Landlord wants me to represent him - do I give him a break on the fee?
I recently started transitioning my practice from a big city to the town I live in a little out of the city. I’ve done almost exclusively criminal defense, with some civil cases here and there (wrongful conviction, prison brutality, etc.). I’m going to be doing criminal defense and estate planning in my town.
My landlord is a big developer in my town. He’s mentioned before that he knows a lot of financial planners (hopeful estate planning referrals). He’s now getting sued and his attorney doesn’t do litigation so he asked me to represent him.
My lease just started April 1 so I don’t have a longstanding relationship with my landlord, but he seems to know a lot of people in town. Do I cut him a good break on the fee for goodwill? Or charge him what I’d charge any other client?