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Finding the Ethically Compliant Virtual Office: A sample of available vendors in New York

Presented by Stephen T. Furnari, Esq.

Founder of Law Firm Suites

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About Stephen T. Furnari

Corporate attorney, partner & founder of the New York law firm Furnari Scher LLP. Founder of Law Firm Suites, an operator of coworking spaces for attorneys.

Featured in ABA Journal, Inc., Entrepreneur, NY Daily News, Money, Fox Business and Crain’s. Contact Stephen on social media:

Passion

Admissions

Expertise Self-employed since 2002

Start-ups & Financial Services

New York, Florida, Massachusetts

Helping entrepreneurial attorneys

Employment History

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Shared office space exclusively for attorneys Office Rentals | Virtual Office Litigation War Room Rentals NYC Midtown | NYC Financial District

Call: (212) 269-3600 Connect:

Space Designed for Lawyers by Lawyer Your adversaries are difficult, office space shouldn’t be.

A Collaborative Community Like-minded professionals leveraging our legal experience into business opportunities.

Millions in Referrals Each Year Show up to work. Be nice. Get referrals. Subsidize your rent.

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Virtual Office

Picture of businessman in tie can be downloaded here: http://photodune.net/item/cool-businessman-portrait-on-grey-background/3628885 Sorry! I can’t include it in the template; there are copyright restrictions. But it’s super cheap, and a very nice photograph.

All lawyers practicing in New York must have an ‘office for the transaction of law business.’

--NY Judiciary Law s. 470

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Interpreting “an office for the transaction of law business” Does a virtual office meet the definition? Resources to review

NYS Policy Statements

Existing Case Law The ethically compliant

virtual office

Ethics Opinions

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Matching limited

guidance with available virtual

office services

Connecting the Dots

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Features of the Ethically Compliant Virtual Office

For non-resident attorneys with some risk tolerance Ethics Opinions

NYS Policy Statements

Existing Case Law

Desk Space Available for rent when needed

Receptionist To field pop-ins & forward mail

Processes To recognize priority items & notify you

Staff Training On confidentiality & privilege issues

Confidentiality Place to hold private meetings

Service On-site agent for service of process

The Ethically Compliant Virtual Office

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Features of the Ethically Compliant Virtual Office

For the truly risk averse non-resident attorney Ethics Opinions

NYS Policy Statements

Existing Case Law

Service On-site agent for service of process

Receptionist To field pop-ins & forward mail

Processes To recognize priority items & notify you

Staff Training On confidentiality & privilege issues

Confidentiality Place to hold private meetings

Permanent Desk Space

Secure Storage Dedicated place to leave office items

Signage Door signage identifying firm

The Ethically Compliant Virtual Office

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Profiling the ethically compliant virtual office & comparing available vendors

Service Analysis

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The polar extremes of virtual office compliance

UPS Store | East 51st Street | NYC •  Mail & package receipt only •  No receptionists to greet pop-ins •  No conference rooms to meet clients •  No agent for service of process

Law Firm Suites | Financial District | NYC •  Staff fully trained in attorney privilege & confidentiality •  Multiple private conference rooms •  Procedures for handling priority deliveries & pop-ins •  Short-term & long-term deskspace •  Agent for service of process program •  Signage & secure storage •  BONUS: Exclusive to lawyers (same set of professional ethics rules)

Not Ethically Compliant Full Ethical Compliance

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Available vendors rated by ethical compliance

Sage Workspaces Midtown East | NYC

Limited conference rooms and no dedicated “day office” spaces, only unrented permanent offices. Signage available.

Servcorp World Trade | NYC

No service of process or legal ethics training program but OK with lawyer directed requests on both items. No signage.

Jay Suites Financial District | NYC

No service of process or legal ethics training program but OK with lawyer directed requests on both items. No signage.

B B+ B+ Receptionist

Processes for priority items

Staff training on legal ethics

Places for private meetings

Agent for service of process

“Day office” space

Permanent office rentals

Secure storage

Signage

Available Partially available

Not available

Features Key

Top performers

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Available vendors rated by ethical compliance

NYC Bar Midtown West | NYC

Not an office. No true guest reception, inadequate meeting room facilities, no permanent workspace rentals, storage or signage.

Corporate Suites Midtown East | NYC

No service of process or legal ethics training program and NOT OK with lawyer directed requests on both items. Automatic failure.

C- F Receptionist

Processes for priority items

Staff training on legal ethics

Places for private meetings

Agent for service of process

“Day office” space

Permanent office rentals

Secure storage

Signage

Available Partially available

Not available

Features Key

Bottom of the class

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Virtual Office Rentals Exclusively for Attorneys

Referrals to pay your rent

Collaborate with other lawyers just like you

Easy networking opportunities

Highly trained staff that makes you look great to your clients

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