In re Proposed Amendment to South Carolina Rule 5.4

On September 29, 2026, WLF supported the South Carolina Supreme Court’s proposed changes to Rule 5.4 of the South Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct. The proposal would more explicitly bar lawyers and law firms from private-equity and similar nonlawyer investment structures—especially managed services organizations—designed to evade the Rule’s bans on fee-sharing, nonlawyer ownership or management. The proposal, WLF contends, would also guard against interference with independent professional judgment and client confidentiality. WLF joined a broad coalition of civil-justice reform organizations and trade groups on the comment, which was prepared by Mark Behrens and Chris Appel at Shook, Hardy & Bacon. LLP.