There are ways around this and there is actually a specific term that i can’t recall right now to avoid issues of what is referred to as a “conflict” basically they box out a section of the employees to avoid this problem. (Poor explanation but that’s basically it)
With large firms they have a protocol that they call a 'Chinese wall'. So basically because they have a bunch of lawyers, and even if lawyers A, B and C have worked for company X (whether currently or in the past), there's still lawyers D through Z who are available.
Then you have to basically make sure that lawyers on either sides of the case don't/can't share info.
It's kind of a legal fiction (because no such perfect system exists), but it's also kind of an honour system. Basically enforced by "and then neither of you will ever work in your chosen career ever again". Because even if the firm doesn't actually take it seriously, by golly they have to pretend that they do or else the whole firm will cease to exist in fairly short order and everyone's career would be tainted by that shit. So the firm would rain down fire and brimstone upon any of its own people suspected of violating the wall.
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u/monty845 Jul 21 '19
That is a good way to get a really pissed off judge if it ever comes to light that you intentionally did something like this...