A state appeals court has ruled that New Jersey law firm McManimon, Scotland & Baumann had an impermissible conflict of interest when it represented both the city of Orange and a private company working on a city-sponsored redevelopment project.

Involvement by McManimon Scotland, a 35-lawyer firm based in Roseland, on both sides of a contract violates the Rules of Professional Conduct, the Appellate Division said Wednesday in The Four Felds v. The City of Orange Township.