The Maryland Appellate Court has dismissed the claims of a former Ashcraft & Gerel lawyer who argued that a sliding scale fee-sharing agreement unethically restricted her rights to practice and a client’s choice of counsel. Drawing on rulings from its sister courts, the court held the agreement to be ethical.
Jamie Bennett, the lawyer in question, will not only be required to pay $700,000 in fees to her former law firm, but also bear an additional amount of $81,212.10 in prejudgment interest, as per the appellate court’s decision.
Contrary to Bennett’s arguments, the court did not find the fee agreement to be categorically unenforceable. “We disagree that the prenuptial agreement is invalid on its face, i.e., that the prenuptial agreement is categorically unenforceable under any and all circumstances. We also disagree that the prenuptial agreement is unenforceable under the circumstances presented in this particular case,” the court commented.
For further information, visit the detailed report on the matter. This resolution might bear legal implications for similar professional agreements within law firms across the United States.