Attorney & Law Firm Representation
Attorney Ellen Brotman provides counseling to lawyers and law firms dealing with professional life cycle events.
Representing the Legal Profession
Attorneys and law firms face a unique set of legal challenges — from bar admission proceedings to law firm dissolution, lateral transitions, and civil litigation involving legal professionals.
Whether you are an individual attorney navigating a bar admission issue, a firm managing a partner departure, or a legal professional facing civil litigation, BrotmanLaw provides experienced counsel on complex ethics and professional responsibility matters.
Partnership and Shareholder Disputes in Law Firms
Law firm partnership disputes are among the most complex — and most consequential — matters an attorney can face. Unlike disputes between ordinary business partners, law firm partnership and shareholder disputes are governed by the Rules of Professional Conduct in addition to applicable business law. Compensation disagreements, client ownership conflicts, non-compete provisions, and departing partner obligations all intersect with professional responsibility considerations that general business litigators may overlook.
As a partnership dispute attorney with deep experience in legal ethics and professional responsibility, Ellen Brotman provides counsel to individual attorneys and law firms on partnership and shareholder disputes, including:
- Compensation and equity disputes between partners
- Client file and client list ownership issues during a departure or dissolution
- Non-solicitation and non-compete agreements among attorneys
- Obligations to clients during a firm breakup or merger
- Disputes involving Of Counsel arrangements and contract attorney relationships
Whether you are a partner navigating a firm dissolution, a departing attorney protecting your practice, or a law firm managing an internal dispute, early counsel from an attorney who understands both the business and professional responsibility dimensions is essential.
Legal Malpractice Defense Consultation
When an attorney or law firm faces a legal malpractice claim, the professional responsibility implications extend well beyond the civil litigation itself. Alleged conduct in a malpractice claim may also give rise to a disciplinary complaint — making it critical that defense counsel understands both dimensions.
Ellen Brotman provides ethics opinions in legal malpractice defense matters. She also advises on the professional responsibility issues that arise in conjunction with malpractice claims, including how to respond to clients, what to disclose, and how to manage the matter in a way that minimizes both civil and disciplinary exposure.
Law Firm Lifecycle Counsel
From formation through dissolution, law firms encounter professional responsibility and business issues that require experienced guidance. Ellen Brotman advises attorneys and law firms at every stage of the firm’s lifecycle, including:
- Structuring law firm governance and partnership agreements with professional responsibility compliance built in
- Managing lateral attorney transitions and departures in a way that protects the firm and satisfies ethical obligations to clients
- Navigating law firm mergers and acquisitions, including conflicts clearance and client notification obligations
- Dissolving a law firm while meeting obligations to clients, staff, and partners
- Advising on attorney compensation structures and Of Counsel arrangements
Matters We Handle
- Law firm formation, structure, and governance
- Law firm dissolution and merger
- Lateral transitions and attorney departures
- Conflicts and client management issues
- Legal malpractice defense consultation
- Partnership and shareholder disputes
- Attorney employment and compensation matters
- Of counsel and contract attorney arrangements