Ethical Issues for In-House Counsel Conducting Employee Interviews

Transcription

1 Ethical Issues for In-House Counsel Conducting Employee Interviews 2016 ACC Houston Chapter Labor & Employment Practice Group Series Bob s Steak & Chop House September 21, 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP is a member firm of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein with member law firms around the world. In accordance with the common terminology used in professional service organizations, reference to a "partner" means a person who is a partner, or equivalent, in such a law firm. Similarly, reference to an "office" means an office of any such law firm Baker & McKenzie LLP

2 Today s Panel: Kimberly D. Pilcher Assistant Chief Attorney, Labor & Employment Law Exxon Mobil Corporation kimberly.d.pilcher@exxonmobil.com Scott Nelson Partner, Houston scott.nelson@bakermckenzie.com Celina Joachim Partner, Houston celina.joachim@bakermckenzie.com 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 2

3 Hypothetical Manager Mary receives an anonymous post-it note stating that Employee Ernest ( EE ) was inviting subordinate female employees out to dinner during happy hour. When one would say no he kept asking until he ran out of prospects. Manager Mary contacts the Law Department, Cary Counsel, and HR, Harriet Resources. Manager Mary explains that she left the happy hour early so she doesn t know what happened, but knows which employees attended. Should the Company take these allegations seriously? How should the company proceed? 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 3

4 Protecting Attorney-Client Privilege During Employee Witness Interviews 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP

5 Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Overview Communications are privileged if they are: confidential and between a client and a lawyer in a professional capacity for the dominant purpose of giving or getting legal advice or assistance and not waived through disclosure. Communications may also be privileged if prepared in anticipation of litigation 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 5

6 Scope of the U.S. Attorney-Client Privilege When Speaking to Lower Level Employees The Upjohn Principle: Communications between counsel and lower-level employee may be protected if: The communications are made to counsel The communications are made at the direction of corporate superiors to secure legal advice from counsel The information is not available from upper management The information is within the scope of the employee s duties Tip: Make employees aware that they are being questioned in order for the corporation to secure legal advice Baker & McKenzie LLP 6

7 A word about Upjohn warnings Having and documenting an Upjohn warning is essential Keep in mind a lawyer s responsibility to inform non-clients ABA Model Rule 4.3 Texas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 4.03: In dealing on behalf of a client with a person who is not represented by counsel, a lawyer shall not state or imply that the lawyer is disinterested. When the lawyer knows or reasonably should know that the unrepresented person misunderstands the lawyer s role in the matter, the lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to correct the misunderstanding Baker & McKenzie LLP 7

8 TRE 503 Codifies Texas s Broad Lawyer-Client Privilege 503 (a)(2): (A) not just attorney communications; covers a client s representative; someone with authority to obtain professional legal services for the client or to act for the client on the legal advice rendered; or (B) anyone else who makes or receives confidential communications while acting in the scope of employment for the client in order to facilitate rendition of legal services 503(b)(1)(D) expressly covers communications only between representatives of a client if they otherwise meet the requirements An attorney need not be involved as an author or recipient in those circumstances under TRE 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 8

9 General comments about the Attorney- Client Privilege in the International Context Nearly all countries recognize some form of privilege although not always by the same name In common law countries like the U.S., England, Australia, the privilege is based on case law In civil law countries like France the privilege is typically embodied in statutes No attorney-client privilege for in-house counsel in civil law jurisdictions Even former communist countries are recognizing confidentiality between attorneys and clients 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 9

10 Hypothetical Cary Counsel begins to interview employees present at the happy hour. Should Cary Counsel begin employee interviews? Should Cary Counsel take the lead or HR? Does that impact privilege? Is this an official Company investigation? Who else should be present? Who is the complainant since the post-it note was anonymous? How should the interview begin? 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 10

11 Upjohn Warning to Employee You are company s attorney, not employee s attorney Purpose of interview is to learn facts in order to provide legal advice to the company Privileged conversation, but privilege belongs to company (though company may choose to waive privilege) Employee should keep information confidential remind both at beginning and end of interview not to talk about interview with others TIP: Always document the warning (in interview notes, etc.) 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 11

12 Other Disclosures to Employee Confidentiality by Company Cannot promise total confidentiality But, the Company will endeavor to protect the privacy and confidentiality of all parties involved to the extent possible No Retaliation The Company will not retaliate against any employee for participating in an investigation 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 12

13 Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.05 Lawyers must maintain the confidentiality of confidential and privileged information. Tip: Don t disclose confidential/privileged information during course of interview. Rule 1.06 Conflict of Interest Lawyer cannot represent opposing parties. Except with consent from all if representation will not be materially affect HYPOTHETICAL: Can you represent manager and company when both sued in sexual harassment lawsuit? 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 13

14 Tips for Protecting Privileged Investigations Use lawyers whenever possible Communicate the legal nature of the investigation Clarify precisely who the client is Consider waiver issues when deciding whether to share results and communications with outside auditors or the government 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 14

15 Hypothetical What if Employee Ernest asks to have union representative or legal counsel present? Union members have Weingarten rights, if interview could lead to discipline Non-union employees are not entitled to have co-worker present during interviews (but this is expected to change) For union members, the employer may end the interview or conduct it with union representative Employers should be cautious in denying employee s (union or non-union) request to have representative Suggestion: Err on the side of allowing a union representative at the interview 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 15

16 Interviewing Former Employees

17 Hypothetical It turns out that the client happy hour was months ago and at least one critical witness has since separated from the company (she now works for a contractor at your site) Can you speak to the former employee? Is there attorney-client privilege with former employees? Should you contact her new employer for permission to interview her? 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 17

18 Interviewing former employees Interviews with former employees have been deemed privileged in many jurisdictions (including Texas) In Upjohn itself, Justice Burger held in concurrence that the same principles applied to former employees equally. In re Allen (4 th Cir.): [T]he analysis applied by the Supreme Court in Upjohn to determine which employees fall within the scope of the privilege applies equally to former employees. Fisher v. Halliburton (S.D. Tex.): [T]he Fifth Circuit has yet to address [the question but] In re Allen has examined Upjohn's applicability to former employees The court finds this reasoning to be persuasive Baker & McKenzie LLP 18

19 Interviewing former employees In any case, interviewing former employees requires care On the legal side: ensure that interviews are limited to information/events that occurred within scope of prior employment in deposition prep situations, assume that privilege may not apply On the practical side, however, consider: how reliable the witness is how likely he or she is to maintain confidentiality 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 19

20 Preservation Obligations

21 Hypothetical During one witness interview, you learn that Employee Elsa told a manager she was calling the EEOC and her lawyer because of Employee Ernest s sexually harassing behavior. You also learn that Elsa sent s and texts to the manager outlining her allegations. How do you proceed? When does the preservation obligation begin? 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 21

22 Rule 37(e): Duty To Preserve Imposes Affirmative Duty to Preserve Failure to Provide Electronically Stored Information. If electronically stored information that should have been preserved in the anticipation or conduct of litigation is lost because a party failed to take reasonable steps to preserve it, and it cannot be restored or replaced through additional discovery, the court 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 22

23 Courts Apply Amended FRCP 37(e) Cat3, LLC v. Black Lineage, Inc. (S.D.N.Y. 2016) Court found by clear and convincing evidence that the plaintiffs manipulated s to gain an advantage in the litigation Court held that while imposition of dismissal or adverse inference under the current rule are available, they are not mandatory Court sanctioned the plaintiffs by precluding them from relying on their versions of the altered s and awarded defendants fees and costs related to their investigation of plaintiffs misconduct Court noted that [t]his order of preclusion adequately protects the defendants against any legal prejudice arising from the plaintiffs conduct. An order of dismissal, an adverse inference, or a broader preclusion order would unnecessarily hamper the plaintiffs in advancing what might, in fact, be legitimate claims Baker & McKenzie LLP 23

24 Common Issues with Preserving Evidence in Employment Disputes IT automatically wipes computer on employee separation That is OK unless litigation is threatened If litigation is threatened, there should be procedure for HR, IT, Legal and Management to communicate regarding suspension of auto wipe Don t forget to preserve former employee information Preservation obligation may begin well before litigation EEOC or other agency charge; attorney demand letter; employee comments; etc. Obligation exists if can reasonably anticipate litigation/legal proceeding 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 24

25 Practice Tips: Preventing Spoliation No safe harbor for routine deletion of ESI critical change Review document retention policy, litigation hold procedure, and IT capabilities to preserve relevant data if litigation arises Once litigation arises: Confirm that a litigation hold is in place and is being enforced If routine deletion in complex IT systems is a risk, consider appropriateness of imaging of individual computer systems Consider all forms of ESI, not just ; litigation hold needs to be reflective of business realities If either undue burden to preserve, no duty to preserve, or ESI available in some other form is to be asserted, develop solid case early in litigation 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 25

26 Closing the Loop 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP

27 Hypothetical Cary Counsel has to leave town for a couple of weeks, but is not done interviewing employees. Is that a problem? What should Cary do? Failure to take prompt and remedial action on a sexual harassment complaint could compromise employer s affirmative defenses 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 27

28 Faragher/Ellerth Affirmative Defense What does matter: Well publicized anti-discrimination and antiharassment policy and complaint handling procedures The Company exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct promptly any discriminatory or harassing behavior 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 28

29 What Is the Liability for Harassment? By a supervisor? If the harasser is a supervisor with immediate or successively higher authority over the plaintiff, the Company is strictly liable By a co-worker? Liable if it knew or should have known and failed to take prompt and appropriate corrective action Prompt means RIGHT AWAY, not days later By non-employees (customers/clients/third parties)? Liable if the employer knows or should have known and failed to take corrective action 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 29

30 Hypothetical Several employees have asked about the status of the investigation and the resulting interviews. Should you disclose that the company terminated Employee Ernest based on what you learned in interviews? TIP: Avoid needless disclosure of information Is the investigation report and/or interview notes/summaries discoverable? Or are they protected by privilege since an attorney was involved in the investigation? 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 30

31 Thank you! Kimberly D. Pilcher Assistant Chief Attorney, Labor & Employment Law Exxon Mobil Corporation Scott Nelson Partner, Houston scott.nelson@bakermckenzie.com Celina Joachim Partner, Houston celina.joachim@bakermckenzie.com 2016 Baker & McKenzie LLP 31