McNeil then hired Blank Rome to represent him.
In his complaint, McNeil alleged that Rule 1.10(b) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct requires Cozen O’Connor to be disqualified from representing Mahoney in the arbitration. He alleged that the firm failed to implement a screen before Ficken and Mullen joined, to prevent sharing of information about the case, and only did so after McNeil’s new lawyers requested that Cozen O’Connor withdraw from its representation of Mahoney.
“Implementation of a screen on or about May 15, 2017, was far too late under Pennsylvania law,” the complaint alleged. “A month’s delay in the implementation of a screen in a sensitive, ongoing matter such as this is akin to no screen at all.”
McNeil also pointed out that Leary and Ficken are now both leaders within the litigation department at Cozen O’Connor, and likely work closely together.
James Smith, Daniel Rhynhart and Louis Abrams of Blank Rome are representing McNeil.
Cozen O’Connor did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Pepper Hamilton declined to comment.
