Legal Engagement & Conflict Check
A structured, encrypted form for law firms to register new engagements and complete a conflict-of-interest check — capturing matter scope, parties, attorneys assigned and engagement terms.
About this template
This template helps law firms and legal practitioners register new client engagements formally and conduct the mandatory conflict-of-interest check before commencing work. It captures the prospective client, the matter, all parties involved, and the scope of the engagement — creating a permanent, searchable record.
What it collects
- Client name, entity type, and contact details
- Matter type and a brief scope description
- All parties — client, opposing parties, related entities
- The attorney responsible and any co-counsel
- Engagement scope — services agreed and exclusions
- Billing arrangement — fixed fee, hourly, or retainer
- Conflict-check confirmation and supervising partner sign-off
Conflict of interest obligations
Swiss lawyers have a strict duty not to act for a client where a conflict of interest exists (Art. 12 lit. c BGFA). A conflict arises if the firm acts, or has acted, for a person whose interests are adverse to the prospective client. This form creates a record of the conflict-check process.
How to use it
Use this template
Click 'Use template' to create a copy in your dashboard.
Complete for every new engagement
Before sending an engagement letter, complete this form for each new matter — including matters for existing clients.
Archive the response
The form response is your audit record that the conflict check was performed and cleared.
Why conflict checks matter in Swiss legal practice
The duty to avoid conflicts of interest is a cornerstone of professional conduct for lawyers in Switzerland. Art. 12 lit. c of the Federal Law on the Freedom of Movement of Lawyers (BGFA) prohibits an attorney from acting in the same matter for clients with opposing interests and from representing a new client if confidential information from a former client could be used against that former client.
A conflict check must be performed before the engagement begins — not after. Firms that rely on memory or ad hoc searches risk: (a) unwittingly acting in conflicts that expose the firm to professional liability; (b) having a representation disqualified by the court; and (c) disciplinary proceedings before the cantonal supervisory authority. A structured digital form that captures all parties at engagement registration creates a searchable database that makes systematic conflict checking possible.
The two types of conflict: current and former client
- Current client conflict: the firm is asked to act against an existing client — even in an unrelated matter.
- Former client conflict: the firm represented a former client whose confidential information is material to the new engagement.
- Third-party conflict: a partner or associate has a personal interest in the outcome of the matter.
What an engagement and conflict-check form should capture
- Full legal name of the client — individual or entity, including any related entities
- All adverse parties, counterparties and related entities — this is the data against which the conflict search is run
- Nature of the matter in enough detail to identify potential issue areas
- Scope of the engagement — services to be provided and any carve-outs
- The responsible attorney and any lawyers likely to work on the matter
- Billing arrangement and key commercial terms
- Outcome of the conflict search and the approving partner's confirmation
Digital conflict-check records vs paper-based systems
| Paper / email system | Digital structured form | |
|---|---|---|
| Searchability | Manual file review required | Full-text search by party name |
| Completeness | Details left out under time pressure | Required fields enforce completeness |
| Audit trail | Difficult to reconstruct | Timestamped record with confirming partner |
| Risk of conflict miss | High, especially for related entities | Structured fields capture all parties |
Frequently asked questions
Does this form replace the engagement letter?
No. This form is an internal record for the conflict-check process and engagement registration. The engagement letter is a separate document signed by the client.
Should existing client matters also be registered?
Yes. Every new matter — even for a long-standing client — should be registered. The conflict check must be run against current matters, not just the client relationship.
Is this form encrypted?
Yes. The data is encrypted end-to-end so that conflict-check data (which names potentially opposing parties) is only accessible to authorised firm personnel.
For more context, see our guide on conflict management for law firms and our overview of digital client intake workflows.