Sonoma County Bar Association
Protecting and Collecting Your Fees
An Attorney’s Guide to Fee Arbitration,
Collecting Attorney Fees and Ethical Issues
This is a must-attend, essential course for succeeding in business by any and all practitioners.
This Program Will Cover the Following:
1. Fee Issues arising during representation – Avoiding the problem at the outset (problem clients and the warning signs); Assessing your ability to service your client’s case efficiently and cost-effectively; Fee arrangements (when and how to discuss); Fee agreements (do you need one?); Arbitration clauses (are they important?); Billing practices; Keeping the client informed as the matter progresses; Motions for attorney’s fees before and after discharge; Self-help (or sabotage?);
2. Getting paid after the relationship ends – Be “aware” (not “beware”) of the Mandatory Fee Arbitration program (it can be your friend); How to use it; How do I prepare for it? How do I obtain an award? Other methods to collect.
Michael J. Fish, Merrill, Arnone & Jones, LLP
Mr. Fish has earned an outstanding reputation as an attorney experienced in his litigation and transactional practice. He has counseled clients on matters as diverse as family law (divorce, child custody & support); real estate development; business entity formation, operation and termination; acquisitions and sales of businesses; attorney-client fee disputes; FINRA arbitrations and estate planning. He has served as a regular and successful settlement conference Judge Pro Tem in both family law and civil matters for over 20 years. In addition, he presides over numerous arbitrations and has trained arbitrators in almost every county in the state. Mr. Fish is the current chairperson of the Sonoma County Bar Association Fee Arbitration Committee and the past chairperson of the Marin County Bar Association Client Relations Committee. He has served as Chair of the State Bar of California Mandatory Fee Arbitration Committee and continues to serve on that committee. He currently serves on the Sonoma County Bar Association Family Law Rules Committee and the Sonoma County Bar Association Family Law Education Committee. He is a former Trustee of the UC Hastings 1066 Foundation and is currently a Master with the Edward J. McFetridge American Inn of Court. Mr. Fish is a sought after speaker on numerous legal and humanitarian-related topics. Michael practices in the firm’s Santa Rosa office as well as the firm’s branch office on Redwood Boulevard in Novato. He is a graduate of University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco and has been practicing in Marin and Sonoma Counties for over 35 years.
Thank You to Our Sponsor: Homa Rassouli, HECM/Reverse Mortgage Specialist!
Date: Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Time: Check-In: 3:15 pm; Presentation: 3:30—5:00 pm
Presenter(s): Michael J. Fish, Merrill, Arnone & Jones, LLP
MCLE: 1.5 Units Participatory Credit in General Law and 1.5 Units Family Law Specialization Credit.
Place: SCBA Office, 111 Santa Rosa Ave., Ste. 222, Santa Rosa, CA 95404.
Parking for this seminar is ONLY available in the Public Parking Garage at 555 First Street.
Do not park in the parking lot at 111 Santa Rosa Avenue.
Registration Fee: $70–SCBA Members; $85–Public;
Student: $20 (The student discount is now available online for SCBA Student Members. Students who are not members of SCBA may utilize the student discount by downloading the registration form and submitting it with proof of current enrollment to the SCBA Offices. For more information on becoming a member of SCBA, please contact Susan Demers at (707) 542-1190 ext. 18.)
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