Got approached by a law firm here in Tulsa that handles PSO rate cases. They want to pay me a referral fee for any clients I send their way for regulatory work. Is this acceptable under CUBA standards? The fee would be 10% of their initial retainer. Seems like it could create conflicts of interest.
Referral fees from attorneys - allowed or not?
Ed, I'd be very careful with that arrangement. Here in Seattle, I work with several law firms on PSE cases, but I never accept referral fees. It could compromise your independence when advising clients about whether they need legal representation. Better to maintain clear boundaries.
David's right to be cautious. In California, referral fees between professionals can create disclosure obligations under state bar rules. Even though we're not attorneys, accepting fees for referrals could require disclosure to clients. SMUD cases here in Sacramento often involve both audit and legal work.
Thanks for the input. After thinking it over, I'll stick to my current arrangement where I recommend qualified attorneys but don't accept referral fees. Keeps things cleaner and avoids any appearance of impropriety. PSO cases are complex enough without adding ethical complications.