A recent court of appeal decision resolved the question of whether it is unethical for a lawyer to offer to discount legal fees to encourage a client to settle an action. In Chan v. Lund, 188 Cal. App. 4th 1159 (2010), the Sixth Appellate District concluded that the attorney’s offer does not constitute a “business transaction” subject to the disclosure requirements of Rule 3-300 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
