Attorney May Get Millions Despite Invalid Fee Agreement

A Texas attorney may be able to recover millions of dollars in unpaid fees even though the oral contingent-fee agreements he entered into with his client are unenforceable under Texas law, the Texas Supreme Court said April 13.

Texas law requires contingent-fee agreements for legal services to be in writing, the opinion by Justice Paul W. Green said.

But when they’re not, the value of the services rendered may still be recoverable thru an equitable remedy known as “quantum meruit.”

Attorney Gregory Shamoun had four separate agreements with Albert G. Hill Jr., to represent Hill in cases in which Hill ...