Armstrong Teasdale lawyers have represented law firms in virtually every type of dispute that arises in the profession. We have represented dozens of law firms, including several of the largest firms in the United States.
We understand the Rules of Professional Conduct that govern lawyers and the fiduciary and professional obligations lawyers owe to their clients, law firms and partners. We also understand the practice of law and consistently remember that litigation strategy must reflect the business and professional goals of our law firm clients. In addition to litigation, we represent law firms in formal negotiations, mediation, arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution methods.
Law firms engage us because of our nationally recognized reputation as trial lawyers, our personal attention to their issues and business goals, and their confidence in our ability to protect their confidential information and privacy.
Types of disputes we have helped our law firm clients navigate include:
Transactional Malpractice
Law firms accused of malpractice in connection with their transactional, estate planning and tax work rely on us for representation. We have successfully defended lawyers and law firms with respect to their work on loans, mergers and acquisitions, employment contracts and practices, commercial contracts, administrative licensing and zoning issues, tax planning and estate planning.
Litigation Malpractice
We have long represented law firms charged with negligence in their handling of litigation. Our defense of such matters has included alleged mishandling of documents in discovery, failing to raise claims or defenses, improper withdrawal and failing to timely file a lawsuit or appeal.
Ethical Malpractice
Malpractice cases often include allegations of ethical misconduct. When such allegations arise, law firms choose us for our experience dealing with these ethical issues, including alleged conflicts of interest, lack of engagement letters, excessive fees, agreements that restrict the right of a lawyer to practice law, and the failure to follow clients’ instructions.
Fee Disputes
We provide guidance to law firms trying to collect unpaid fees or who are accused of charging excessive fees. Although fee claims frequently give rise to malpractice allegations, lawyers are in business and are entitled to be paid for their work. We are comfortable evaluating such matters and helping lawyers decide whether and when to assert fee claims or how to defend against claims of excessive billing.
Claims by Non-Clients
Law firms have retained us to defend claims that they aided and abetted clients’ wrongdoing, conspired with clients to commit wrongful acts, tortiously interfered with contracts or business expectations, and/or committed fraud on behalf of their clients.
Claims Against Lawyers in Other Capacities
Clients and non-clients often bring claims against lawyers who are functioning in other capacities, such as receivers, trustees, corporate directors, estate administrators and fiduciaries. Law firms in these situations choose us for our extensive experience representing lawyers in claims against them in a non-lawyer capacity brought by beneficiaries, shareholders, heirs and others.
Partnership Disputes
We have extensive experience representing law firms in disputes with other lawyers, particularly in cases that involve partnership or law firm breakups, departures from law firms, client solicitation and disagreements about compensation.
Sanction and Disqualification Motions
Lawyers turn to us when facing motions that seek to disqualify them from representing their clients or sanction them for their conduct in representing their clients. They find it makes sense for a lawyer other than the lawyer accused of misconduct to defend that lawyer’s actions.
Commercial Disputes
Law firms rely on us in disputes concerning landlords, business partners, suppliers and employees.
