This scenario comes up from time to time in big law firms:
Firm begins to represent a controversial client, for example a civil rights group, sometimes for a low fee or pro bono. A corporate client is upset and calls to complain. There is no possible conflict between the clients under ethics rules, but the firm drops the controversial client anyway, in part to please the big corporate client.
Is it ethical to allow one client to interfere with the representation of another? Is it ethical for in-house counsel to exert such pressure on an outside law firm?
Does the discontinued client have the right to know why it was dropped (Rule 1.4) or is this right to know trumped by the duty of confidentiality owed to the big client (Rule 1.6) even though the communication was not privileged and was arguably improper?