summary
Introduced
04/21/2026
04/21/2026
In Committee
05/06/2026
05/06/2026
Crossed Over
05/04/2026
05/04/2026
Passed
05/12/2026
05/12/2026
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
The bill prohibits a lawyer or law firm, in connection with providing legal services concerning a legal matter arising, asserted, or properly venued in Colorado (legal services), from: ! Providing any portion of legal fees or revenues to a nonlawyer or an organization that economically participates in the provision of legal services or shares in the profits of legal fees or revenues and is owned or controlled by one or more nonlawyers (alternative business structure); ! Entering into a financial or contractual arrangement with an alternative business structure, which arrangement relates to providing legal services; ! Forming an entity recognized under Colorado law with a nonlawyer if any of the activities of the entity consist of providing legal services; ! Practicing with or in the form of a professional company authorized to provide legal services if a nonlawyer owns an interest in the company or a nonlawyer has the right to direct the judgment of a lawyer; and ! Compensating a person that provides administrative or nonlegal business services to a lawyer or law firm unless the compensation is not contingent upon a percentage of legal fees or revenues and not determined by reference to recoveries, settlements, or other case outcomes. The bill also creates a private right of action that allows the following persons to enforce the prohibitions in the bill: ! A person to whom a lawyer or law firm provides legal services that are alleged to be in violation of the bill; and ! A law firm doing substantial business in Colorado that has suffered a loss in revenue due to a violation of the bill by another law firm, which law firm doing substantial business is not eligible for recovery of economic damages. A person may seek economic damages, injunctive or declaratory relief, and disgorgement of the funds paid in violation of the bill to the state, except to the extent that the funds are paid as economic damages to a plaintiff. The state treasurer shall deposit any funds disgorged to the state into the judicial stabilization cash fund. The bill repeals on September 1, 2032, subject to a sunset review of the bill by the department of regulatory agencies.
AI Summary
This bill, titled the "Colorado Legal Practice Integrity and Fee-Sharing Prohibition Act," aims to prevent nonlawyers from sharing in legal fees or profits generated by legal services provided in Colorado, thereby safeguarding the independence and integrity of the legal profession. It specifically prohibits lawyers and law firms from sharing fees or revenues with nonlawyers or entities that economically participate in or profit from legal services, referred to as "alternative business structures" (ABS), which are owned or controlled by nonlawyers. The bill also forbids financial or contractual arrangements with ABS related to legal services, forming entities with nonlawyers for legal services, and practicing in a professional company where nonlawyers own an interest or control a lawyer's judgment. Compensation for administrative or nonlegal business services is permitted only if it's not tied to a percentage of legal fees, revenues, or case outcomes. To enforce these provisions, the bill establishes a private right of action allowing clients who receive allegedly violating legal services and law firms with substantial business in Colorado that suffer revenue loss due to violations by other firms to sue. Remedies include economic damages, injunctions, declaratory relief, and disgorgement of illegally paid funds to the state. The bill is set to be repealed on September 1, 2032, following a review.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (27)
Jarvis Caldwell (R)*,
Lindsey Daugherty (D)*,
Lisa Frizell (R)*,
Javier Mabrey (D)*,
Judy Amabile (D),
Jennifer Bacon (D),
Adrienne Benavidez (D),
Kyle Brown (D),
Michael Carter (D),
James Coleman (D),
Monica Duran (D),
Lorena García (D),
Eliza Hamrick (D),
Jamie Jackson (D),
Junie Joseph (D),
Cathy Kipp (D),
Sheila Lieder (D),
Mandy Lindsay (D),
Julie McCluskie (D),
Karen McCormick (D),
Kenny Nguyen (D),
Manny Rutinel (D),
Emily Sirota (D),
Marc Snyder (D),
Brianna Titone (D),
Jenny Willford (D),
Yara Zokaie (D),
Last Action
House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass (on 05/12/2026)
Official Document
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