On December 3, 2025, the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility issued Formal Opinion 519 regarding whether and what a lawyer may disclose in a motion seeking to withdraw from representation.   In short, a lawyer may disclose information related to the representation for the purpose of a motion to withdraw only if: 1) the client gives informed consent, 2) the court orders the lawyer to do so, 3) the lawyer is required to do so by court rules other applicable law, or 4) there is an applicable exception to the duty of confidentiality. 

ABA Model Rule 1.6(a)(Confidentiality of Information) states that a lawyer shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent [or] the disclosure is impliedly authorized in order to carry out the representation.  In Texas, the definition of confidential information is very broad, encompassing not only privileged information, but also any and all information relating to a client or furnished by the client acquired by the lawyer during the course of or…