Biglaw

Biglaw Firms Take Their Legal Fee Battle To The Courthouse

There's millions in fees on the line.

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Two Biglaw firms are going head to head over contingency fees and it shows just how complicated it can be when partners change firms mid-representation.

As reported by Law.com, the controversy stems from work Benjamin Chew did on behalf of Rudolph Geist and his limited liability corporation, RJGLaw. Chew began the representation, which was done on a contingency basis where Geist owed Manatt 30 percent of any recovery, while he was a partner at Manatt. When Chew lateraled to Brown Rudnick in April 2018, Geist was among the clients that made the move to the new firm. The case settled in November 2018 for $10 million, and Manatt was left out in the cold.

Now Manatt has sued Brown Rudnick and Geist/RJGLaw for the work they did on on behalf of Geist against
Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network Inc. According to the complaint, Manatt did key work on the case, and “all the work that caused the settlement was performed by Manatt, prior to Manatt’s dismissal,” and therefore they’re entitled to their share of the settlement:

“Mr. Geist, a lawyer, knows that legal services are not provided for free, and he was involved in the negotiations of the method of payment to Manatt at the outset of the HITN Litigation,” Peter Axelrad, Manatt’s counsel at Council, Baradel, Kosmerl & Nolan, wrote in the complaint.  “Manatt is entitled to the benefit conferred upon Mr. Geist and RJG.”

The complaint alleges breach of contract against Geist and tortious interference and unjust enrichment against Brown Rudnick.

headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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