Splitting road with arrow sign pointing left and right.
April 18, 2025

When Is It Time to Consider a Law Firm Dissolution?

Law firm dissolutions happen for a variety of reasons. They are not always linked to the firm’s poor economic health or failed management. But the end of a law firm (or of certain partnerships or affiliations) marks a critical time for law firm owners and their clients and must be handled with the utmost care. 

MORE >
O'Rielly & Roche LLP | ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 515
April 12, 2025

ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 515

The ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has issued Formal Ethics Opinion 515, which addresses whether a lawyer can disclose confidential client information when the client commits a crime against the lawyer or someone associated with or related to the lawyer. Key Takeaways: Implicit Exception to Confidentiality: Under ABA Model Rule 1.6, lawyers […]

MORE >
aba formal ethics opinion 514
April 04, 2025

ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 514

The ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has issued ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 514 – A Lawyer’s Obligations When Advising an Organization About Conduct that May Create Legal Risks for the Organization’s Constituents On January 8, 2025, the American Bar Association (ABA) issued Formal Opinion 514, providing guidance for lawyers advising organizations, particularly […]

MORE >
modern collage with hands typing on a keyboard
March 28, 2025

Your Law Firm Has Lawyers Working Remotely. Where, exactly?

Many California law firms now have lawyers working remotely. If not managed properly, that can create issues under the Rules of Professional Conduct. Firms should identify and manage these issues, as outlined in Formal Opinion Interim No. 20-0004 issued by the State Bar of California’s Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct (COPRAC). If your firm […]

MORE >
O'Rielly & Roche LLP | Understanding the Corporate Transparency Act: A Guide for U.S. Businesses
March 06, 2025

Understanding the Corporate Transparency Act: A Guide for U.S. Businesses

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) brings significant changes for businesses across the United States, introducing new compliance requirements and deadlines. Now, many U.S. companies must disclose detailed information about their beneficial owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). This law is part of a broader effort to curb financial crimes like money laundering and […]

MORE >
rule 1.1 competence
February 20, 2025

Rule 1.1 – Competence: An Overview

Rule 1.1 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct emphasizes the fundamental duty of lawyers to provide competent legal representation. Competence is defined as having the necessary legal knowledge, skills, and mental, emotional, and physical capacity to effectively perform legal services. Lawyers must avoid intentionally, recklessly, or repeatedly failing to meet this standard. If a […]

MORE >
A paid discussing the question, "Should Non-lawyers be Permitted to Own Law Firms?"
February 20, 2025

Should Non-lawyers be Permitted to Own Law Firms?

In December, the Future of Lawyering Subcommittee of the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (APRL) issued its “Report Regarding Proposed Revisions to ABA Model Rule 5.4,” entering the intense debate over non-lawyer ownership and fee sharing. 

MORE >
Businessman planning to reach the success flag on top of the mountain in flat design. Symbol of the startup, business finance, achievement and leadership concept vector illustration.
February 13, 2025

Notice Anything? How to Handle Law Firm Notice Provisions for Departing Partners

Navigating notice provisions in a law firm partnership agreement is one of the thorniest parts of managing any partner or group departure. How a lawyer handles notice to their law firm can lead to dramatically different outcomes for their clients and themselves.

MORE >