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Category: Unpaid Fees

Akerman Sues Former Client for $3M in Unpaid Fees

March 26, 2024

A recent Law.com story by Alexander Lugo, “Akerman Sues Former Client for Almost $3 Million in Unpaid Fees”, reports that Akerman is suing a former client alleging that he has a total overdue bill of more than $2.8 million.

The client, Blaine Iler, was convicted of extortion, conspiracy and bribery in June along with two other executives of a food servicer for bribing a New York City Department of Education official.  Former Akerman partner Bradley Henry was originally lead counsel on the case, but in February he moved to Blank Rome and took Iler with him as a client, according to the lawsuit filed in New York state court.

Before Henry moved to Blank Rome, Iler allegedly accumulated just under $2.8 million in legal fees along with another $67,000 in other costs to Akerman.  The firm is also seeking interest on those fees, according to the lawsuit.  A total of 16 Akerman attorneys allegedly put in almost 6,000 hours on Iler’s defense, which culminated in a four-week jury trial, according to the complaint.

Akerman claims that Iler has acknowledged his debt to the firm in the past, most recently on a February call with Henry, Akerman litigation practice chair Lawrence Rochefort and Akerman COO David Ristaino, according to the court documents.  Around the time of that phone call, the judge on the case out of New York denied a post-trial motion for an acquittal or a new trial after being convicted in June.

This lawsuit follows a trend of law firms seeking to leave no legal fees on the table and using litigation as a way of obtaining those fees.  That trend has led to higher realization fees for firms generally.

However, Akerman’s $2.8 million case against Iler is on the high end of the spectrum when it comes to fee disputes.  New York-based litigation firm Kasowitz Benson Torres sued former clients for a total sum of more than $4.5 million during all of 2023.  Although litigation may be an effective way to collect unpaid fees, especially when a client is disputing those fees, law firms don’t want to seem too trigger-happy toward former clients so lawsuits tend to be a last resort.

Attorney Keeps $1.15M Fee Award Despite Tossing Billing Record

February 9, 2024

A recent Law 360 story by Madison Arnold, “Atlanta Atty Keeps $1.15 Fee Award Despite Tossing Notes”, reports that a Georgia state appellate court has upheld an award of $1.15 million in attorney fees to a solo-practice attorney, saying an Atlanta-based airport travel spa operator he did work for failed to show the trial court was wrong in finding the attorney didn't have to save notes about the legal services he provided.

In its ruling, a three-judge panel upheld the attorney fee award for Gebo Law LLC and its only member, Carl Gebo, who provided five years of legal services for Cordial Endeavor Concessions of Atlanta LLC.  The appellate court didn't buy Cordial's argument that the trial court erred by not giving jury instructions related to the "spoliation of evidence," meaning Gebo's tossing of his notes, among other concerns.  "But the court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to give a spoliation instruction or in refusing to allow an expert to opine on an irrelevant issue, and the jury's award was within the range of damages shown by the evidence.  So we affirm the trial court's judgment," the panel said.

Cordial was hoping to overturn the award for nearly 2,000 hours of work performed by Gebo Law, saying the attorney intentionally destroyed time records and that the award was excessive, according to the appeal Cordial filed in May.  At the heart of Cordial's appeal are the notes Gebo made detailing the date, length of time and the description of legal services he provided to the company, the panel said.  In an affidavit, Gebo said it was his normal practice to create invoices based on notes and then discard the notes afterward.

"A lawyer who fails to secure an engagement agreement, fails to communicate his hourly rate to the client, and then discards his contemporaneous time records when fee litigation is likely does not get to recover unpaid fees at the upper range of what might be considered a reasonable hourly rate," the spa operator said in May.

Gebo added that when he threw away the notes, he believed Cordial would soon be paying for his legal services since the company had confirmed a payment plan, the panel said.  That meant Gebo was not yet thinking about or anticipating any litigation, and he only filed after months of unsuccessful negotiations with the company about receiving payments, the panel said.  That turned out to be central to the panel's ruling.  In its eight-page opinion, the panel said the term "spoliation" is used to refer to the destruction of evidence that is relevant to "contemplated or pending litigation."

"Such conduct may give rise to the rebuttable presumption that the evidence would have been harmful to the spoliator.  However, in order for the injured party to pursue a remedy for spoliation, [including a jury charge on the rebuttable presumption,] the spoliating party must have been under a duty to preserve the evidence at issue," the panel said.

The panel found the trial court was within its bounds to decide that a duty to preserve notes was not triggered at the time Gebo pitched them because he used them to create invoices as part of his normal practice.  "[T]here was evidence that Gebo did not contemplate litigation when following its practice of discarding notes after memorializing them in invoices, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Cordial's spoliation motion," the panel said.

The appellate court separately held that Cordial failed to show the lower court abused its discretion in approving the jury's award of $1.15 million in quantum meruit damages.  "[T]he jury did not understand that Gebo disregarded an important rule of professional responsibility and thus did not understand Gebo should be awarded recovery at the lower range of what otherwise would be a reasonable negotiated fee," Cordial said in May.

That award equals a fee rate of about $630 per hour and that rate is within the range of evidence presented at trial, with expert testimony saying the going rate should be between $500 and $800 per hour.  "[W]e cannot say that the trial court, who saw the witnesses and heard the testimony, abused its discretion in [approving the verdict]," the panel said, quoting a precedential case.

Holland & Knight Faces Overbilling Suit

December 13, 2023

A recent Law 360 story, “Holland & Knight Faces Overbilling Suit From Ex-Bank CEO”, reports that Republic First Bancorp's former CEO has accused Holland & Knight LLP of padding its bills as the firm looked to charge him some $7 million for what he said was ultimately "ineffective and unsatisfactory" legal work last year in a dispute over his ouster.

Vernon Hill II said in a complaint filed in Pennsylvania state court that Holland & Knight had engaged in "duplicative … and excessive billing" as it represented him in four separate matters against Republic First last year, including a federal lawsuit alleging that the bank improperly misappropriated the business model and brand equity that Hill had developed during his 13-year tenure.  And despite assigning multiple partners to work on Hill's matters at high hourly rates, the complaint said that the Holland & Knight team repeatedly failed to deliver the kind of results Hill expected.

"What occurred was an unnecessary and inefficient use of a large number of timekeepers, led by a score of partners, who billed Hill excessively and unreasonably, particularly in light of the results they achieved – or, more often, failed to achieve," Hill said in his complaint in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.  Hill said he formally retained Holland & Knight in March 2022 as he looked to press back on what he said was an "improper corporate coup" by a faction of Republic First board members aimed at ousting him as CEO and board president.

According to court records, Hill was ultimately booted from his position with Republic First in July 2022.  As part of his engagement letter with Holland & Knight, Hill said that the firm promised to keep its bills as low as possible by assigning "lawyers having the lowest hourly rates consistent with the skills, time demands, and other factors … involved in each matter."

By the time Hill eventually terminated his relationship with the firm in July 2023, however, he said that Holland & Knight had charged him some $7 million in fees, about $4.1 million of which he had paid.  When Holland & Knight sent him a demand letter seeking the remaining $2.8 million, Hill said he refused to pay and instead pointed out what he claimed was "the wasteful, inefficient, and unreasonable nature of H&K's bills and billing practices."  Hill said he later offered to try and resolve the fee dispute, but that when Holland & Knight failed to respond, he opted to file the lawsuit in Philadelphia.

In support of his claims, Hill pointed to Holland & Knight's work over the first half of last year to stop the First Republic board faction's efforts to remove him.  That work, Hill said, went on to involve 68 different timekeepers, 19 of whom were firm partners who billed at higher rates.  "Despite deploying a literal phalanx of timekeepers led by a bloated cadre of 19 partners, H&K failed to stop the … faction from driving Hill from the chairmanship of RFB," Hill said.

Twitter’s $90M Attorney Fee Dispute Heads to Arbitration

October 19, 2023

A recent Law 360 story by Jack Karp, “Wachtell Wins Bid to Arbitrate X’s $90M Fee Dispute”, reports that a California state judge granted Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz's request to send to arbitration a dispute with X Corp. over $90 million in legal fees tied to the fight over Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter.  The master retention agreement between Wachtell and X, formerly called Twitter, clearly delegates all disputes over arbitrability issues to an arbitrator, Superior Court Judge Richard B. Ulmer said in minutes issued after a brief remote hearing at which neither party appeared for Wachtell's motion to compel arbitration.

"The master retention agreement only carves out actions 'enforcing claims for injunctive or equitable relief.'  It did not carve out any other issue or circumscribe the scope of the parties' broad delegation clause," the judge said in adopting the tentative order.  X sued the firm in July, accusing Wachtell of exploiting "lame duck fiduciaries" as it "ran up the tab" and earned a $90 million fee helping the company defeat Musk's effort to back out of a $44 billion deal to acquire the company.

The firm ultimately helped Twitter obtain an expedited trial that put pressure on Musk before he finally agreed to close the deal on its original terms.  Wachtell moved to compel arbitration of X's claims in September.  The arbitration clause in question delegates jurisdiction over what kinds of claims can be arbitrated to the arbitrator in two places, and uses language derived from a Ninth Circuit decision on the topic, undercutting X's claims that the issue was left unclear by the contract, Wachtell argued.

X pushed back in early October, arguing that it is seeking only equitable relief since it wants the court to void its closing-day letter agreement and any associated excess fee payment in addition to restitution or disgorgement of the fees charged by Wachtell.  X also sought attorney fees and pre- and post-judgment interest.

"Once this court has set aside the closing day letter agreement, X Corp. will recover its payment to Wachtell, less Wachtell's 'reasonable fee.'  What is 'reasonable' under the circumstances will necessarily encompass various considerations and equitable principles," it said.  That means the "sole method" for X to win relief in the case requires the "application of equitable principles" to determine Wachtell's reasonable compensation, it said.

But Wachtell countered that the rescission X is seeking is "an action in equity" only when the recovery sought by the plaintiff through rescission involves something other than the money paid by the plaintiff.  "Here, every dollar of the final fee that X Corp. seeks to recover from Wachtell Lipton is a dollar that Twitter paid. That is restitutionary disgorgement — which is legal relief," the firm said in its Oct. 10 motion to compel arbitration.

Article: Twitter Fee Dispute Case Offers Crash Course in Billing Ethics

September 19, 2023

A recent Law 360 article by Lourdes Fuentes, “Twitter Legal Fees Suit Offers Crash Course in Billing Ethics”, reports on ethical lessons from the recent Twitter fee dispute litigation case.  This article was posted with permission.  The article reads:

Corp.'s case against law firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, filed over Twitter's legal bill in connection with Elon Musk's $44 billion acquisition of the company, highlights the importance of following proper billing practices, which are governed not only by contract law but also by the higher standards imposed on lawyers by the rules of professional conduct.  The claims in X Corp. v. Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, filed in early July in California's San Francisco County Superior Court, include restitution (unjust enrichment), breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, and violation of California Business and Professions Code, Section 17200.

The pleading contains a litany of facts but recounts a concise timeline. From when Wachtell was retained on June 21, 2022, to the Oct. 13 party held to celebrate the month-end closing of the deal at the original $44 billion price, only 114 days had elapsed.  In that time, Twitter received two invoices.  These invoices were included as exhibits to the complaint.  A review of the invoices reveals blank time entries, vague descriptions, irrelevant references and block billing, among other issues.  The invoices amount to close to $18 million.

To compound these perceived improprieties, the final fee statement then added an extra $72 million dollars to that tab.  This was a "success fee" that was referenced in the closing day letter agreement drafted by Wachtell and signed by Twitter's then-chief legal officer, Vijaya Gadde, allegedly hours before the closing sale of Twitter on Oct. 27.  Significantly, the success fee had not been outlined in the engagement letter.

While the validity of the claims will be decided in court, the suit spotlights vital legal billing practices and ethical considerations for attorneys and clients alike.  Even if Wachtell defeats X, the suit has put the reputation of the firm's billing practices at risk.  Moreover, the suit has put the reputation and ethics of individual attorneys at risk by disclosing the invoices at issue, tying timekeeper names to time entries.

Further, the answer to whether the $90 million is fair pay or windfall may not be based on the amount itself, but on whether the parties followed the rules of professional conduct governing attorney-client relationships.  By reexamining billing approaches in light of the Twitter fees case, law firms and clients can take away important lessons on proper billing practices.

The Relevant Rules

Client and lawyer can maintain a positive partnership that is founded on transparency and trust by following an ethical road map.

The claims in the complaint provide us with a good starting point.  They are based on common law tort, contract law and the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which have been similarly adopted to varying degrees in other states' jurisdictions.  These are:

    Section 6147 of the California Business and Professions Code, which addresses contingency fees;

    Rule 1.5 of both the California and New York Rules of Professional Conduct, which prohibit unreasonable or unconscionable fees;[6] and

    Rule 1.8 of both the California and New York Rules of Professional Conduct, which prohibit soliciting gifts from clients.

By keeping these rules — or their equivalent from your jurisdiction — top of mind, practitioners can avoid the appearance of impropriety. Though not mentioned in the complaint, I would also add ABA Rule 1.4, which deals with attorney-client communications, to this list.

8 Crucial Steps for Success Fees

Fees based on the outcome of a case, like the success fee in the Twitter case, are permissible, but they still need to be reasonable.  While the ABA rules do not specifically mention success fees, they state that a fee may be contingent on the outcome of the matter for which the service is rendered.  The rules do, however, state that:

A contingent fee agreement shall be in a writing signed by the client and shall state the method by which the fee is to be determined.  Success fees are common in transactional matters, but these are typically negotiated as part of an engagement letter.  They are structured to incentivize the law firm to achieve the best possible outcome for the client.  However, the exact nature and amount of these fees can vary and are a subject of negotiation between the parties.  As a result, it is crucial for both parties to follow these steps.

Transparency and Disclosure

All terms related to the success fee should be clearly stated in the engagement letter or contract.  This includes how the fee is calculated, when it is to be paid, and under what conditions it may be modified or waived.

Reasonableness of the Fee

All fees must be reasonable.  Look for guidance in ABA Rule 1.5 for factors that can be considered to determine reasonableness of a success fee. These can include:

    The novelty and difficulty of the case;

    The skill required to properly provide legal services;

    Comparable rates in your area for like services;

    The amount at issue and the results obtained;

    Time limitations imposed by the client or by the circumstances;

    The reputation, experience and ability of the lawyers performing the services; and

    Whether the fee is fixed or contingent.

Proportionality

The success fee should be proportional to the value provided by the law firm.  This could be in relation to the deal size, the complexity of the transaction or the level of risk involved.

Incentive Alignment

Make sure that the fee structure selected aligns the firm's incentives with the client's goals.  Otherwise, it could be considered a conflict of interest, among other ethical pitfalls.

Regulatory Compliance

Understand your state-specific rules or regulations that might apply.  For example, California's Section 6147 speaks to contingency fee agreements.  Research your jurisdiction's rules and regulations.  Remember, as well, that some jurisdictions may cap or ban certain types of fees.

Dispute Resolution

Include a clause specifying how any disputes over the success fee will be resolved, whether through arbitration, mediation or court proceedings.

Periodic Review

It may be prudent to include provisions for reviewing the success fee arrangement at various stages of the transaction.

Client Consent

Explicit, informed consent from the client is crucial, especially if the success fee arrangement is unconventional or complex.  It is important to note that all fees must not only be reasonable but also adequately explained to clients.  Circumventing clear documentation enables end-runs around billing safeguards in violation of ABA Rule 1.5 and violates Rule 1.4.

While a lawyer and client may renegotiate a fee agreement during an ongoing relationship, the lawyer typically carries the burden of establishing fairness of the new arrangement if it is ever challenged.  Fee agreements entered during the attorney-client relationship will get heightened scrutiny to avoid the appearance of undue influence or impropriety.

In the case of Twitter, the success fee was agreed upon allegedly hours before the closing of the deal.  Although Twitter's old board agreed to the fees, the circumstances in which this transpired could be perceived as unethical and improper because of the lateness of the agreement made by the parties to include a success fee.  Hence, in addition to challenging the fee as unreasonable, the lawsuit claims that, based on the facts leading to the closing day letter agreement, the success fee should be considered a gift, and hence a violation of ABA Rule 1.8.

10 Proper Billing Practices

The controversy highlighted in the Twitter fee case provides a valuable reminder of the heightened scrutiny in attorney-client relationships due to its fiduciary nature and the rules of professional conduct.  In addition to the steps specific to success fees outlined above, it is important to keep these broader billing best practices in mind.

Engagement

Always formalize the fee arrangement in a written agreement.  This holds true whether you are dealing with an hourly rate, a contingency fee or some other type of fee structure.  Any modifications to the engagement terms or fee structure should also be put in writing.

Transparency

Clearly outline how legal fees will be calculated, any percentages that may accrue in the case of a contingency fee and any other expenses that will be deducted from the recovery.

Client Communication

Keep the client informed about any developments.

Alternative Fee Arrangements

There is nothing wrong with exploring creative billing options that can benefit both parties, but ensure they are in line with ethical guidelines and are clearly outlined in the agreement.

Data-Driven Metrics

Consider using data-driven methods to establish fees, especially for alternative fee arrangements.  This adds an element of fairness and can help align incentives between client and lawyer.  Notably, today we have the benefit of using artificial intelligence to come up with creative data-based alternative fee arrangements.

Review and Oversight

Periodically review the billing practices to ensure compliance with your client guidelines.  Train your timekeepers in proper billing practices and client-specific billing guidelines.  This training should be done annually and while onboarding new personnel.

Regulations

Understand the rules governing fees and conflicts of interest.  Train your lawyers in the rules of professional conduct.  This training should be done annually and while onboarding new personnel.

Fiduciary Duty

Always act in the best interest of the client, keeping in mind the fiduciary nature of the attorney-client relationship.

Avoid Surprises

Be proactive to avoid sticker shock.  Discuss potential scenarios and outcomes openly with the client, so they know what to expect in terms of fees.

For example, one fact alleged in the complaint is that:

[I]n the middle of the board's final October 27 meeting, former Twitter general counsel Sean Edgett sent the chart of fees that the Twitter board was meeting to approve.  Upon seeing the magnitude of the fees being presented for the board's approval, one former Twitter director immediately exclaimed in an email reply to Edgett: "O My Freaking God."

Regular Invoicing

Provide detailed invoices that outline the work done, the time spent and the costs incurred.  This not only aids transparency but will also help in resolving any disputes that may arise.  Also remember, your time entries should be treated with as much care as any work product; they should be clear, concise, descriptive and grammatically correct.

By following this ethical road map, the parties will reduce the likelihood of disputes and misunderstandings and, also, maintain a good working relationship.

Conclusion

Whether you are the client or the lawyer, beware falling asleep at the wheel when it comes to new engagements, modifications to billing and billing practices generally.  To do so may risk legal action and your reputation.

Lourdes Fuentes is a seasoned litigator, Founder & Chair of Karta Legal LLC, law firm partner and CEO.  She has a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and is also a certified Legal Project Manager and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.  With decades in the field, her expertise lies in optimizing legal operations and promoting ethical billing.  Lourdes founded Karta Legal to tackle these specific challenges, offering tailored solutions that include innovative technology adoption and process improvement.  Her firm caters to a diverse range of clients—from Fortune 100 companies to specialized boutique law firms—ensuring they adhere to transparent and ethical billing practices.