Referring firms hesitate for two reasons: losing the client and losing the economics. Both have clean, rule-compliant answers — in writing, before the file moves.
The economic architecture matters less than the behavioral one: the referring firm's client is never solicited, cross-sold, or absorbed — and the paper says so. A local practice lives on repeat referrals, which makes the incentive structural rather than aspirational. Ask any firm that has sent a second case.
Depends whose conduct rules govern — some permit division with joint responsibility, others require proportionality. The agreement gets drafted to the applicable rule, verified, not assumed.
Both, independently, before engagement — and the agreement says what happens if a conflict surfaces mid-case. Ugly questions get asked while they're hypothetical.
Court filings show counsel of record honestly — no ghosting appearances. Behind that line, drafting support and analysis can flow through your firm's product in the ordinary co-counsel way.