For decades, Miller Shakman Levine & Feldman has represented lawyers and law firms in matters related to all aspects of the practice of law. We are proud to count among our clients some of the country’s largest and most prestigious law firms, including numerous members of the Am Law 100. Our representations of firms and attorneys have focused on four major areas:

‍Legal Malpractice Defense. Our firm has extensive experience representing attorneys and law firms facing complex legal malpractice claims. We defend clients in matters arising from both litigation and transactional work, and are prepared to take cases to trial where necessary. We handle malpractice claims stemming from virtually any aspect of legal practice. We have successfully handled claims involving a wide range of practice areas, including:

·     Contract drafting and negotiation

·     Estate planning and administration

·     Tax audits

·     Securities law

·     Real estate transactions

·     Bankruptcy

·     Insurance coverage and disputes

·     Mergers and acquisitions

·     Personal injury and product liability matters

·     Patents and intellectual property

·     Commercial litigation

·     ERISA and employee benefits

·     Public finance

We understand the high stakes involved in professional liability claims and are committed to providing strategic, discreet, and effective representation to protect our clients’ financial and reputational interests.

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‍Legal Ethics, Risk Management, and Law Firm Governance Counseling. We advise lawyers and law firms on a wide variety of topics critical to effective client service and successful practice operations. These include ethical obligations under the Rules of Professional Conduct, risk management, and law firm governance issues. Our guidance covers a broad range of issues that arise in the practice of law, including, but not limited to:

·     Legal structures, governance documentation, and policy frameworks

·     Mergers, combinations, lateral growth, and talent management

·     Law Firm General Counsel function, compliance, insurance, and risk management approach

·     Forming and modifying attorney-client relationships

·     Fee arrangements and billing practices

·     Identifying and managing conflicts of interest

·     Lawyer disqualification concerns

·     Ethical duties relating to client communications

Our lawyers, some of whom teach professional responsibility and related courses at top law schools, help legal professionals navigate complex professional responsibility questions with confidence and integrity.

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‍Disciplinary Proceedings. Our firm represents lawyers in responding to inquiries by the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC). We guide clients through every stage of the disciplinary process—from the initial inquiry to formal hearings before the ARDC when necessary.

In addition to defending against ARDC complaints, we counsel attorneys and law firms on their duties under the Rules of Professional Conduct. This includes advising on ethical obligations such as the duty to report certain conduct of other lawyers to the ARDC.

We approach these sensitive matters with discretion, insight, and a deep understanding of the legal profession’s unique regulatory environment.

‍Law Firm Disputes and Lawyer Mobility Matters. We advise lawyers and law firms navigating attorney departures and law firm dissolutions. Our work includes counseling on best practices for attorney relocations, guiding appropriate and ethical communications with clients, and addressing disputes that may arise during transitions. When conflicts emerge—whether over client relationships, compensation, or firm assets—we work to resolve them through negotiation. Where resolution isn’t possible, we are prepared to litigate these and other internal law firm disputes to protect our clients’ interests and reputations.

Our goal is to help lawyers and firms manage these often sensitive transitions smoothly, ethically, and with minimal disruption.