I have an associate who recently left the firm. He was just admitted in another jurisdiction and only does immigration work. He can apparently be admitted in any jurisdiction for immigration court as long as he is licensed in another state. He left my firm and took four or five good paying clients. Initially, I did not notice, but I have just discovered it. Did he violate any duties to me?

The Pennsylvania Bar Association has written several opinions in recent years setting forth how a lawyer can leave the firm, and how they can take clients. One big prohibition is a lawyer cannot take clients from the firm without notifying the firm that the lawyer is leaving and intends to take clients. To do so when the lawyer is still employed by the firm would be a breach of the fiduciary duty to the firm, and could create substantial damages, and serious disciplinary penalties.