Choice of Law and Conflicts of Interest: One Misstep Can Trigger Multi-State Discipline and Liability

Francesca Giannoni-Crystal | Crystal & Giannoni-Crystal, LLC

Ms. Francesca Giannoni-Crystal is a dually qualified U.S. and Italian attorney whose practice uniquely bridges Civil Law and Common Law systems. With over two decades of experience advising multinational corporations, law firms, and financial institutions, she has developed deep expertise in cross-border ethics, international professional responsibility, and multijurisdictional practice issues.

As a “lawyer for lawyers,” Ms. Giannoni-Crystal frequently counsels firms on conflicts of interest, international privileges, and professional-conduct compliance across jurisdictions. Her work often addresses complex choice-of-law problems in attorney discipline and malpractice exposure, particularly in matters involving international transactions and cross-border representation.

Prior to co-founding Crystal & Giannoni-Crystal, LLC with Professor Nathan M. Crystal in 2011, she served as a legal consultant for the Italian Industrial Association and practiced with Deloitte Legal, where she handled transactional and regulatory matters for global enterprises. She later managed legal affairs for a major publicly traded Italian company with subsidiaries in the U.S., U.K., China, Brazil, and other jurisdictions, overseeing international contract negotiation, data privacy, and corporate governance.

Ms. Giannoni-Crystal is also co-responsible for Technethics (www.technethics.com), an educational platform dedicated to the intersection of ethics, technology, and cross-border legal compliance. Her practice and scholarship focus on helping law firms and attorneys anticipate and manage risks arising from the application of multiple jurisdictions’ professional-conduct rules.

Nathan M. Crystal | Crystal & Giannoni-Crystal, LLC

Nathan M. Crystal is an attorney and scholar widely recognized for his expertise in professional responsibility and contract law. He has advised individuals, law firms, and organizations on complex issues of professional ethics and contract interpretation, and has served as an expert witness or consultant in more than 100 multimillion-dollar cases.

Professor Crystal is the Class of 1969 Professor Emeritus of Professional Responsibility and Contract Law at the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he taught for 34 years, and currently serves as an adjunct professor of Professional Responsibility at New York University.

His distinguished career includes service on the South Carolina Bar Ethics Advisory Committee for over 20 years, including a term as chair, as well as membership on the New York City Bar Ethics Advisory Committee. He also chaired the International Law Committee of the South Carolina Bar, reflecting his experience with cross-border and international dimensions of legal ethics.

In addition to his teaching and advisory roles, Professor Crystal has lectured extensively around the world and held visiting academic appointments at leading universities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. In 2011, he co-founded Crystal & Giannoni-Crystal, LLC, where he continues to focus on professional responsibility and contract law.

I. Multiple consequences of lawyer misconduct | 1:00pm – 1:30pm

II. Choice-of-law standards for the different consequences | 1:30pm – 2:00pm

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

III. Conflicts of interest as a case study | 2:10pm – 2:40pm

IV. Risk management (including Engagement Agreements) and the role of the law firm’s general counsel | 2:40pm – 3:10pm