Legal Fees and payment

[Carol Welsh]

Houston Texas

My attorney at the beginning of my case moved firms. I did not sign a contract at the new firm nor a transfer. He decided to strike out on his own. The previous firm states I owe them the fees. My attorney worked very hard on this case, and I would rather pay him. Which is correct so I can pay the appropriate person. I want to settle my bill but I want my attorney to be paid for all his hardwork.

Thanks

 

[Ohiogal]

Houston Texas

My attorney at the beginning of my case moved firms. I did not sign a contract at the new firm nor a transfer. He decided to strike out on his own. The previous firm states I owe them the fees. My attorney worked very hard on this case, and I would rather pay him. Which is correct so I can pay the appropriate person. I want to settle my bill but I want my attorney to be paid for all his hardwork.

Thanks

You need your contract reviewed...

 

[adjusterjack]

Houston Texas

My attorney at the beginning of my case moved firms. I did not sign a contract at the new firm nor a transfer. He decided to strike out on his own. The previous firm states I owe them the fees. My attorney worked very hard on this case, and I would rather pay him. Which is correct so I can pay the appropriate person. I want to settle my bill but I want my attorney to be paid for all his hardwork.

Thanks

Call up the person who sent you the bill and ask for a document signed by your attorney and his former firm specifying who gets paid for the work on your case.

 

[quincy]

Houston Texas

My attorney at the beginning of my case moved firms. I did not sign a contract at the new firm nor a transfer. He decided to strike out on his own. The previous firm states I owe them the fees. My attorney worked very hard on this case, and I would rather pay him. Which is correct so I can pay the appropriate person. I want to settle my bill but I want my attorney to be paid for all his hardwork.

Thanks

This is not only a matter of what was agreed to in your contract with the attorney but also what was agreed to in your attorney's contract (and severence agreement) with his former law firm.

It is often the case that an attorney's cases (and clients) will not move with the attorney when the attorney leaves but, instead, will stay with the law firm, assigned to another attorney in the firm. It is your decision as client, however, whether to leave the law firm and follow your attorney to his new firm or not.

If your case is ongoing, however, you should have heard from both your attorney and the law firm. An attorney cannot just walk away from a client in mid-case without notice.

Here is a link to an American Bar Association paper on the ethical issues when an attorney switches or leaves a firm, and it discusses client fees: http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/cpr/pubs/Shely.authcheckdam.pdf