According to California law, when is double billing permissible?

In California, double billing is permissible if the total fee is reasonable. This means that while attorneys may charge multiple clients for the same time spent on a task, the cumulative fee must still comply with the requirement of being reasonable according to the circumstances of the case and the nature of the work performed.

A reasonable fee assessment includes factors such as the complexity of the matter, the risks involved, and the skill required to perform the services. If the total fee resulting from double billing is deemed reasonable, it adheres to the rules of professional conduct defined by the California State Bar. This ensures that while the attorney can be compensated fairly for their time, they are also held to a standard that prevents overcharging or exploitation of clients.

The other options suggest conditions or blanket prohibitions that do not align with the existing legal framework governing attorney fees in California. For example, simply disclosing double billing or gaining client consent does not inherently validate the practice if it results in an unreasonable total fee. Thus, the focus on the reasonableness of the total fee is the critical component that allows for the possibility of double billing under California law.