New York Notice Ending or Withdrawing from Legal Representation

NEW YORK NOTICE ENDING OR WITHDRAWING FROM LEGAL REPRESENTATION

Select One Route — Do Not Use as a Substitute for Court Approval

1. ROUTE AND AUTHORITY GATE

Matter: [________________________________]

Client: [________________________________]

Lawyer/law firm: [________________________________]

Select one:

☐ Client terminates lawyer. This letter confirms the client's instruction
and the transition steps. It does not decide any fee or lien dispute.

☐ Lawyer seeks to withdraw. Confirm a permitted or required basis under the
current New York rule and disclose only what may properly be disclosed.

☐ Representation naturally concluded. The agreed scope is complete and this
is a closing letter, not a withdrawal for cause.

Matter pending before a tribunal: ☐ No ☐ Yes ☐ Uncertain

If yes or uncertain:

☐ Tribunal rule and judge-specific procedure checked

☐ Required motion, affidavit/affirmation, consent, or substitution prepared

☐ Service recipients and confidentiality limits confirmed

☐ Order granting withdrawal entered on [__/__/____]

Under current New York Rule 1.16(d), a lawyer may not withdraw from an engagement
in a matter before a tribunal without permission when tribunal rules require it,
and must continue when ordered. A letter alone does not end counsel's court
obligations.

2. PREJUDICE-PREVENTION CHECKLIST

Before sending, complete the current Rule 1.16(e) transition duties:

☐ Give reasonable notice under the circumstances

☐ Allow reasonable time for the client to employ other counsel

☐ Identify every known deadline, hearing, limitation period, and required act

☐ Deliver papers and property to which the client is entitled

☐ Promptly refund any unearned advance fee

☐ Protect confidential information and privileged material

☐ Follow court orders, protective orders, sealing rules, and secure-transfer needs

Do not condition all file delivery on payment. Any retaining-lien position,
exception, protective measure, or court direction requires separate current-law
analysis and must remain consistent with Rule 1.16(e)'s prejudice protections.

3. STATUS AND DEADLINE SCHEDULE

Do not write “no deadlines” without reviewing the docket, correspondence,
engagement scope, limitations issues, administrative deadlines, discovery,
appeals, settlement obligations, and client instructions.

Next scheduled appearance: [________________________________]

Successor-counsel urgency: [________________________________]

4. FILE, FUNDS, AND PROPERTY INVENTORY

Secure transfer instructions: [________________________________]

Firm copy retained under applicable duties and policy: [________________]

Unearned advance fee calculated: $[________________________________]

Refund sent on/method: [________________________________]

5. FEE MATTER — KEEP SEPARATE FROM WITHDRAWAL

Final itemized invoice date: [__/__/____]

Amount billed: $[________________________________]

Client funds applied: $[________________________________]

Amount disputed: $[________________________________]

Do not add a new interest rate, collection-fee clause, confession, release, or
payment deadline unless it is authorized by the engagement agreement and current
law. Determine separately whether a current New York fee-dispute notice or
arbitration right applies and use the official current notice and procedure.

6. LETTER — CLIENT ENDS REPRESENTATION

[DATE]

Via: [EMAIL / CERTIFIED MAIL / PORTAL / HAND DELIVERY]

Dear [LAWYER NAME]:

I am ending your representation of [ME / CLIENT NAME] in [MATTER], effective
[DATE], subject to any tribunal procedure required to substitute or relieve
counsel.

Please promptly:

1. confirm all known deadlines, appearances, and actions needed to avoid
   prejudice;

2. transfer the file and client property to [CLIENT / SUCCESSOR COUNSEL] using
   the secure instructions below;

3. provide a final itemized accounting; and

4. return any unearned advance fee and other client funds or property as required.

Successor counsel: [________________________________]

Transfer instructions: [________________________________]

This notice does not waive any right, concede any fee or lien issue, release any
claim, or agree to indemnify any person.

Sincerely,

[CLIENT SIGNATURE AND CONTACT INFORMATION]

7. LETTER — LAWYER SEEKS WITHDRAWAL OR CLOSES MATTER

[DATE]

Via: [EMAIL / CERTIFIED MAIL / PORTAL / HAND DELIVERY]

Dear [CLIENT NAME]:

This letter provides notice that [FIRM] [seeks to withdraw from / has completed
the agreed scope of] representation in [MATTER].

☐ Tribunal matter: Our representation does not end until the tribunal grants
permission or a valid substitution becomes effective. [Describe current status.]

☐ No tribunal approval required: The effective end date is [DATE], after the
transition steps below are completed.

Immediate Deadlines and Actions

[INSERT THE COMPLETED SCHEDULE FROM SECTION 3]

You should promptly retain successor counsel. [FIRM] will take the reasonably
practicable transition steps required to avoid foreseeable prejudice, including
[DESCRIBE NOTICE, TIME, FILE DELIVERY, AND REFUND STEPS].

Your file and property will be transferred to [RECIPIENT] by [METHOD] on [DATE].
The final accounting [is enclosed / will follow by DATE]. Any fee dispute or lien
issue is separate from this notice and is not resolved by it.

Our confidentiality and former-client duties continue as required by applicable
law. This letter does not request a release, indemnity, non-disparagement promise,
malpractice waiver, or representation that all prior services met a standard of care.

Sincerely,

[LAWYER SIGNATURE BLOCK]

8. DELIVERY AND FOLLOW-UP RECORD

Official current sources: New York State Unified Court System,
Rule 1.16 joint order effective July 1, 2026
and the Joint Appellate Rules amendment index.