Attorney Confidentiality During Appeal of Divorce Settlement Disclosure

An attorney was disciplined for disclosing parts of confidential settlement correspondence during an appeal in a divorce case, leading to a challenge arguing that the cantonal ethics rule regarding such disclosure was superseded by new federal law. The court ruled that the cantonal ethics rules remain relevant to interpret and specify federal professional obligations, specifically holding that the duty of confidentiality concerning settlement negotiations, even if leading to a dispute over the settlement's interpretation, serves the public interest by encouraging amicable dispute resolution and falls under the general duty of diligence in Art. 12 lit. a of the Federal Act on the Freedom of Lawyers (BGFA), making its breach sanctionable under the relevant cantonal statute.