Legal Definitions - unfinished business

In a legal context, unfinished business refers to professional tasks, client matters, or firm-related obligations that remain incomplete or unresolved at a significant juncture. This often occurs when a professional relationship ends, such as the dissolution of a law firm, the departure of an attorney from a practice, or the termination of a client's representation. These are ongoing responsibilities that require further action to be brought to a proper conclusion, often involving ethical duties to clients and financial considerations.

Here are some examples illustrating unfinished business:

• Example 1: Law Firm Dissolution

  A long-standing law firm, "Sterling & Associates," decides to dissolve its partnership. At the time of dissolution, the firm has several active personal injury lawsuits, ongoing real estate transactions, and a significant number of client trust accounts holding funds for various matters. These active cases, transactions, and financial responsibilities constitute unfinished business. The partners must meticulously plan how to transition these matters to other counsel, return client files, disburse trust funds, and ensure all client interests are protected before the firm can officially cease operations.

• Example 2: Attorney Departure

  Attorney Sarah Chen announces her departure from "Corporate Counsel Group" to join a different firm. Before her last day, Sarah was actively managing a complex intellectual property dispute for a major tech client and was in the process of drafting a series of corporate compliance policies for another. These ongoing client projects are unfinished business. The firm and Sarah must ethically and efficiently arrange for these matters to be transferred to another attorney within the firm or, with client consent, to Sarah's new firm, ensuring there is no disruption to the clients' legal representation.

• Example 3: Client Terminates Representation

  A client informs their attorney, Mr. Thompson, that they are terminating his services midway through a probate case. At this point, Mr. Thompson has already filed initial court documents, conducted some preliminary research, and holds several original estate documents provided by the client. The tasks of returning the client's original documents, providing a detailed accounting of all fees and expenses, and ensuring a smooth handover of the case file to new counsel (if applicable) are all considered unfinished business for Mr. Thompson. He has an ethical obligation to complete these administrative and transitional duties even after the attorney-client relationship has formally ended.