Attorney-client and work-product privileges are commonly viewed as sacrosanct. Whether as a matter of ethics, contract, or common law, these privileges—if violated—may inure to both attorney and client even collateral damage (for example, see the current Sandusky attorney disciplinary prosecutions).

A lawyer shall not reveal information relating to representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent … except to establish a claim or defense on behalf of the lawyer in a controversy between the lawyer and the client … upon conduct in which the client was involved, or to respond to allegations in any proceeding concerning the lawyer’s representation of the client.