Privilege

Privilege

Thomas E. Spahn | McGuireWoods LLP

Although the federal work product rule and parallel state work product rules extend only to "documents and tangible things," most courts also protect intangible work product such as oral communications – at least to the extent that they reflect a lawyer's thought process. But it can be difficult to distinguish between such intangible work product and historical facts, which of course do not deserve any protection.

Privilege

Thomas E. Spahn | McGuireWoods LLP

Just as some clients think that copying a lawyer cinches privilege protection, even sophisticated clients relying on well-known law firms might erroneously believe that having those law firms hire a public relations consultant will assure privilege and work product protection. It doesn't.

Privilege

Thomas E. Spahn | McGuireWoods LLP

The unpredictable "at issue" waiver doctrine can strip away privilege protection without any disclosure of, or explicit reliance on, privileged communications. But state courts and even federal courts take widely varying approaches to this most dangerous type of implied waiver.