RSMD’s Jim Doppke addressed first-year law students at Loyola University School of Law on Monday, January 27, 2020, concerning civility in the legal profession — and what it means in the character and fitness process. Jim has represented and advised many applicants to the Illinois Bar, and he was pleased to bring his experience to bear at his alma mater. He looks forward to making a similar presentation to Loyola’s evening and weekend students on…

The new year is well underway, and lawyers are already looking ahead, planning and executing and looking to grow. One thing our firm always does at this time of year is look around at the regulatory environment. We analyze what we’ve seen and heard, what our experiences have been, and what data – especially the data representing we know about ARDC’s enforcement efforts over the past year – can tell us. It can be hard…

RSMD’s Jim Doppke will address the Chicago Bar Association Professional Responsibility Committee at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 16. He’ll discuss limited scope representation agreements, which the Illinois Supreme Court formally introduced as part of its 2013 amendment of Rule 13. But what’s the state of the law now? Jim will examine current views on the benefits and pitfalls of limited scope, and he’ll provide thoughts about best limited scope practices for 2020 and beyond.…

RSMD’s Stephanie Stewart will join the ARDC’s Melissa Smart in a presentation to the Chicago Bar Association Business Divorce and Complex Ownership Committee on December 9, 2019 at 12:15 p.m., at the CBA. The presentation will also be available as a live webcast at http://chicagobar.org. All members are welcome, and Illinois PR-MCLE credit will be available. The post Stephanie Stewart: Co-Presenter at CBA 12/9 appeared first on Robinson, Stewart, Montgomery & Doppke, LLC..…

On November 20, Mary Robinson and Sari Montgomery gave presentations to the Chicago Bar Association’s Unauthorized Practice and Multidisciplinary Practice Committee. Sari addressed the rules and pitfalls of cross-border practice, in particular reviewing scenarios involving states bordering Illinois. Mary addressed the operation of law-related businesses, including tax and immigration consulting services, heir finder and genealogical businesses, and foreclosure surplus fund distribution entities. RSMD’s lawyers are always pleased to give presentations to groups of all sizes,…

“Garden Fence,” George Tan by Jim Doppke Since my earlier post relating to Rule 5.4 and the several new proposals that call for its modification, a new one has arisen: the October 4, 2019 report of the Arizona Task Force on the Delivery of Legal Services, which suggests (among many other things) that Rule 5.4 be eliminated entirely. I previously focused on the question of how we have been enforcing the Rule in recent…

  Sari Montgomery was pleased to participate in a panel discussion, “Liar, Liar: Managing Truth and Lies in Law Firms,” at Holland & Knight’s General Counsel Summit on September 27. Also on the panel were CNA’s Tracy Kepler, Holland & Knight’s Colin Smith, and certified forensic analyst Andy Jacobs. The summit, and Sari’s panel, provided practical insights into risk management at firms employing up to 250 lawyers. Sari also recently moderated a presentation to the…