Our professional liability group is thoroughly familiar with the professional liability and business aspects of the practice of law. We represent law firms ranging from large international firms to small local firms, as well as individual lawyers, in professional liability matters arising out of representations in areas including securities transactions, formation and management of entities created as investment vehicles, real estate transactions, tax planning, intellectual property litigation, and commercial litigation.
Our representation of lawyers and law firms includes matters that arise not only from the their professional relationship with clients, but also from the relationship among attorneys within a law firm, from firms’ commercial relationships with non-clients, and from investments and participation in business ventures that go beyond the practice of law. We have extensive experience representing law firms and lawyers in all of types of matters, including:
- Fee disputes with former clients and with third parties responsible for payment of attorneys’ fees, ranging from simple collection suits to bad faith actions against insurers.
- Malpractice and other professional liability claims.
- Disputes between attorneys and clients, former clients, or putative clients regarding business dealings, including claims brought under Rule 3-300 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct.
- Ethical and disciplinary matters.
- Anti-SLAPP motions.
- Malicious prosecution claims.
- Disputes relating to the structure and management of law firms, including attorney departures, formation of competing firms, and internal disputes regarding compensation and partners’ fiduciary duties.
- Claims arising from the dissolution of law firms or the departure of partners, including claims brought by bankruptcy trustees or creditors, and claims concerning the duties of partners or former partners to each other and to the law firm.
- Disputes with law firms’ landlords, commercial lenders, and other service providers.