Multijurisdictional Legal Practice: Avoiding UPL and Navigating Ethics Rules Across State Lines

Ms. Cha is an ethics practitioner based in Orange County, CA, representing clients throughout California, sister states and foreign jurisdictions. Prior to creating Cha Law Ethics, she was with Pansky Markle Attorneys at Law in South Pasadena and Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP in Los Angeles. Ms. Cha is a Former State Bar Prosecutor who served in the Office of Chief Trial Counsel of the State Bar of California for 13 years in Los Angeles. She has handled every type of case in the OCTC and regularly appears before the Los Angeles and San Francisco State Bar Court. Ms. Cha advises practitioners in Professional Liability, Legal Malpractice Defense, State Bar Discipline Defense and Reinstatements, Moral Character and Admissions Matters, Disqualifications and Conflicts, Risk Management and Legal Ethics Consultations. She regularly tailors Continuing Legal Education Trainings and is a Legal Ethics Expert. 

Mr. Hanley represents individuals, businesses, organized labor, and government entities in consequential matters across Massachusetts. In the last several years he has successfully tried numerous cases, argued two cases before the Supreme Judicial Court, and one to the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Mr. Hanley’s practice includes white collar criminal defense/government investigations, professional discipline, gaming (sports wagering, daily fantasy sports, casinos, etc.), criminal and civil trials, conducting independent investigations for businesses and school districts, and outside general counsel work. He regularly handles disciplinary and employment matters before administrative bodies such as the Board of Bar Overseers, Division of Professional Licensure, Civil Service Commission, POST Commission, and various boards that regulate professional licensure. Mr. Hanley’s practice is built upon 15 years of government service, including ten years as an Assistant Attorney General. He served as the first Chief of Gaming Enforcement for the Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts where he oversaw all investigations and prosecutions statewide of cases impacting or relating to the Commonwealth’s growing casino industry. During his time in the Attorney General’s Office, Mr. Hanley tried more than a dozen cases in Superior Court. His professional discipline practice includes representing professional licensees in connection with inquiries, investigations, and enforcement actions. Mr. Hanley regularly represents attorneys in matters with the Office of the Bar Counsel and before the Board of Bar Overseers. He has also represented individuals with other licenses, including, professional engineering, construction supervision, education, massage therapy, nursing, substance abuse counseling, funeral directing, and law enforcement.