Author: Alexandre Petraglia [ADMIN]

Ethics Opinion 1301: Virtual law office; advertising a VLO as the lawyer’s office address

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  Topic:  Virtual law office; advertising a VLO as the lawyer’s office address Digest: A New York lawyer’s website, advertisements, letterhead, and business cards may designate and hold out a virtual law office (“VLO”) as the lawyer’s physical office address, even if the lawyer works primarily from home in New York.  As long as the … Continued

Ethics Opinion 1300: Imputation of Conflicts When the Relative of an Attorney in a Public Defender Office Is a Government Official

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Opinion 1300 (08/31/2026) Topic: Imputation of conflicts when the relative of an attorney in a public defender office is a government official Digest: If a public defender office is a government office (as opposed to a non-government public defender office), then a public defender’s conflict of interest arising under Rule 1.7(a)(2) based on personal interests … Continued

New York State Law Digest: August 2026

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AMENDMENTS Amendment Brings Major Changes to Third-Party Practice Most Significantly Sets Deadline for Bringing Third-Party Actions Prior to a 2025 amendment effective April 18, 2026 (and applicable to actions commenced after that date), CPLR 1007 provided no deadline for commencing a third-party action. The amendment, as modified by chapter amendments in 2026 and entitled the … Continued

Ethics Opinion 1297: Advising Private Client Regarding Deceptive Conduct While Investigating Alleged Fraud Involving Federal Government Funds in Violation of False Claims Act

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Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion 1297 (07/22/2026) Topic: Advising private client regarding deceptive conduct while investigating alleged fraud involving federal government funds in violation of False Claims Act Digest: Currently, no authority under the New York Rules of Professional Conduct (the “Rules”) would permit the inquirer to induce, assist or supervise a client in engaging … Continued

Ethics Opinion 1296: Representing an Alleged Incapacitated Person in Article 81 Proceedings

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Committee on Professional Ethics Opinion 1296 (07/08/2026) Topic: Representing an Alleged Incapacitated Person in Article 81 proceedings Digest: In a proceeding under Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law, an attorney for an alleged incapacitated client may not advocate for the appointment of a guardian or other restriction if the client opposes it. Rules: 1.2(a), … Continued