(1) Every attorney who, in connection with any action or claim for damages for personal injuries or for property damages or for death or loss of services resulting from personal injuries, or in connection with any claim in condemnation or change of grade proceedings, accepts a retainer or enters into an agreement, express or implied, for compensation for services rendered or to be rendered in such action, claim or proceeding, whereby his compensation is to be dependent or contingent in whole or in part upon the successful prosecution or settlement thereof, shall, within 30 days from the date of any such retainer or agreement of compensation, sign personally and file with the Office of Court Administration of the State of New York a written statement of such retainer or agreement of compensation, containing the information hereinafter set forth. Such statement may be filed personally by the attorney or his representative at the main office of the Office of Court Administration in the City of New York, and upon such filing he shall receive a date stamped receipt containing the code number assigned to the original so filed. Such statement may also be filed by ordinary mail addressed to: Office of Court Administration—Statements, P.O. Box 2016, New York, NY 10008. Statements filed by mail must be accompanied by a self- addressed stamped postal card, containing the words “Retainer Statement”, the date of the retainer and the name of the client. The Office of Court Administration will date stamp the postal card, make notation thereon of the code number assigned to the retainer statement and return such card to the attorney as a receipt for the filing of such statement. It shall be the duty of the attorney to make due inquiry if such receipt is not returned to him within 10 days after his mailing of the retainer statement to the Office of Court Administration.

(2) A statement of retainer must be filed in connection with each action, claim or proceeding for which the attorney has been retained. Such statement shall be on one side of paper 8½ inches by 11 inches and be in the following form and contain the following information:

(3) An attorney retained by another attorney, on a contingent fee basis, as trial or appeal counsel or to assist in the preparation, investigation, adjustment or settlement of any such action, claim or proceeding shall, within 15 days from the date of such retainer, sign personally and file with the Office of Court Administration a written statement of such retainer in the manner and form as above set forth, which statement shall also contain particulars as to the fee arrangement, the type of services to be rendered in the matter, the code number assigned to the statement of retainer filed by the retaining attorney and the date when said statement of retainer was filed.

(4) No attorney shall accept or act under any written retainer or agreement of compensation in which the name of the attorney was left blank at the time of its execution by the client.

(1) A closing statement shall be filed in connection with every claim, action or proceeding in which a retainer statement is required, as follows: every attorney upon receiving, retaining or sharing any sum in connection with a claim, action or proceeding subject to this section shall, within 15 days after such receipt, retention or sharing, sign personally and file with the Office of Court Administration and serve upon the client a closing statement as hereinafter provided. Where there has been a disposition of any claim, action or proceeding, or a retainer agreement is terminated, without recovery, a closing statement showing such fact shall be signed personally by the attorney and filed with the Office of Court Administration within 30 days after such disposition or termination. Such statement may be filed personally by the attorney or his representative at the main office of the Office of Court Administration in the City of New York and upon such filing he shall receive a date stamped receipt. Such statement may also be filed by ordinary mail addressed to: Statements filed by mail must be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped postal card containing the words “Closing Statement”, the date the matter was completed, and the name of the client. The Office of Court Administration will date stamp the postal card, make notation thereon of the code number assigned to the closing statement and return such card to the attorney as a receipt for the filing of such statement. It shall be the duty of the attorney to make due inquiry if such receipt is not returned to him within 10 days after his mailing of the closing statement to the Office of Court Administration.

(2) Each closing statement shall be on one side of paper 8½ inches by 11 inches and be in the following form and contain the following information:

(3) A joint closing statement may be served and filed in the event that more than one attorney receives, retains or shares in the contingent compensation in any claim, action or proceeding, in which event the statement shall be signed by each such attorney.

(1) All statements of retainer or closing statements filed shall be deemed to be confidential and the information therein contained shall not be divulged or made available for inspection or examination to any person other than the client of the attorney filing said statements except upon written order of the presiding justice of the Appellate Division.

(2) The Office of Court Administration of the State of New York shall reproduce in an alternative format, as that terms is defined in section 104.1(c) of this Title, all statements filed pursuant to this section by a means that shall accurately reproduce the original statements in all details thereof, and shall thereafter destroy the originals so reproduced. Such a reproduction in an alternative format shall be deemed to be an original record for all purposes, and an enlargement or facsimile thereof may be introduced in evidence in all courts and administrative agencies and in any action, hearing or proceeding in place and stead of the original statement so reproduced, with the same force and effect as though the original document were presented.

(1) Whenever an attorney, who has accepted a retainer or entered into an agreement as above referred to, shall collect any sum of money upon any such action, claim or proceeding, either by way of settlement or after a trial or hearing, he shall forthwith deposit the same in a special account in accordance with the provisions of section 603.15 of this Part. Within 15 days after the receipt of any such sum he shall cause to be delivered personally to such client or sent by registered or certified mail, addressed to such client at the client's last known address, a copy of the closing statement required by this section. At the same time the attorney shall pay or remit to the client the amount shown by such statement to be due the client, and he may then withdraw for himself the amount so claimed to be due him for compensation and disbursements. For the purpose of calculating the 15-day period, the attorney shall be deemed to have collected or received or been paid a sum of money on the date that he receives the draft endorsed by the client, or if the client's endorsement is not required, on the date the attorney receives the sum. The acceptance by a client of such amount shall be without prejudice to the latter's right in an appropriate action or proceeding, to petition the court to have the question of the attorney's compensation or reimbursement for expenses investigated and determined by it.

(2) Whenever any sum of money is payable upon any such claim, action or proceeding, either by way of settlement or after trial or hearing, and the attorney is unable to locate a client, the attorney shall apply, pursuant to Rule 1.15(f) of the Rules of Professional Conduct (Part 1200 of this Title [Rule 1.15(f)]), to the court in which such action or proceeding was pending, or if no action had been commenced, then to the Supreme Court in the county in which the attorney maintains an office, for an order directing payment to be made to the attorney of the fees and reimbursable disbursements determined by the court to be due said attorney and to the Lawyers Fund for Client Protection of the balance due to the client, for the account of the client, subject to the charge of any lien found by the court to be payable therefrom.

(1) In any claim or action for personal injury or wrongful death, other than one alleging medical, dental or podiatric malpractice, whether determined by judgment or settlement, in which the compensation of claimant's or plaintiff's attorney is contingent, that is, dependent in whole or in part upon the amount of the recovery, the receipt, retention or sharing by such attorney, pursuant to agreement or otherwise, of compensation which is equal to or less than that contained in any schedule of fees adopted by this department is deemed to be fair and reasonable. The receipt, retention or sharing of compensation which is in excess of such scheduled fees shall constitute the exaction of unreasonable and unconscionable compensation in violation of any provision of the Rules of Professional Conduct (Part 1200 of this Title) with respect to conduct on or after April 1, 2009, or the former Code of Professional Responsibility, as adopted by the New York State Bar Association effective January 1, 1970, as amended, with respect to conduct on or before March 31, 2009, unless authorized by a written order of the court as hereinafter provided.

(2) The following is the schedule of reasonable fees referred to in paragraph (1) of this subdivision: either,

(3) Such percentage shall be computed by one of the following two methods, to be selected by the client in the retainer agreement or letter of engagement:

(4) In the event that claimant's or plaintiff's attorney believes in good faith that Schedule A, above, because of extraordinary circumstances, will not give him adequate compensation, application for greater compensation may be made upon affidavit with written notice and an opportunity to be heard to the client and other persons holding liens or assignments on the recovery. Such application shall be made to the justice of the trial part to which the action had been sent for trial; or, if it had not been sent to a part for trial, then to the justice presiding at the trial term calendar part of the court in which the action had been instituted; or, if no action had been instituted, then to the justice presiding at the trial term calendar part of the Supreme Court for the county in the judicial department in which the attorney who filed the statement of retainer, pursuant to this section, has an office. Upon such application, the justice, in his discretion, if extraordinary circumstances are found to be present, and without regard to the claimant's or plaintiff's consent, may fix as reasonable compensation for legal services rendered an amount greater than that specified in Schedule A, above; provided, however, that such greater amount shall not exceed the fee fixed pursuant to the contractual arrangement, if any, between the client and the attorney. If the application be granted, the justice shall make a written order accordingly, briefly stating the reasons for granting the greater compensation; and a copy of such order shall be served on all persons entitled to receive notice of the application.

(5) The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to an attorney retained as counsel in a claim or action for personal injury or wrongful death by another attorney, if such other attorney is not subject to the provisions of this section in such claim or action, but all other subdivisions of this section shall apply.

(6) Nothing contained in this subdivision shall be deemed applicable to the fixing of compensation for attorneys representing infants or other persons, where the statutes or rules provide for the fixation of such compensation by the court.

(7) Nothing contained in this subdivision shall be deemed applicable to the fixing of compensation for attorneys for services rendered in connection with the collection of first-party benefits as defined by section 5102 of the Insurance Law.

(8) The provisions of paragraph (2) of this subdivision shall not apply to claims alleging medical, dental, or podiatric malpractice. Compensation of claimant's or plaintiff's attorney for services rendered in claims or actions for personal injury alleging medical, dental or podiatric malpractice shall be computed pursuant to the fee schedule in Judiciary Law, section 474-a.