Win Hay LLC v Chin ; 2011 NY Slip Op 02801 ; Decided on April 7, 2011 ; Appellate Division, First Department is an example of the most informal type of arrangement between an attorney and a client.  Client paid the attorney, who "forwarded" the fees to another attorney.  This informal type of relationship is unusual in New York.
 

"The documentary evidence refuted plaintiff’s allegations that plaintiff retained Choi to represent it in connection with its application for a tax exemption for certain real property (see CPLR 3211[a][1]). Although plaintiff purportedly paid a portion of a retainer fee to Choi, the record shows that the entire amount of the retainer was forwarded to defendant Chin, who admittedly represented plaintiff in connection with the application and who plaintiff had met with prior to issuing the subject payment (see Wei Cheng Chang v Pi, 288 AD2d 378 [2001], lv denied 99 NY2d 501 [2002]).

The record further demonstrates that, other than forwarding the retainer payment to defendant Chin, Choi was not involved in submitting the application, and had no knowledge as to whether Chin had filed the application and the necessary documents on plaintiff’s behalf. The record establishes that there was no attorney-client relationship between plaintiff and Choi and accordingly, the complaint is dismissed as against him (see Wei Cheng Chang, 288 AD2d at 381; D’Amico v First Union Natl. Bank, 285 AD2d 166, 172 [2001], lv denied 99 NY2d 501 [2002"