Rule 1-3.11 - APPEARANCE BY NON-FLORIDA LAWYER IN AN ARBITRATION PROCEEDING IN FLORIDA(a) Non-Florida Lawyer Appearing in an Arbitration Proceeding in Florida. A lawyer currently eligible to practice law in another United States jurisdiction or a non-United States jurisdiction may appear in an arbitration proceeding in this jurisdiction if the appearance is:(1) for a client who resides in or has an office in the lawyer's home state; or(2) where the appearance arises out of or is reasonably related to the lawyer's practice in a jurisdiction in which the lawyer is admitted to practice; and(3) the appearance is not one that requires pro hac vice admission. Such lawyer shall comply with the applicable portions of this rule and of rule 4-5.5.
(b) Lawyer Prohibited from Appearing. No lawyer is authorized to appear pursuant to this rule if the lawyer: (1) is disbarred or suspended from practice in any jurisdiction;(2) is a Florida resident;(3) is a member of The Florida Bar but ineligible to practice law;(4) has previously been disciplined or held in contempt by reason of misconduct committed while engaged in representation permitted pursuant to this rule;(5) has failed to provide notice to The Florida Bar or pay the filing fee as required by this rule, except that neither notice to The Florida Bar nor a fee shall be required for lawyers appearing in international arbitrations; or(6) is engaged in a "general practice" as defined elsewhere in these rules.(c) Application of Rules Regulating the Florida Bar. Lawyers permitted to appear by this rule shall be subject to these Rules Regulating the Florida Bar while engaged in the permitted representation, including, without limitation, rule 4-5.5.(d) General Practice Prohibited. Non-Florida lawyers shall not be permitted to engage in a general practice pursuant to this rule. In all arbitration matters except international arbitration, a lawyer who is not admitted to practice law in this jurisdiction who files more than 3 demands for arbitration or responses to arbitration in separate arbitration proceedings in a 365-day period shall be presumed to be engaged in a "general practice."(e) Content of Verified Statement for Leave to Appear. In all arbitration proceedings except international arbitrations, prior to practicing pursuant to this rule, the non-Florida lawyer shall file a verified statement with The Florida Bar and serve a copy of the verified statement on opposing counsel, if known. If opposing counsel is not known at the time the verified statement is filed with The Florida Bar, the non-Florida lawyer shall serve a copy of the verified statement on opposing counsel within 10 days of learning the identity of opposing counsel. The verified statement shall include:(1) a statement identifying all jurisdictions in which the lawyer is currently eligible to practice law including the attorney's bar number(s) or attorney number(s);(2) a statement identifying by date, case name, and case number all other arbitration proceedings in which the non-Florida lawyer has appeared in Florida in the preceding 5 years; however, if the case name and case number are confidential pursuant to an order, rule, or agreement of the parties, this information does not need to be provided and only the dates of prior proceedings must be disclosed;(3) a statement identifying all jurisdictions in which the lawyer has been disciplined in any manner in the preceding 5 years and the sanction imposed, or in which the lawyer has pending any disciplinary proceeding, including the date of the disciplinary action and the nature of the violation, as appropriate;(4) a statement identifying the date on which the legal representation at issue commenced and the party or parties represented; however, if the name of the party or parties is confidential pursuant to an order, rule, or agreement of the parties, this information does not need to be provided and only the date on which the representation commenced must be disclosed;(5) a statement that all applicable provisions of this rule have been read and that the verified statement complies with this rule;(6) a certificate indicating service of the verified statement upon all counsel of record in the matter and upon The Florida Bar at its Tallahassee office accompanied by a nonrefundable $250.00 filing fee made payable to The Florida Bar; however, such fee may be waived in cases involving indigent clients; and (7) a verification by the lawyer seeking to appear pursuant to this rule. Added May 12, 2005, effective 1/1/2006 (907 So.2d 1138); amended Sept. 11, 2008, effective 1/1/2009 (991 So.2d 842).Comment
This rule applies to arbitration proceedings held in Florida where 1 or both parties are being represented by a lawyer admitted in another United States jurisdiction or a non-United States jurisdiction. For the most part, the rule applies to any type of arbitration proceeding and any matter being arbitrated. However, entire portions of subdivision (d) and subdivision (e) do not apply to international arbitrations. For the purposes of this rule, an international arbitration is defined as the arbitration of disputes between 2 or more persons at least 1 of whom is a nonresident of the United States or between 2 or more persons all of whom are residents of the United States if the dispute (1) involves property located outside the United States, (2) relates to a contract or other agreement which envisages performance or enforcement in whole or in part outside the United States, (3) involves an investment outside the United States or the ownership, management, or operation of a business entity through which such an investment is effected or any agreement pertaining to any interest in such an entity, (4) bears some other relation to 1 or more foreign countries, or (5) involves 2 or more persons at least 1 of whom is a foreign state as defined in 28 U.S.C. § 1603. International arbitration does not include the arbitration of any dispute pertaining to the ownership, use, development, or possession of, or a lien of record upon, real property located in Florida or any dispute involving domestic relations.
The exceptions provided in this rule for international arbitrations in no way exempt lawyers not admitted to The Florida Bar and appearing in Florida courts from compliance with the provisions of rule 1-3.10 and any applicable rules of judicial administration, regardless of whether the court proceeding arises out of or is related to the subject of a dispute in an international arbitration. For example, a lawyer not a member of The Florida Bar could not appear in a Florida court or confirm or vacate an award resulting from an international arbitration without being authorized to appear pro hac vice and without complying with all requirements contained in rule 1-3.10 and the applicable rules of judicial administration.