Ohio Personal Injury Attorney Co-Counsel Agreements
Injury Attorney Co-Counsel Agreements in Ohio
At GB Law, many of the cases we handle come from other attorneys whom we associate with as co-counsel. A co-counsel or division of fee agreement can be beneficial for other personal injury lawyers and licensed Ohio attorneys who work in other areas of law, such as family law, criminal law, estate planning law, or another specialty.
There are many unique reasons we work as co-counsel:
- We have significant experience in high-damage, catastrophic injury cases.
- We have expertise in the litigation process and can handle all filings and paperwork.
- Due to our firm’s longevity and success, we have the financial resources to pursue larger cases that require a large financial investment.
- We are relentless in our pursuit of justice for our clients and provide support through the entire life of the case and beyond.
We have been brought in as counsel for major injury and wrongful death cases right before the trial stage, when attorneys know they need assistance. In other situations, we have been contacted by attorneys prior to the initial intake of a client and have assisted in the interview process.
“I have been a personal injury attorney for 45 years. I recently accepted a complex case that required co-counsel. After choosing to collaborate with GB Law partner Scott Bowman, I was impressed with his approach, legal abilities, recommendations, and resources he and the firm devoted to representing this client. It was a pleasure to work with Scott on this case.”
– Stephens, Fiddes, McGill & Associates, P.C.
The Ohio Code of Professional Responsibility provides legal guidance regarding fee division between attorneys. Regarding fee division or co-counsel agreements, the law requires:
- Informed consent — the client must consent to the agreement before representation.
- The split of fees must be disclosed to the client in writing.
- The fee must be reasonable (can be a percentage contingent on the outcome of the matter for which the service is rendered).
- In the event of a dispute, mediation or arbitration is required.
In Ohio, attorneys can receive a portion of a contingency fee in a fee-sharing agreement, even without specifically performing work on the litigation element of the case. There are many other ways co-counsel can contribute to the case including, but not limited to maintaining the relationship with the client.
Contingency fee cases can be complex and require an extensive investment of time and resources. Our thorough preparation allows us to achieve the maximum damage value for your case and the best outcome for the client.
About GB Law
GB Law is a preeminent Columbus area law firm, established in 1990 in downtown Columbus across the street from the Courthouse. Our lawyers and staff take pride in delivering exceptional service and results in personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Ohio. We limit the number of cases we handle so that cases are handled by lawyers, not case workers or clerks. GB Law clients and the attorneys that work alongside us as co-counsel benefit from our more than three decades of experience.
If you are an attorney interested in referring a case, contact our Columbus personal injury attorneys today to discuss your fee-sharing agreement. Co-counsel agreements can be accepted on a one-time basis or multiple cases can be accepted on a relationship basis. We value our relationships with referring attorneys and look forward to speaking with you and the opportunity to work with you in the future.