Louis Fireison & Associates, P.A. v. Alkire

This appeal arises from a dispute between Louis Fireison & Associates, P.A. (“Fireison”), appellant, and Anita M. Alkire (“Ms. Alkire”), appellee, over legal fees due pursuant to a contingency fee contract. The issues on appeal involve the proper forum to resolve the dispute.

In May 2007, Fireison filed a Complaint in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County. It sought a declaratory judgment awarding Fireison the legal fees it believed were owed by Ms. Alkire. In June 2007, Ms. Alkire petitioned the District of Columbia Attorney/Client Arbitration Board (the “Arbitration Board”) to resolve the…