Legal Definitions - ambidexter

An ambidexter refers to an individual involved in a legal dispute who acts dishonestly by secretly working for or accepting benefits from both opposing parties. This term particularly applies to legal professionals or those in positions of trust who betray their duty to one side by covertly assisting the other, or by switching allegiance to the opposing party in the same legal matter.

• Example 1: In a contentious divorce case, a private investigator is hired by one spouse to gather evidence of the other spouse's hidden assets. Unbeknownst to the hiring spouse, the investigator also accepts a substantial payment from the other spouse to deliberately overlook certain financial accounts and provide a less thorough report, thereby protecting the hidden assets.

  Explanation: The private investigator is acting as an ambidexter because they are secretly serving the interests of both opposing parties in the same dispute, accepting payment from each while pretending to be solely dedicated to the spouse who initially hired them.

• Example 2: A neutral mediator is appointed to help two business partners resolve a dispute over the dissolution of their company. During the mediation process, one of the partners secretly offers the mediator a lucrative future consulting contract for their new venture, which the mediator accepts. Subsequently, the mediator subtly steers the negotiations and settlement terms in a way that disproportionately benefits the partner who offered the contract, while still maintaining an outward appearance of impartiality.

  Explanation: The mediator demonstrates ambidexterity by engaging in double-dealing. While publicly committed to neutrality, they secretly accept a benefit from one party, compromising their impartiality and betraying the trust of the other party in the dispute.

• Example 3: A junior attorney working for a law firm representing a large corporation in a patent infringement lawsuit has access to confidential litigation strategies and sensitive internal documents. Seeking personal financial gain, the attorney secretly makes copies of these critical documents and sells them to a representative of the opposing legal team, providing them with a significant advantage in the case.

  Explanation: This attorney is an ambidexter because they are betraying their client and firm by secretly providing confidential information to the opposing party in the same legal matter, effectively working for both sides through deceit and a breach of professional duty.