David Kluft

#LegalEthics Tidbit: Can I pay a referral fee to a lawyer in a foreign country?

A NY firm wanted to set up an affiliated firm in a foreign country with a partner barred only in that country and then pay the foreign partner a referral fee for cases referred to the NY firm. The NY State Bar opined that this is permissible because lawyers in the same firm can share fees, but only if (1) the foreign partner would actually be considered an ... (cont.)

https://nysba.org/ethics-opinion-1284-multi-jurisdictional-practice-referral-fees-division-of-fees/
#law

Ethics Opinion 1284: Multi-Jurisdictional Practice; Referral Fees; Division of Fees - New York State Bar Association

Opinion 1284 (09/16/2025) Topic: Multi-Jurisdictional Practice; Referral Fees; Division of Fees Digest: Lawyers admitted in New York and a foreign jurisdiction who associate with a lawyer admitted only in the foreign jurisdiction may divide a fee with that lawyer because Rule 1.5(g) explicitly permits lawyers associated in the same law firm to share fees. But the

New York State Bar Association - NYSBA
Mar 24 at 1:23pmWeb
Show threadDavid Kluft1d ago
... “attorney” under NY law, in other words, they are governed by comparable education and ethical requirements; (2) the NY attorneys make reasonable efforts to supervise the foreign partner to ensure conduct consistent with the NY ethics rules.