Rule 1.17 - Sale of Law Practice A lawyer or a law firm may sell or purchase a law practice, or an area of law practice, including good will, if the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) The seller ceases to engage in the private practice of law, or in the area of practice that has been sold, in the geographic area or jurisdiction in which the practice has been conducted for a reasonable period of time, in no case less than 6 months, to be set forth in the written agreement for the sale of the practice. In the event a specific term is not set forth in writing, a term of 6 months shall apply for the purposes of this Rule;(b) The entire practice, or the entire area of practice, is sold to one or more lawyers or law firms;(c) The seller gives written notice to each of the seller's clients regarding: (2) The client's right to retain other counsel or to take possession of the file; and(3) The fact that the client's consent to the transfer of the client's files will be presumed if the client does not take any action or does not otherwise object within 90 days of receipt of the notice. If a client cannot be given notice, the representation of that client may be transferred to the purchaser only upon entry of an order so authorizing by a court having jurisdiction. The seller may disclose to the court in camera information relating to the representation only to the extent necessary to obtain an order authorizing the transfer of a file.
(d) The fees charged clients shall not be increased by reason of the sale.Added effective 5/1/2006.