disciplinary office

Lawyers walk with their briefcases towards the federal court house in San Diego, California June 22, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Blake

(Reuters) – The two founding partners of law firm Tully Rinckey were accused in a newly filed ethics case in Washington, D.C., of imposing anticompetitive provisions in employment agreements and placing unfair restrictions on departing lawyers.

The Washington, D.C., bar’s office of disciplinary counsel alleged in its ethics case, disclosed on Wednesday, that Matthew Tully and Gregory Rinckey violated several provisions of the rules that govern attorney conduct in the nation’s capital.

The disciplinary office’s “specification of charges” said Tully and Rinckey curbed “the rights of lawyers to practice after termination of their relationship with the firm.” The office also alleged policies and practices at the firm “prevented or impeded clients from choosing to continue to work with lawyers who were familiar with their cases.”

The 70-lawyer firm said in a statement that the