The Lawyers' Lawyer Newsletter - Recent Developments in Risk Management (Abridged Version) - August 2010 Edition

• Engagement Letters – Shareholder’s Standing to Sue Corporate Counsel
• Attorney-Client Relationship – Advocate Witness Rule and Former Client Conflict – Court Denies Motion to Disqualify Where Former Client Fails to Establish Present Attorney-Client Relationship
• Engagement Letters – Nonrefundable Fees – Fixed Fees – Handling Advance Fee Payments 
• Clear Notice of Termination – Continuous Representation and Statute of Limitations 
• Outside Counsel’s Affirmative Duties to Oversee Their Clients’ Compliance With Discovery Obligations – Duty to Investigate

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Engagement Letters – Shareholder’s Standing to Sue Corporate Counsel

Kurre v. Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith, Ravin, Davis, and Himmel, LLP, 2010 WL 2090092 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Apr. 16, 2010)

Risk Management Issue: What can law firms do to avoid representing unintended clients?

Attorney-Client Relationship – Advocate Witness Rule and Former Client Conflict – Court Denies Motion to Disqualify Where Former Client Fails to Establish Present Attorney-Client Relationship

Worldhill Ltd. v. Sternberg et al., Slip Copy 25 Misc.3d 1224(A), available at 2009 WL 3805610 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Nov. 2009)

Risk Management Issue: What can lawyers do to avoid being the target of a disqualification motion based upon the movant’s claim of prior related representation?

Engagement Letters – Nonrefundable Fees – Fixed Fees – Handling Advance Fee Payments

Missouri Supreme Court Advisory Committee, Formal Opinion 128, May 18, 2010 (Nonrefundable Fees)

Risk Management Issues: May a lawyer charge and retain client funds as a “nonrefundable” fee? Into what account should a lawyer place client funds paid in advance as a fixed fee? What language should a lawyer use in an engagement letter when receiving client funds in paid advance of services received?

Clear Notice of Termination – Continuous Representation and Statute of Limitations

[Editors’ Note: We take this opportunity to provide an update on a case discussed in the January 2009 issue of The Lawyers’ Lawyer Newsletter in conjunction with a new case that presents related risk management issues.]

Laclette v. Galindo, 184 Cal. App. 4th 919 (Cal. App. 2 Dist. May 17, 2010)

Risk Management Issue: What can lawyers and law firms do to avoid the application of the “continuous representation” doctrine that would deprive them of a statute of limitations defense to malpractice claims?

Outside Counsel’s Affirmative Duties to Oversee Their Clients’ Compliance With Discovery Obligations – Duty to Investigate

UPDATE: Qualcomm vs. Broadcom Corporation, 2010 WL 1336937 (S.D. Cal. Apr. 2, 2010)

The April 2008 edition of The Lawyers’ Lawyer Newsletter included a discussion of the original sanctions order of U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara L. Major in this case. (See Qualcomm Inc. v. Broadcom Corp., 2008 WL 66932 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 7, 2008); 2008 WL 638108 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 5, 2008).

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This newsletter has been prepared by Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP to provide information on recent legal developments of interest to our readers. It is not intended to provide legal advice for a specific situation or to create an attorney-client relationship.