Advisory Opinion: 1539

Year Issued: 1993

RPC(s): RPC 1.5

Subject: Contingent fee; client is assignee of lawsuit on contingent fee basis

The Committee reviewed your inquiry concerning representation of a client on a contingent fee basis when the client has been assigned a law suit also on a contingent fee basis. The Committee was of the opinion that the lawyer could accept the contingent fee, but could not share his fee with the assignee. The Committee specifically did not address other legal questions such as the assignability of the claim and whether the client would be a suitable representative of a class in the event of a class action.

Advisory Opinions are provided for the education of the Bar and reflect the opinion of the Committee on Professional Ethics (CPE) or its predecessors. Advisory Opinions are provided pursuant to the authorization granted by the Board of Governors, but are not individually approved by the Board and do not reflect the official position of the Bar association. Laws other than the Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct may apply to the inquiry. The Committee's answer does not include or opine about any other applicable law other than the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct.