Ethics Opinions

Representation of Lenders and Borrowers by Corporate House Counsel

 

Opinion states that house counsel for a mortgage bank may not represent other lenders and borrowers while serving as house counsel.

 

Inquiry:

 

X Corp. is a mortgage bank whose primary business is the origination of first mortgage loans. X Corp. receives an origination fee and has no proprietary interest in the note and deed of trust. X Corp. desires to employ Attorney A to represent the actual lender/investors who do not have proprietary interests in the transactions, with the know-ledge and consent of said lenders/investors. Attorney A would also perform in-house legal services unrelated to such transactions on behalf of X Corp. as house counsel for X Corp.

 

May Attorney A ethically represent the borrowers in closing loans originated by X Corp. as well as representing the lender/investors who have proprietary interests? May the borrowers be charged a fee? It is understood that Attorney A may not represent any of the parties regarding any dispute arising out of the contemplated closing transactions and that Attorney A's representation would be limited to legal services performed in closing the loans.

 

In the alternative, may Attorney A ethically share space with X if A maintains independence and assures client confidentiality? May Attorney A receive a retainer from X in such a situation?

 

Opinion:

 

If Attorney A is employed as house counsel for X Corp., which merely originates the mortgage loans and does not have any propriety interests of its own, Attorney A may not ethically be employed as house counsel for X Corp. and, in that capacity, represent either the lenders or the borrowers in closing loans originated by X Corp. Where Attorney A is paid as and acts as house counsel for a corporation which has no proprietary interest in the transaction, his representation of the lenders, investors, or borrowers in that capacity may constitute the unauthorized practice of law by the corporation which employs him. Attorney A would be acting in violation of Rule 3.1 (a) in aiding a person, in this case X Corp., in the unauthorized practice of law. Additionally, for the lenders, the investors, or borrowers to pay a fee to X Corp. for this service performed by Attorney A would constitute the division of legal fees by Attorney A with a nonlawyer, specifically X Corp., in violation of Rule 3.2.

 

If Attorney A maintains his independence and simply represents lenders, investors, and/or borrowers in response to referrals from X Corp., he may do so ethically provided that full disclosure is made as to any regular relationship between Attorney A and X Corp. Under these circumstances, Attorney A may receive a retainer from X Corp. for legal ser-vices performed by Attorney A on behalf of X Corp. Attorney A may do so even though he shares office space with X Corp. if he does in fact maintain his practice independently and if, as previously indicated, all clients referred by X Corp. consent to the representation after full disclosure of any relationship between Attorney A and X Corp.

 

It is noted that in no event may a lender require a borrower to employ a particular attorney. CPRs 108 and 240.