directly adverse to a current client without consent, then breaching duties of commitment and candour by dropping existing retainers and failing to disclose.
The bright line rule against concurrent adverse representation applies to related and unrelated matters, subject to limited scope constraints.
The matter was remitted for redetermination of remedy focused on maintaining public confidence in the administration of justice.
