Classification of Contracts in Business Regulations
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished - Ethical Challenges for Real Estate Attorneys
1. 1Lexis Practice Advisor®
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished -
Ethical Challenges for Real Estate Attorneys
Presented by Richard J. Sobelsohn, Esq., GGP, LEED AP
Team Lead and Group Director of Financial Practice Area Modules
Lexis Practice Advisor®
4. 4Lexis Practice Advisor®
Differing Jurisdictional Disciplinary Categories
Non- Public Actions
• Letter of Education
• Letter of Caution
• Letter of Admonition
Public Actions
• Letter of Reprimand
• Censure
• Suspension
• Letter of Disbarment
6. 6Lexis Practice Advisor®
Conflicts of Interest
• Representing Adverse Parties
• Loan Issues
• Title Company Issues
• Referral Issues
• Attorney as a Real Estate Broker & Attorney - same
matter
• Improper Business Relationship with Client
• Who is the Client?
7. 7Lexis Practice Advisor®
Best Practice:
To avoid an inadvertent attorney-client relationship
and expectation of confidentiality, it is a good
practice for in-house counsel to inform the
constituent at the outset that any conversation
between them is within the scope of the
representation of the organization, not of the
constituent.
Avoiding Conflicts of Interest and Loss of Privilege
8. 8Lexis Practice Advisor®
Conflict of Interest Exception
Notwithstanding the existence of a concurrent
conflict of interest, a lawyer may represent a
client if……
10. 10Lexis Practice Advisor®
Miscellaneous Issues
• Neglect of Matters - Pick up the Darn Phone
• Unauthorized Settlements
• Improper Advertising
• Aiding in the Unauthorized Practice of Law
The first area we’ll be looking at is identifying who your client is deemed to be under the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules. This is a very important relationship to identify because it has real ethical consequences.
It will inform to whom counsel owes ethical duties of confidentiality and loyalty, whose attorney-client privilege counsel is obligated to protect, among other things…
You folks are all in-house attorneys as opposed to lawyers working in a law firm …so, who do YOU feel is your client?
Does in-house counsel represent the organization, its constituents, its corporate family members, all of the above?
***Audience Participation***
Who knows which ABA Model Rule gives us guidance on this question? [Answer: ABA Model Rule 1.13]
The first area we’ll be looking at is identifying who your client is deemed to be under the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules. This is a very important relationship to identify because it has real ethical consequences.
It will inform to whom counsel owes ethical duties of confidentiality and loyalty, whose attorney-client privilege counsel is obligated to protect, among other things…
You folks are all in-house attorneys as opposed to lawyers working in a law firm …so, who do YOU feel is your client?
Does in-house counsel represent the organization, its constituents, its corporate family members, all of the above?
***Audience Participation***
Who knows which ABA Model Rule gives us guidance on this question? [Answer: ABA Model Rule 1.13]
The first area we’ll be looking at is identifying who your client is deemed to be under the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules. This is a very important relationship to identify because it has real ethical consequences.
It will inform to whom counsel owes ethical duties of confidentiality and loyalty, whose attorney-client privilege counsel is obligated to protect, among other things…
You folks are all in-house attorneys as opposed to lawyers working in a law firm …so, who do YOU feel is your client?
Does in-house counsel represent the organization, its constituents, its corporate family members, all of the above?
***Audience Participation***
Who knows which ABA Model Rule gives us guidance on this question? [Answer: ABA Model Rule 1.13]
The first area we’ll be looking at is identifying who your client is deemed to be under the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules. This is a very important relationship to identify because it has real ethical consequences.
It will inform to whom counsel owes ethical duties of confidentiality and loyalty, whose attorney-client privilege counsel is obligated to protect, among other things…
You folks are all in-house attorneys as opposed to lawyers working in a law firm …so, who do YOU feel is your client?
Does in-house counsel represent the organization, its constituents, its corporate family members, all of the above?
***Audience Participation***
Who knows which ABA Model Rule gives us guidance on this question? [Answer: ABA Model Rule 1.13]