Clean Hands and Dirty Money

Protecting Against Tainted Attorney Fees, Forfeiture, and the Risks of Emerging Currencies

A source of potential conflict in the attorney-client relationship involves the setting and collecting of fees. How should attorneys proceed when they suspect that a client is going to pay with money that is tainted or otherwise problematic? What should a lawyer do if the potential client offers to pay in Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Dogecoin? This article canvasses and compiles this guidance and offers a set of best practices.