Ethics Hotline & Opinions

ETHICS DOCKET NO. 1988-56

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MARYLAND STATE BAR ASSOCIATION, INC.

COMMITTEE ON ETHICS

ETHICS DOCKET NO. 1988-56

Corporations: Practice of Law By Firm Owned By A Non-Lawyer


From information you have received, you believe that Hyatt Legal Services with offices in Maryland may be owned in part by non-attorneys. You asked the Ethics Committee to make an investigation and advise whether a law firm may be partially or totally owned by persons other than professional attorneys.

Unfortunately, we are not equipped or authorized by the State Bar to make factual investigations of the nature that you request. We can, however, answer your ethics question. Rule 5.4 (b) clearly prohibits an attorney from forming a partnership with a non-lawyer if any of the partnership activities consist of the practice of law. Accordingly, a non-lawyer cannot hold an interest in a partnership for the practice of law.

We are not sure how much information you possess concerning the ownership of Hyatt LegalServices. It may be that you have enough information to refer that matter to the Attorney Grievance Commission for their investigation and possible action.


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DISCLAIMER: Opinions of the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) Ethics Committee are an uncompensated service of the MSBA. This Committee’s opinions are not binding on the Maryland Court of Appeals, Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission, MSBA or this Committee. The reader is advised that subsequent judicial opinions, revisions to the rules of professional conduct, and future opinions of this Committee may render the Opinions stated herein outdated. As such, the Committee’s opinions are advisory only and neither the Committee nor the MSBA assumes any liability whatsoever with respect thereto. Accordingly, reliance upon the opinions of this Committee is solely at the risk of the user.