body: Is is a breach of ethics in California for an attorney representing a client in a civil matter to discuss their client's case in detail with potential co-counsel without the client's knowledge or consent? 
  
  
  In this case I found out about the conversations only when told by my [long-since former] attorney that they had engaged co-counsel. *Speaking of which, is is ethically acceptable in California for an attorney to bring onboard co-counsel without mentioning it first?*
  
  
  (Obviously this is not hypothetical. The matter was settled - by a different attorney - years ago. I was reminded of it when going through some old records and am asking about it now so I can properly calibrate my gauge of appropriate behavior in the future.)
  
  
  
title: California Legal Ethics: Attorney Bringing On Co-Counsel w/o Client Knowledge?