Practice Tools

ISBA Ethics Opinions on Law Firm Partnership and Employment Agreements

  • Duties and obligations of departing law firm associate : 12-14
  • Non-compete provision of partnership agreement : 97-09
  • Firm employment agreement requiring execution of promissory note as guarantee lawyer shall not compete with firm after termination of relationship : 93-13
  • Employment agreement prohibiting solicitation of former firm clients : 91-12
  • Departing firm associate communications with client and entitlement to fees : 86-16
  • Lawyer employment agreement requiring departing lawyer to share fees earned from former clients : 84-15
  • Contribution toward physical assets of firm upon election to partnership : 725

ISBA Advisory Opinions on Professional Conduct are prepared as an educational service to members of the ISBA. While the opinions express the ISBA interpretation of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct and other relevant materials in response to a specific hypothesized fact situation, they do not have the weight of law and should not be relied upon as a substitute for individual legal advice. For more information, call the ISBA Legal Department at (217) 525-1760 or (800) 252-8908.