Lawyers and law firms are increasingly at risk. In an ever-changing economy and increasingly competitive landscape, attorneys face challenges many would have thought unthinkable just a few years ago. Sonnenschein’s Lawyers Professional Liability Practice comprises a diverse group of attorneys offering a wealth of experience representing lawyers and law firms in a wide variety of litigation and counseling areas.
Key focus areas include:
Risk Management / Ethics Compliance
We routinely advise law firms and lawyers on significant issues of legal ethics, compliance and risk. Whether ensuring that a firm’s conflict-review procedures reflect best practices or stepping in to defend a disqualification motion, we offer prudent, practical counsel on complex ethical concerns. We also offer our clients an array of CLE programs on ethics and risk management that are the most entertaining you will ever attended.
Malpractice and Third-Party Defense
Posing risks to reputations and finances, claims against law firms have never been more frequent or severe. We understand the importance of a vigorous defense of claims brought by former clients or third parties, who may look at law firms as a source of deep pockets when the real malefactors are no longer around. We have experience successfully defending a wide variety of claims, under the most novel theories, and resolving even the ugliest- sounding allegations on favorable terms.
Partner and Employee Claims
Juries may tend to hold lawyers to a higher standard than others when it comes to employment-related claims. Law firm consolidations and dissolutions, reductions in force, and competitive pressures raise unique issues for law firms and have led to increased concerns over these types of claims. We counsel our clients on best practices to mitigate risk, and we aggressively litigate those claims that can’t be avoided.
Disciplinary Defense
An attorney’s license to practice is hard-won and invaluable. Yet a disgruntled client or opposing party can lodge a disciplinary complaint without even buying a stamp. We have successfully represented attorneys before state and other ethics bodies to ensure that disciplinary claims are promptly and effectively addressed.
Sonnenschein has been pleased to represent a broad range of clients in these areas. Representative clients include an international law firm in multiple tax shelter malpractice litigations; a midsized firm regarding potential post-judgment claims against partners for a malpractice verdict in excess of insurance coverage; a boutique firm in partner termination and subsequent disputes; and a partner in an accounting trial, following law firm dissolution.
Members of our Lawyers Professional Liability Practice are leaders of the bar who speak and are published regularly on related topics; who are knowledgeable and experienced in dealing with the legal, economic and internal aspects of legal representations; and who are pleased to represent a highly discerning and demanding clientele.
