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How to Avoid Practicing Law After Selling Your Practice
If you decide to exit the legal profession, you should explore the option of selling your practice. Most states have adopted a version of Model Rule 1.17, whih requires you to jump through some hoops before you can sell.
Most of these hoops are easy to understand and comply with. One, however, makes little sense. It states that after a sale, you must “cease to engage in the private practice of law.” Does that mean you must hand over the keys, walk out the door, and immediately ride off into retirement sunset? And if the answer is yes, how is that realistically possible?
The buyer might want you to stay involved on some of the open files, especially when your knowledge of the file could be important. The buyer might not understand the nuances of a litigation file, for example, or grasp the history of an ongoing deal. However, that would still be practicing law.
What the Comments to Rule 1.17 Say
Until recently, there were no reported ethics or disciplinary decisions about transitioning a practice to a new owner. That meant you could be disciplined for helping a buyer after a deal closes. Any help you might give after the sale could be subject to discipline.
Thankfully, the comments to Rule 1.17 now offer some guidance.
The Rule’s Purpose
Effectively, Rule 1.17 levels the playing field for solo practitioners. Since retiring lawyers from firms have always been permitted to assist former colleagues transitioning client matters, why should solos be prohibited?
In addition, allowing post-sale activities is consistent with Rule 1.16(d)’s overriding philosophy that lawyers continually have a duty to “take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client’s interest.”
Staying Involved
According to the comments to Rule 1.17, you can only perform transitioning activities that are “reasonably necessary to accomplish the orderly transition of active client matters.” You must also stop accepting new matters. How long you can stay involved will “depend on the circumstances, including the rules and rulings of courts or other tribunals in pending matters.”
Accordingly, it would probably be fine for you to conduct a deposition or help negotiate the deal two weeks or maybe two months after you sell your firm. However, it is highly unlikely that those activities would be allowed two years after the sale.
Charging the Client
Rule 1.17 is crystal clear that clients must not experience any adverse economic impact from the sale of your practice. Fees cannot “be increased by reason of the sale … [and] existing arrangements … must be honored by the purchaser.” Therefore, billing for transitioning activities would be an increase that is not allowed. If you want to be compensated for transitioning time, you will have to negotiate your fee with the buyer.
Unfortunately, comments on the model rules are not binding on the states. The purpose of Rule 1.17 and the persuasiveness of the comments mean states may be likely follow them, but you should do your own research in your jurisdiction.
Featured image: “handshake isolated on business background” from Shutterstock.
Source: https://lawyerist.com/80026/transitioning-matters-selling-law-practice/
