Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct
Chapter 1, App. 3-A
Transactions with Persons Other than Clients

Rule 4.2. Communication With Person Represented By Counsel

In representing a client, a lawyer shall not communicate about the subject of the representation with a person the lawyer knows to be represented by another lawyer in the matter, unless the lawyer has the consent of the other lawyer or is authorized by law to do so.

Comments

This Rule applies to communications with any person, whether or not a party to a formal adjudicative proceeding, contract or negotiation or transaction, who is represented by counsel concerning the matter to which the communication relates. This Rule does not prohibit communication with a represented party, or an employee or agent of such a person, concerning matters outside the representation. For example, the existence of a controversy between a government agency and a private party, or between two organizations, does not prohibit a lawyer for either from communicating with non-lawyer representatives of the other regarding a separate matter. Also, parties to a matter may communicate directly with each other and a lawyer having independent justification or legal authorization for communicating with a represented person is permitted to do so. Communications authorized by law include, for example, the right of a party to a controversy with a government agency to speak with government officials about the matter. Communications authorized by law also include constitutionally permissible investigative activities of lawyers representing governmental entities, directly or through investigative agents, prior to the commencement of criminal or civil enforcement proceedings, when there is applicable judicial precedent that either has found the activity permissible under this Rule or has found this Rule inapplicable. In the case of an organization, this Rule prohibits communications by a lawyer for another person or entity concerning the matter in representation with persons having managerial responsibility on behalf of the organization, and with any other person whose act or omission in connection with that matter may be imputed to the organization for purposes of civil or criminal liability or whose statement may constitute an admission on the part of the organization. If an agent or employee of the organization is represented in the matter by his or her own counsel, the consent by that counsel to a communication will be sufficient for purposes of this Rule. Compare Rule 3.4(f). The prohibition of communication with a represented person only applies, however, in circumstances where the lawyer knows that the person is in fact represented in the matter to be discussed. This means that a lawyer has actual knowledge of the fact of the representation; but such actual knowledge may be inferred from the circumstances. See Terminology. Thus, a lawyer cannot evade the requirement of obtaining the consent of counsel by closing eyes to the obvious. In the event the person with whom the lawyer communicates is not known to be represented by counsel in the matter, the lawyer’s communications are subject to Rule 4.3. Code Comparison This Rule is substantially identical to DR 7-104 (A)(1). Oklahoma Modification The Oklahoma Rule as most recently amended effective October 1, 1998, differs from the ABA Model Rule in effect on that date in the following respects: With respect to investigative activities of government lawyers, the Oklahoma comment omits a sentence contained in the ABA Comment that suggests that this Rule imposes ethical restrictions that go beyond restrictions imposed by constitutional provisions. With respect to the question of when a lawyer may be inferred to have actual knowledge that another person is represented by counsel, the Oklahoma Comment omits a sentence contained in the ABA Comment that suggests that such knowledge will be inferred whenever a lawyer has "substantial reason to believe" that such representation exists. The order of presentation of the paragraphs contained in the Oklahoma Comment varies slightly from the order in which they appear in the ABA Comment. Historical Data Adopted effective July 1, 1988; amended by order dated October 1, 1998, and filed October 2, 1998.