In House To Out House

An in-house who is not admitted in Minnesota has been publicly reprimanded for unauthorized practice by the Minnesota Supreme Court

The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility has filed a petition for disciplinary action alleging that respondent Michael D. Lewis has committed professional misconduct warranting public discipline—namely, engaging in the unauthorized practice of law in Minnesota by working as in-house counsel for a Minnesota corporation while not admitted to practice in Minnesota. See Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 5.5(a), 5.5(b)(1), 8.4(d).

Respondent and the Director have entered into a stipulation for discipline. In it, respondent unconditionally admits the allegation of the petition and waives his procedural rights pursuant to Rule 14, Rules on Lawyers Professional Responsibility (RLPR). The parties jointly recommend that the appropriate discipline is a public reprimand.

We have independently reviewed the file and approve the jointly recommended disposition.

(mike Frisch)