QUESTION: Attorney wishes to open up a new office. Attorney would like to use a percentage of Attorney’s gross receipts to calculate rent to be paid to a nonlawyer landlord.  Is this permissible?

ANSWER: Attorney may not pay rent based on a percentage of gross receipts because it would be considered improper fee sharing with a nonlawyer under Rule 4-5.4.

Informal Opinions are ethics advisory opinions issued by the Office of Legal Ethics Counsel to members of the Bar about Rule 4 (Rules of Professional Conduct), Rule 5 (Complaints and Proceedings Thereon), and Rule 6 (Fees to Practice Law) pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5.30(c). Written summaries of select Informal Opinions are published for informational purposes as determined by the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri pursuant to Rule 5.30(c). Informal opinion summaries are advisory in nature and are not binding. These opinions are published as an educational service and do not constitute legal advice.

To request an Informal Opinion, please visit: http://mo-legal-ethics.org/for lawyers/requesting-an-informal-advisory-opinion/.

© Copyright 2025