ISBA Ethics Opinions on Contingent Fees | Illinois State Bar Association

Opinion 12-20 | Contingent Fees
Propriety of charging contingent fee for discovering and collecting unclaimed property
Opinion 03-06 | Contingent Fees | Division of Fees | Prosecutors
Fee sharing upon partner becoming government prosecutor

Law firm can properly pay former partner share of contingent fee earned after partner left firm to become State’s Attorney as long as payment is part of separation agreement under Rule 1.5(j) and payment does not violate public policy concerns; former partner’s disqualification from private practice as State’s Attorney does not bar payment to former partner of share of fee earned by firm after partner withdrew when paid as part of separation agreement; former partner sharing fee under Rule 1.5(j) need not retain responsibility for matter, share fee proportionally to service performed,
Opinion 02-03 | Contingent Fees
Post judgment proceedings to determine property rights.

An attorney may enter into a contingent fee agreement to represent a client in post-judgment proceedings to determine property rights in a dissolution of marriage case where one of the former spouses has died, provided the fee agreement is written and reasonable in amount.
Opinion 97-08 | Contingent Fees | Fee Agreements | Fees and Expenses
Fee for reduction of lien, common fund doctrine.
Opinion 95-16 | Contingent Fees
Fee for post-judgment dissolution of marriage matters
Opinion 91-13 | Advertising and Solicitation | Contingent Fees
Charging contingent fee in non-litigation matters
Opinion 87-03 | Contingent Fees | Fees and Expenses
Disbarred lawyer fees in contingent matter
Opinion 84-09 | Contingent Fees
Fee in criminal matter contingent on outcome of related civil matter
Opinion 723 | Contingent Fees
Contingent fee in excess of court fee award

ISBA Advisory Opinions on Professional Conduct are prepared as an educational service to members of the ISBA. While the opinions express the ISBA interpretation of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct and other relevant materials in response to a specific hypothesized fact situation, they do not have the weight of law and should not be relied upon as a substitute for individual legal advice. For more information, call the ISBA Legal Department at (217) 525-1760 or (800) 252-8908.