Informal Opinion Number: 960054
Rules: 1.5(e);7.2(c);10.1
Client-Lawyer Relationship
Fees
QUESTION: Attorney is a member of XYZ firm. ABC firm has approached Attorney regarding an arrangement in which ABC firm would refer clients to XYZ and receive a portion of the retainer paid by the client to XYZ firm, in accordance with a schedule established by the two firms. No portion of the arrangement calls for ABC to continue to be responsible for the matter or for the client to consent. ANSWER: Based on the information Attorney has provided, the arrangement Attorney proposes would violate the requirements for permissible fee sharing under Rule 4 dash–1.5(e).
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.
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