Disqualification of collaborative lawyer and lawyers in associated law firm; exception
Va. Code Ann. § 20-175
in effectA. Except as otherwise provided in subsection C, a collaborative lawyer is disqualified from appearing before a tribunal to represent a party in a proceeding related to the collaborative matter.
B. Except as otherwise provided in subsection C and § 20-176 , a lawyer in a law firm with which the collaborative lawyer is associated is disqualified from appearing before a tribunal to represent a party in a proceeding related to the collaborative matter if the collaborative lawyer is disqualified from doing so under subsection A.
C. A collaborative lawyer or another lawyer in a law firm with which the collaborative lawyer is associated may represent a party:
1. To ask a tribunal to affirm, ratify, and incorporate any agreement resulting from the collaborative law process into a court order;
2. To ask a tribunal to enter any order necessary to effectuate the terms of any agreement resulting from the collaborative law process; or
3. To seek or defend an emergency order to protect the health, safety, welfare, or interest of a party or a party's family or household member, if a successor lawyer is not immediately available to represent such person.
D. If subdivision C 3 applies, a collaborative lawyer, or another lawyer in a law firm with which the collaborative lawyer is associated, may represent a party or a party's family or household member only until such person is represented by a successor lawyer or reasonable measures are taken to protect the health, safety, welfare, or interest of the person.
2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 346 .
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/20-175/Fetched: 10/16/2026