Former employees can create a legal challenge. Communications with former employees of client.In order to qualify for attorney client privilege, four things must be met. This publication is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide general information on legal matters. This Wisdom of the Crowd (ACC member discussion) addresses concerns and tips for managing attorneyclient privilege in an open office environment, under US law. In all but a few states, the attorneyclient privilege can protect a company's lawyer's communications with former company employees. 6 Thus, the consent of the company's lawyer is not ordinarily required in order for opposing counsel to initiate contact with a former em- ployee. Mavrick successfully represented a Palm Beach corporation in a lawsuit against former employees for theft of trade secrets. The lawyer's authority to claim the privilege is presumed in the absence of contrary evidence. (4) There is no lawyer-client privilege under this section when:.