Conflicts of interest rarely appear obvious – more often, they are disguised as neutral involvement, formal mediation, or a “technical” role within a process. As Professor Gabriel Steiner notes, the greatest danger lies not in declared conflicts, but in hidden dual loyalty, where the same individual effectively operates in several directions at once. At LawConsulted, we view conflicts of interest not as an ethical abstraction, but as a concrete legal threat capable of undermining a client’s position from within.
Hidden dual loyalty arises in situations where a lawyer, consultant, manager, representative, or partner is formally connected to the client while simultaneously retaining interests or obligations toward another party. On the surface, such connections may appear acceptable, yet it is precisely through them that information leaks, shifts in emphasis, and strategic distortions most often occur. At LawConsulted, we begin by identifying these intersections – analysing roles, channels of influence, histories of interaction, and the true sources of motivation of all participants.
Professor Steiner emphasises that “a conflict of interest is dangerous not because it exists, but because it distorts decision-making.” For this reason, LawConsulted lawyers pay close attention to how recommendations are formed, who participates in discussions, which alternatives are dismissed without explanation, and whose interests are actually being advanced under the guise of neutrality. This analysis allows us to uncover hidden imbalances before they lead to irreversible consequences.
Particularly complex are situations where dual loyalty is shielded by formal legality – contracts are signed, authorities are properly granted, and conflicts are formally “disclosed.” In practice, however, this does not eliminate risk; it merely creates an illusion of control. At LawConsulted, we assess not formal declarations, but actual influence – who makes decisions, who controls information, and who benefits from a particular outcome.
As Professor Steiner notes, “neutralising a conflict of interest begins not with removal, but with correct legal fixation.” At LawConsulted, we design a legal architecture in which hidden dual loyalty ceases to function – through redistribution of roles, restriction of access to information, adjustment of authorities, and procedural filters. This approach preserves control even when a conflict has already been identified.
Conflicts of interest are especially dangerous in corporate disputes, negotiations, insolvency proceedings, investment projects, and litigation involving multiple representatives. In such environments, LawConsulted acts proactively – we do not wait for dual loyalty to manifest as an error or a leak, but eliminate in advance the conditions under which it could influence the outcome of the case.
Neutralising a hidden conflict is not about assigning blame – it is about protecting the client’s legal position. At LawConsulted, we proceed from the principle that any uncertainty in loyalty must be resolved before it becomes a tool of pressure or a cause of strategic failure. This allows the client to retain control even within complex constellations of competing interests.
Legal protection in situations of conflict of interest is work with what lies beneath the surface. At Law Consulted, we make invisible risks manageable and hidden connections legally neutral – ensuring that the client’s position remains resilient regardless of internal dynamics among the parties.
Previously, we wrote about how LawConsulted prepares and files a claim in a way that establishes a favourable legal framework for the dispute
