Ethical Essentials: Managing Conflicts of Interest, Client Confidentiality, and Professionalism

Michael J. Gorby | Gorby Peters & Associates, LLC

Mike Gorby is a founding member of Gorby Peters & Associates, LLC. He is a nationally recognized leader in complex corporate disputes, and liability issues that arise for property owners and managers, such as hotel chains, restaurants, shopping centers, apartment complexes, office buildings, and other public venues. Mike’s work also includes advising start up clients on the different forms of business structures and the most advantageous entity selection for the client. Mike has served as the program chair for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia (an affiliate of the University of Georgia) on the topic of Premises Liability. He is also the author of a popular legal treatise, Premises Liability in Georgia, which is published by Thomson Reuters/West, and which is now in its Third edition. Mike also serves as an instructor/lecturer for Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) in the area of procuring government contracts and is also a registered mediator.

Cari L. Sheehan | Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

With over 15 years of legal experience in civil litigation, conflicts of interest, and professional responsibility, Cari serves as Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP’s Assistant General Counsel. In this role, she advises firm attorneys with respect to ethics compliance, risk prevention, and conflicts of interest. In addition, she assists in the review and negotiation of outside counsel guidelines, conflict waivers and engagement letters, and other items with ethical implications. In addition, she assists in providing ethical training and education within the firm to its attorneys and staff.

Cari is an Adjunct Professor at the IU Robert H. McKinney School where she teaches Professional Responsibility. She is also a former Assistant Clinical Professor of Business Law and Ethics at the Kelley School of Business. She is passionate about promoting ethical awareness, integrity, and professionalism in the legal and business fields and contributing to the advancement of knowledge and practice in these domains.

Cari is a frequent presenter and author on ethics and professionalism in the legal industry. She is a reoccurring author with the Res Gestae regarding the Ethics Curbstone and has been quoted in publications for her knowledge on ethical topics. Cari is also an avid speaker having given over 200 seminars on ethics and professionalism for various local and national platforms. Her primary area of research is regarding the ethics of AI and how it affects the legal and business community.

Session I – Ethical Essentials: Managing Conflicts of Interest and Protecting Client Confidentiality | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

• Conflicts of interest in legal Practice: Rules, risks, and resolutions
• Confidentiality in the digital age: Protecting client information and attorney integrity

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

Session II – Professionalism is Alive! | 2:10pm – 3:10pm

• Professionalism and integrity: Discusses how professionalism influences attorney’s conduct and safeguards the legal system’s integrity
• Competence and diligence: Focuses on an attorney’s duty to provide capable and diligent representation according to ABA Model Rules 1.1 and 1.3
• Ethical dilemma resolution: Provides methods for attorneys to resolve conflicts of interest, maintain integrity, and uphold ethical standards in challenging cases
• Reputation and accountability: Discusses the importance of maintaining a positive professional image and strategies for managing potential ethical violations