Hong Kong Regulations

SOLICITORS' PRACTICE RULES - RULE 4

Sharing with non-qualified persons

(Past version on 30/06/1997).

A solicitor shall not share or agree to share with any person not being a
solicitor practising in Hong Kong his profit costs in respect of any business
whether by way of paying or agreeing to pay a commission on business
introduced by any such person not being a solicitor, or otherwise: (L.N. 138
of 1993; L.N. 389 of 1998) Provided that-

(a) a solicitor carrying on practice on his own account may agree to pay an
annuity or other sum out of profits to a retired partner or predecessor or the
dependants or legal personal representative of a deceased partner or
predecessor; (L.N. 138 of 1993; L.N. 617 of 1994)

   (b)  a solicitor who has agreed in consideration of a salary to do the
        legal work of an employer who is not a solicitor may agree with such
        employer to set off his profit costs received in respect of
        contentious business from the opponents of such employer or the costs
        paid to him as the solicitor for such employer by third parties of
        non-contentious business, against the salary so paid or payable to him
        and the reasonable office expenses incurred by such employer in
        connection with such solicitor and to the extent of such salary and
        expenses; and (L.N. 617 of 1994)

   (c)  a solicitor whose firm is a party to an Association may share fees and
        profits with the foreign firm or firms in that Association. (L.N. 617
        of 1994)