Wednesday, October 04, 2000
The Florida Bar Re: Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.

No.97,130

Palm Beach County


The law firm of Becker & Poliakoff requires certain attorney-employees to sign contracts requiring them to split fees with the firm if the employees leave and take firm clients with them. The firm contends that this contract was approved by The Florida Bar before it went into use and is supported by court decisions. In 1995, The Bar issued an ethics opinion declaring the fee-sharing agreement unethical and unenforceable. The firm has petitioned the Court to reverse this opinion.