Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, A state court judge is retiring after what seems like 105 years on the bench. A retirement party is scheduled to occur 3 days before the judge’s retirement becomes effective. A group of lawyers on behalf of the local bar is collecting money to buy tickets for a European vacation to present to the judge at the retirement party. As far as the Model Rules are concerned, may we contribute?
Continue Reading October 15 Issue – Gifts to JudgesThe twice-monthly “Dear Ethics Lawyer” column is part of a training regimen of the Legal Ethics Project, authored by Mark Hinderks, former managing partner and counsel to an AmLaw 200 firm. Read More
October 2025
October 1 Issue – General Commercial Transaction with Client
By Mark Hinderks on
Q: Dear Ethics Lawyer, Our firm represents a well-respected private equity fund company. I am a products liability lawyer and have not personally done legal work for this client. The company is now raising capital for a new fund and I would like to invest by accepting the terms of their offering, but I am concerned with the requirements of Model Rule 1.8(a) that appear to be triggered whenever a lawyer enters into a business transaction with a client. Do these requirements apply even though I don’t personally represent the client? Do they apply even though I am simply investing under the terms of an offer made to the market in general, i.e., there would be no negotiation about it?
Continue Reading October 1 Issue – General Commercial Transaction with Client