Case Title: Stewart Title of the Midwest v. Reece & Nichols Realtors

Citation: 

Docket Number: 103233

State: kansas

Court: Kansas Supreme Court

Date: 2012-05-11T00:00:00Z

Document:
1 
 
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS 
 
No. 103,233 
 
STEWART TITLE OF THE MIDWEST, INC., d/b/a 
STEWART TITLE OF KANSAS CITY, 
Plaintiff, 
 
v. 
 
REECE & NICHOLS REALTORS, INC., 
Appellee, 
 
and 
 
PATRICK E. MCGRATH, 
Appellant. 
 
 
SYLLABUS BY THE COURT 
 
 
1. 
K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3062(a)(10) of the Kansas Real Estate Brokers' and 
Salespersons' License Act, K.S.A. 58-3034 et seq., prohibits a licensee from paying a 
commission to any person, not licensed under the Act, for performing any activity for 
which a license is required under the Act. This prohibition is not absolute, however, and a 
commission may be split with anyone who performs activities that are exempt from 
application of the Act. 
 
2. 
K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3037(c), the attorney exemption to the Kansas Real Estate 
Brokers' and Salespersons' License Act, K.S.A. 58-3034 et seq., does not allow an 
attorney to engage generally in the business of a real estate broker but does allow an 
attorney to perform some activities a broker would perform if the attorney's activities are 
2 
 
encompassed within and incidental to the practice of law, are within the context of an 
attorney-client relationship, and are consistent with the attorney's professional duties.  
 
3.  
 
K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3037(c), the attorney exemption to the Kansas Real Estate 
Brokers' and Salespersons' License Act, K.S.A. 58-3034 et seq., does not exempt an 
attorney from the prohibition in K.S.A. 58-3062(a)(10) against splitting a brokerage 
commission with a nonlicensee because a commission is not earned by primarily 
performing services that are encompassed within the practice of law and because sharing 
in a brokerage commission would be inconsistent with the professional duties of an 
attorney.  
 
 
Appeal from Johnson District Court; JAMES F. VANO, judge. Opinion filed May 11, 2012. 
Affirmed. 
 
 
Patrick E. McGrath, of Overland Park, argued the cause and was on the briefs for appellant. 
 
 
Robert S. Caldwell, of Caldwell & Moll, L.C., of Overland Park, argued the cause and was on the 
brief for appellee. 
 
The opinion of the court was delivered by 
 
 
LUCKERT, J.:  This case arose as an interpleader action to settle the rights to one-
half of a brokerage commission resulting from a residential real estate transaction. Reece 
& Nichols Realtors, Inc. (RAN), the listing broker, refused to split the brokerage 
commission with Patrick E. McGrath, who acted as the broker for the buyer. McGrath is 
a licensed Kansas attorney but is not licensed under the Kansas Real Estate Brokers' and 
Salespersons' License Act (KREBSLA), K.S.A. 58-3034 et seq. RAN contended it is 
statutorily prohibited from paying a commission to any person not licensed under the 
KREBSLA. McGrath, on the other hand, maintained that, as an attorney, he is exempt 
3 
 
from the requirements of the KREBSLA. Both parties filed summary judgment motions 
arguing their respective positions. The district court granted RAN's motion for summary 
judgment, and McGrath appeals. 
 
 
We affirm, holding that an attorney is exempt from the provisions of the 
KREBSLA, including the prohibition in K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3062(a)(10) against 
splitting a fee with a nonlicensee, only to the extent he or she is performing activities that 
are encompassed within or incidental to the practice of law, are within the context of an 
attorney-client relationship, and are consistent with the attorney's professional duties. 
This attorney exemption does not create an exception to the commission-splitting 
prohibition of KREBSLA because:  (1) a brokerage commission is earned by producing a 
ready and willing buyer or seller and not by primarily performing services encompassed 
within the practice of law and (2) splitting a brokerage commission is inconsistent with 
several provisions of the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct governing attorneys and, 
therefore, is inconsistent with an attorney's professional duties. Consequently, an attorney 
who is not licensed under the KREBSLA cannot share in a real estate brokerage 
commission.  
 
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 
 
 
RAN's and McGrath's motions for summary judgment were based on the 
following joint stipulation of facts: 
 
 
"1. This case began as an interpleader action filed by Plaintiff Stewart Title. . . . 
As a title company, it held in escrow a portion of a commission earned in a residential 
real estate contract in the sum of $13,802.91 (the 'Funds'). 
 
"2. The Funds represent one-half of the commission paid by Defendant J-Right, 
Inc. ('J-Right') on the sale of a lot and residence to Gregory J. Lausier ('Lausier'). The 
property is located at 21311 W. 96th Terrace, Lenexa, Kansas (the 'Property'). 
 
4 
 
 
"3. The total commission, or six percent (6%) of the Property's sales price, was 
calculated pursuant to the terms of an Exclusive Right to Sell Contract (the 'Listing 
Agreement') and was $27,605.82. The Listing Agreement is attached as Exhibit 1 and 
incorporated by reference." 
 
The Listing Agreement states, in part: 
 
"a) Seller agrees to pay Reece & Nichols Realtors a Broker's Administrative 
Commission of $175.00 and a sales commission of 6% of the selling price. . . . The 
commission is due and payable if BROKER or anyone else, including SELLER, produces 
or finds a purchaser ready, willing, and able to purchase the Property at the price and 
terms offered now or at the price and terms acceptable to SELLER at a later date. Seller 
authorizes the payment of the commission to BROKER from SELLER'S proceeds at 
closing. 
"b) BROKER shall offer a commission split of 3% listing side and 3% selling 
side." 
 
RAN and McGrath further stipulated:  
 
"4. The full amount of the commission was paid to Stewart Title for distribution 
in accordance with the real estate transaction documents and Kansas law.  
"5. As the listing broker, RAN was paid one-half of the commission or 
$13,802.91. RAN objected to the release of the remaining commission to McGrath and it 
was held by Stewart Title."  
 
In June 2007, Stewart Title of the Midwest, Inc., d/b/a Stewart Title of Kansas 
City (Stewart Title) filed in district court an interpleader action asking the court to require 
McGrath and RAN to be interpleaded in the action and to settle the rights to the funds. 
The district court ordered Stewart Title to deposit the funds with the clerk of the district 
court. The order stated: 
 
5 
 
 
"6. Stewart Title has paid the Funds into Court. See Journal Entry filed June 29, 
2007. 
 
"7. Following the deposit of the Funds, Plaintiff Stewart Title was dismissed. 
Defendant J-Right has also been dismissed from this action. Defendant McGrath and 
Defendant RAN are the only remaining parties. 
 
"8. Both Defendant McGrath and Defendant RAN claim a right to the Funds."  
 
The parties' joint stipulation then set out the legal basis for each party's claim to 
the funds and their agreements about how the case should be resolved depending on 
which legal argument was accepted by the district court. Specifically, the parties 
stipulated: 
 
"13. In the event that KREBSLA does not preclude RAN from paying the 
commission to McGrath, then RAN admits that McGrath is entitled to the funds held by 
the Court in full satisfaction of the commission due and owing for his services as a 
buyer's agent.  
"14. In the event that KREBSLA does preclude RAN from paying the remaining 
commission to McGrath, then McGrath admits that RAN is entitled to the funds held by 
the Court in full satisfaction of the commission due and owing under the Listing 
Agreement.  
 
. . . .  
 
"16. McGrath is an attorney licensed to practice in the State of Kansas. For the 
purposes of this case, McGrath acted as an agent for Lausier and rendered legal 
professional duties and services as an attorney to Lausier (said legal professional duties 
and services included negotiating and contracting for the purchase and construction of 
Lausier's new home; as well as the rendition of professional services requiring the 
knowledge and application of legal principles and technique to serve the interests of 
Lausier at Lausier's request). McGrath and Lausier had an attorney-client relationship and 
it was contemplated between McGrath and Lausier that McGrath's professional services 
would be compensated solely out of the 3% commission. Lausier is, and has always been, 
extremely satisfied with the services McGrath provided with respect to this real estate 
transaction. 
6 
 
 
"17. RAN's only objection to paying McGrath the 3% commission at issue in this 
case is that RAN believes it is barred from doing so under KREBSLA."  
 
The district court adopted the parties' Joint Stipulation of Facts. The court noted 
that prior to McGrath's involvement in the transaction, RAN was already acting as the 
listing broker for the property; thus, McGrath was aware that a brokerage was involved in 
the real estate transaction. The court found the attorney exemption contained in K.S.A. 
2011 Supp. 58-3037(c) is limited to those professional activities that are encompassed 
within and incidental to the practice of law in the context of an attorney-client 
relationship. The court ruled that this limited exception does not permit McGrath to act as 
a "'licensed real estate agent'" thereby entitling him to a commission.  
 
The district court also found that the language of K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3062(c)(1) 
clearly and unambiguously provides that RAN, as a broker, shall not pay a commission to 
a nonlicensee. Further, the court quoted K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3062(a)(10) and ruled: 
"There is nothing in the language of the KREBSLA that would exempt RAN from this 
requirement and permit it to pay a commission to a non-licensee regardless of whether 
the non-licensee is an attorney." Accordingly, the court entered summary judgment in 
favor of RAN.  
 
McGrath timely appeals. This court transferred the appeal from the Court of 
Appeals pursuant to K.S.A. 20-3018(c). 
 
STANDARD OF REVIEW 
 
 
This court has de novo review of cases decided on the basis of documents and 
stipulated facts. In re Trust D of Darby, 290 Kan. 785, 790, 234 P.3d 793 (2010); see 
Thomas v. Benchmark Ins. Co., 285 Kan. 918, 921, 179 P.3d 421 (2008) (appellate 
7 
 
review of an order granting summary judgment is de novo where there is no factual 
dispute).  
 
 
In addition, where the parties' arguments require the interpretation of various 
statutes, this court has unlimited review. In re Trust D of Darby, 290 Kan. at 790. 
Interpretation of the KREBSLA is the focus of our analysis in this case. Our standards for 
interpreting statutes are well defined. The most fundamental rule is that the intent of the 
legislature governs if that intent can be ascertained. An appellate court must first attempt 
to derive legislative intent from the language of the statute, giving common words their 
ordinary meanings. When a statute is plain and unambiguous, an appellate court does not 
speculate as to the legislative intent behind it and will not read into the statute something 
not readily found in it or ignore what was written by the legislature. Redd v. Kansas 
Truck Center, 291 Kan. 176, 188, 239 P.3d 66 (2010). 
 
These rules must be applied to the various statutes within the KREBSLA that are 
the focus of the parties' arguments. RAN focuses on the fee-splitting prohibitions under 
the KREBSLA, K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3062(a)(10) and (c)(1), to argue it is absolutely 
prohibited from "paying a commission to any person not licensed under KREBSLA." 
McGrath, on the other hand, focuses on K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3037(c), which he argues 
absolutely exempts an attorney from the provisions of the KREBSLA, including the fee-
splitting prohibitions, or alternatively exempts him under the stipulated facts because he 
performed legal services for the buyer Gregory Lausier.  
 
FEE-SPLITTING PROHIBITIONS 
 
 
We begin our analysis with RAN's contention that K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-
3062(a)(10) and (c)(1) absolutely prohibit it from paying a commission or fee of any kind 
to anyone not licensed under the KREBSLA. In 58-3062, the legislature describes 
activities that are prohibited under the KREBSLA, with subparagraphs (a)(10) and (c)(1) 
8 
 
being the portions that specifically address payment of commissions. Under the first of 
these two provisions, K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3062(a)(10), no "licensee" shall "[p]ay a 
commission or compensation to any person, not licensed under the act, for performing 
any activity for which a license is required under this act." The second provision, K.S.A. 
2011 Supp. 58-3062(c)(1), provides that no "broker" shall "[p]ay a commission or 
compensation to any person for performing the services of an associate broker or 
salesperson unless such person is licensed under this act and employed by or associated 
with the broker." A separate statute, K.S.A. 58-3065(a), provides that a violator of any 
provisions of the KREBSLA faces statutory penalties of fines or imprisonment. 
 
In support of its argument that the KREBSLA absolutely prohibits fee splitting 
with a nonlicensee, RAN relies on Burchfield v. Markham, 156 Tex. 329, 294 S.W.2d 
795 (1956). In Burchfield, the issue was whether the Texas Real Estate Dealers License 
Act, Article 6573a, as it existed in 1951, prohibited payment of a real estate commission 
to a Texas attorney who did not have a real estate license. Section 20 of the Texas Act 
provided that it is "'unlawful for any real estate dealer or salesman to . . . pay directly or 
indirectly any part or share of his commission or compensation arising or accruing from 
any real estate transaction to any person who is not a licensed dealer or salesman . . . .'" 
Burchfield, 156 Tex. at 332. The Texas court reasoned this wording was absolute, 
without exemptions or exceptions. Reconciling this provision with an attorney exemption 
similar to the provision in Kansas, the Texas court concluded the attorney exemption 
meant only that an attorney did not need to have a real estate license to perform the same 
duties as would a real estate licensee. Nevertheless, because the fee-splitting prohibition 
was absolute, a real estate dealer or salesman could not pay an attorney any portion of the 
commission unless the attorney had a real estate license. Burchfield, 156 Tex. at 333. 
 
RAN argues the same conclusion applies to the Kansas provisions, and the district 
court agreed. In making this argument, RAN ignores critical differences between the 
Texas and Kansas statutes. Specifically, in contrast to the Texas fee-splitting provision 
9 
 
that applies to anyone who is not licensed under the act regardless of the type of activity 
the person performs, both of the Kansas fee-splitting provisions contain qualifying 
language that defines a limited group to whom the provisions apply.  
 
One of the Kansas provisions, K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3062(c)(1), prohibits a 
broker from paying another "for performing the services of an associate broker or 
salesperson unless such person is licensed under this act and employed by or associated 
with the broker." (Emphasis added.) The statutory definitions of "associate broker" and 
"salesperson" require the person to be employed by or associated with a broker and to 
have "participate[d] in any activity described in subsection (f)," which defines "broker" 
by, in part, listing activities a broker would perform. K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3035(c), (f), 
(o).  
 
RAN focuses solely on the "activity" component of this provision, discussing the 
nature of the services provided by McGrath. According to the stipulated facts, these 
services included "negotiating and contracting for the purchase and construction of 
Lausier's new home; as well as the rendition of professional services requiring the 
knowledge and application of legal principles and technique to serve the interest of 
Lausier at Lausier's request." Negotiating a contract is an activity listed in K.S.A. 2011 
Supp. 58-3035(f)(3) as an activity a broker would perform. In other words, in order for 
K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3062(c)(1) to be as broad as RAN argues, it would have to prohibit 
payment for any activity listed in subsection (f) of 58-3035 regardless of whether 
performed by a broker, associate broker, or a salesperson. Yet, the actual language of 58-
3062(c)(1) limits application to the services of an "associate broker or salesperson."  
 
Applying this provision to the facts of this case, nothing in the stipulated facts 
suggests McGrath was employed by or associated with anyone else who was acting as a 
broker; in other words, there is no suggestion that he functioned as an associate broker or 
a salesperson. Therefore, K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3062(c)(1) does not apply in this case.  
10 
 
 
The second provision on which RAN relies is broader in scope but still contains a 
critical limitation not found in the Texas statute considered in Burchfield. This Kansas 
provision, K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3062(a)(10), limits the prohibition against paying a 
commission to any person not licensed under the act to persons who are being paid "for 
performing any activity for which a license is required under this act." (Emphasis added.) 
The activities for which a license is required are defined by K.S.A. 58-3036, which 
begins with the phrase "[u]nless exempt from this act under K.S.A. 58-3037." 
Consequently, in contrast to the Texas statute, 58-3062(a)(10) does not absolutely 
prohibit splitting a fee with any nonlicensee and potentially allows payment of a 
commission if the nonlicensee's activities are exempt from application of the KREBSLA.  
 
Because McGrath relies on an exemption under 58-3037(c), this brings us to his 
argument.  
 
ATTORNEY EXEMPTION 
 
 
McGrath suggests our conclusion that there is not an absolute prohibition against 
sharing a commission would end the dispute between the parties because, he argues, 
RAN conceded in the stipulation of facts that the attorney exemption of K.S.A. 2011 
Supp. 58-3037(c) applies if the fee-splitting provision is not absolute. We do not read 
RAN's stipulation this broadly, however. RAN's stipulation regarding McGrath's right to 
receive a share of the commission was qualified, stating:  "In the event that KREBSLA 
does not preclude RAN from paying the commission to McGrath, then RAN admits that 
McGrath is entitled to the funds held by the Court in full satisfaction of the commission 
due and owing for his services as a buyer's agent." This is not a stipulation that the 
KREBSLA allows payment of the commission to McGrath as the buyer's attorney; it 
limits the basis of the payment to the performance of services as a "buyer's agent."  
 
11 
 
Yet, the attorney exemption does not refer to services as a buyer's agent. Rather, 
the exemption provides:  "The provisions of this act shall not apply to . . . (c) Services 
rendered by an attorney licensed to practice law in this state in performing such attorney's 
professional duties as an attorney." (Emphasis added.) K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3037(c). 
Consequently, the stipulation does not answer the question of whether McGrath can 
receive a portion of his commission for his services as an attorney. Therefore, we must 
consider the parties' arguments regarding the scope and application of the attorney 
exemption found in 58-3037(c). 
 
 
In seeking application of the exemption, McGrath makes several arguments that 
we have organized into three categories. First, he maintains the attorney exemption is 
absolute. Second, he argues he is entitled to share in the brokerage commission even if 
the exemption is not absolute because he acted in his capacity as an attorney representing 
Lausier, not as a broker. Third, he makes a public policy argument as to why an attorney 
must be allowed to share in the commission.   
 
Absolute Exemption 
 
First, we consider McGrath's argument that K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3037(c) 
absolutely and unqualifiedly exempts attorneys from the KREBSLA and its fee-splitting 
prohibitions. If we accept this argument, an attorney could act in any capacity and 
perform any activity as a real estate broker without a license under the KREBSLA. Yet, 
58-3062(a)(10) is phrased in terms of allowing payments for activities for which a license 
is required, not in terms of allowing payments to certain classifications of individuals, 
such as attorneys. Likewise, K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3037 provides the KREBSLA "shall 
not apply to . . . (c) [s]ervices" that are performed as the "professional duties as an 
attorney." (Emphasis added.) This means that an attorney would have to have a real 
estate license to perform any services that are not encompassed within and incidental to 
the practice of law, are not within the context of an attorney-client relationship, and are 
12 
 
not consistent with the attorney's professional duties. The Court of Appeals appears to 
have recognized this limitation in In re Metcalf Assocs.-2000, 42 Kan. App. 2d 412, 213 
P.3d 751 (2009), rev. denied 290 Kan. 1094 (2010). 
 
 
In Metcalf Assocs.-2000, the question was whether an attorney could receive a 
finder's fee as part of a real estate transaction under the exemption of 58-3037 even 
though the attorney was not a broker. The Court of Appeals did not answer the question 
because it determined it did not have jurisdiction over the attorney. Nevertheless, the 
court noted:  "Arguably, . . . [the attorney] should not have been entitled to a finder's fee 
simply because he is an attorney—his performance of professional duties as [an] attorney 
didn't involve the task of finding a buyer." Metcalf Assocs.-2000, 42 Kan. App. 2d at 428; 
see Kan. Att'y Gen. Op. No. 94-6 (concluding Kansas' attorney exemption is limited to 
those professional activities that are encompassed within and incidental to the practice of 
law in the context of an attorney-client relationship).  
 
Although not directly discussing Metcalf Assocs.-2000, McGrath argues for a 
different interpretation of the attorney exemption, one where there would not be 
limitations on an attorney's activities in a real estate transaction and an attorney would be 
allowed to receive a portion of the brokerage commission as a finder's fee or for any other 
purpose. For support he cites this court's decision in Lambertz v. Builders, Inc., 183 Kan. 
602, 331 P.2d 559 (1958), and several out-of-state cases. These cases are distinguishable, 
however, because of differences between the language of the statutes at issue in those 
cases and the KREBSLA's attorney exemption.  
 
In Lambertz, the court considered an early version of the laws covering real estate 
licensees in Kansas. Lambertz brought suit for an alleged breach of contract by his 
employer, Builders. Lambertz was involved in Builders' commercial real estate business, 
which included negotiating leases on Builders' property. Lambertz alleged he had an oral 
contract to receive a commission on lease agreements that he negotiated. Builders denied 
13 
 
the factual allegations and also argued Lambertz could not bring the suit because of a 
statute, G.S. 1949, 67-1019, which prohibited a person from bringing an action for 
compensation for real estate transactions without alleging and proving the person is a 
licensed real estate broker or salesperson. In response, Lambertz argued he did not have 
to be licensed because the real estate licensing act in effect at that time exempted real 
estate transactions made by the property owner or the owner's employee when acting on 
behalf of the owner. See G.S. 1949, 67-1003. This court agreed with Lambertz, 
concluding he was not required to plead or prove that he was licensed under the act 
because the services he performed fell within the exemption. Lambertz, 183 Kan. at 610.  
 
According to McGrath, Lambertz stands for the proposition that "those specifically 
exempt from the statute can participate in real estate transactions and receive 
compensation." While Lambertz can be read to stand for this principle, the holding is not 
directly applicable to the attorney exemption under K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3037(c) 
because the statute does not provide that all activities performed by an attorney are 
exempt. Rather, as we have noted, under the clear terms of the provision, an attorney is 
exempt only to the extent he or she is "performing such attorney's professional duties as 
an attorney." K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3037(c). 
 
This limitation or qualification also distinguishes the KREBSLA attorney 
exemption from other state statutes that have been held to absolutely exempt an attorney 
from a state's real estate licensure act regardless of the nature of the attorney's activities. 
See, e.g., Weinblatt v. Parkway-St. Johns Place Corporation, 136 Misc. 743, 241 N.Y.S. 
721 (1930) (section 442-f of the New York Real Property Law provided:  "'The 
provisions of this article shall not apply to . . . attorneys at law.'"); Kribbs v. Jackson, 387 
Pa. 611, 620, 129 A.2d 490 (1957) ("Attorneys are specifically exempted from the 
requirements of the [Pennsylvania] Real Estate Brokers License Act."); Elin v. Neal, 720 
S.W.2d 224, 225-26 (Tex. App. 1986) (Texas Real Estate License Act, which states that 
"[t]he provisions of this Act shall not apply to . . . an attorney at law licensed in this 
14 
 
state," "specifically and unequivocally" exempts attorneys from requirement that 
commission agreements be in writing); see also Atlantic Richfield Co. v. Sybert, 51 Md. 
App. 74, 83, 441 A.2d 1079 (1982) (statute exempts attorneys who do not regularly 
engage in real estate business or "'hold themselves out by sign, advertisement or 
otherwise as offering to the general public the services authorized by this subtitle to be 
performed by real estate brokers'"; because attorney did not regularly engage in real 
estate business or hold himself out as a broker, he was entitled to standard real estate 
commission for procuring a willing buyer). But see Sherman v. Bruton, 497 S.W.2d 316, 
321 (Tex. Civ. App. 1973) (neither cited by nor overruled in Elin, 720 S.W.2d 224; 
holding that critical phrase of exemption statute was "services rendered by an attorney of 
law" and that this phrase qualified the exemption as distinguished from the absolute 
exemption of prior version of statute at issue in Burchfield meaning exemption is not 
absolute and is limited to services rendered by a licensed attorney whose engagement for 
legal services has created the relationship of attorney and client).  
 
In contrast to statutes that require only that an attorney have a law license in order 
to be exempt from real estate licensure requirements, K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3037(c) 
requires an attorney, such as McGrath, to show that he or she was performing services 
consistent with his or her professional duties as an attorney to fall under the KREBSLA 
exemption. Under this plain language, it is clear the KREBSLA attorney exemption is not 
absolute.  
 
Despite the limiting language in 58-3037(c), McGrath argues it was the "clear and 
unambiguous intent of the legislature" to exempt attorneys because there is no concern 
about dishonesty, fraud, or incompetence—which KREBSLA was created to prevent—
because "attorneys, presumably, are better regulated than real estate salespersons." See 
Furr v. Fonville Morisey Realty, Inc., 130 N.C. App. 541, 546-48, 503 S.E.2d 401 (1998) 
(splitting fee with a broker who is licensed in another state does not violate the purpose of 
the real estate licensing act, which is to protect the public from fraud and abuse). 
15 
 
 
This argument is inconsistent with our rules of statutory interpretation. Under 
those rules, we give effect to the legislature's express language. Only if the statute's 
language or text is unclear or ambiguous does the court employ canons of construction, 
legislative history, or other background considerations to divine the legislature's intent 
and construe the statute accordingly. State v. Trautloff, 289 Kan. 793, 796, 217 P.3d 15 
(2009).  
 
Here, the express language is clear and unambiguous:  K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-
3037(c) does not allow an attorney to engage generally in the business of a real estate 
broker but does allow an attorney to perform some activities a broker would perform if 
the attorney's activities are encompassed within and incidental to the practice of law, are 
within the context of an attorney-client relationship, and are consistent with the attorney's 
professional duties. 
 
Professional Duties as an Attorney 
 
This standard for application of the attorney exemption is consistent with and 
similar to the standard applied under many other states' real estate licensing statutes. See, 
e.g., Spirito v. New Jersey Real Estate Comm'n Dept. of Ins., 180 N.J. Super. 180, 188-
89, 434 A.2d 623 (1981) (attorney may perform some activities a broker would 
perform—such as negotiating a contract—if doing so is incidental to the practice of law 
and within the context of a relationship between an attorney and a client); Kan. Att'y Gen. 
Op. No. 94-6 (discussing and categorizing out-of-state cases and applying Spirito's test to 
K.S.A. 58-3037[c]).  
 
McGrath argues he met this standard because he provided legal services to Lausier 
within an attorney-client relationship. Consequently, he argues, his activities are exempt 
from the KREBSLA license requirement. Contrary to this argument, we conclude that 
16 
 
most cases applying this standard do not support McGrath's position and support a 
determination that, as a matter of law, McGrath is not entitled to share in the commission.  
 
That does not mean there is no support for McGrath's position. In applying a 
standard similar to that adopted in Spirito, at least one court has concluded an attorney is 
entitled to share in a broker's commission. E.g., Lance v. Lyman, No. 549,853, 1999 WL 
557968, at *1, *2 (Conn. Super. 1999) (unpublished opinion) (denying defendant's 
motion to strike an attorney's claim for enforcement of a cobrokerage real estate 
agreement allowing for split commissions because the attorney "allegedly performed 
[his] duties as such attorney-at-law" and consequently was exempt from the licensure 
requirements and the restriction on his collection of a commission); cf. Queen of Angels 
Hospital v. Younger, 66 Cal. App. 3d 359, 136 Cal. Rptr. 36 (1977) (not dealing with 
split of commission but allowing attorney fees to be calculated as a percentage of lease 
income received by client and to be paid from that income even though attorney was not 
a licensed broker).  
 
However, the prevailing view is that a buyer's attorney cannot share in a 
commission with the seller's broker. In essence, the courts adopting this prevailing view 
hold that fee-splitting is prohibited even if there is not a provision of the state's real estate 
licensing act that absolutely prohibits an attorney from splitting a brokerage commission. 
In other words, the attorney's request to share in the brokerage commission survives a 
facial interpretation of the exemption statute but fails under an "as applied" interpretation 
of the exemption statute. 
  
Often, as a starting point for analysis, courts note that the right to share in a 
commission originates in the contract between the seller and the seller's broker; it is the 
seller who is obligated to pay the commission and the seller's broker who agrees to split 
the commission. Many courts have found it significant that an attorney representing the 
buyer does not have an attorney-client relationship with or perform legal services for 
17 
 
either the seller or the seller's broker. On this basis alone, some courts have held that the 
buyer's attorney is not entitled to share in the commission. E.g., Provisor v. Haas Realty, 
Inc., 256 Cal. App. 2d 850, 855-58, 64 Cal. Rptr. 509 (1967) (noting the attorney 
performed no legal services for seller's broker; the only legal services were performed for 
the buyers); Tobin v. Courshon, 155 So. 2d 785, 785-87 (Fla. 1963) (locating property for 
a client is not within the "narrow avenue through which the lawyer, not licensed as a real 
estate broker or salesman, may enter the ambit of the real estate broker;" the court 
commented it was "unable logically to accept" the attempt of "so-called client" to avoid 
paying for legal services and instead "trying to fasten that obligation on the seller"); 
Krause v. Boraks, 341 Mich. 149, 155, 67 N.W.2d 202 (1954) (buyer's attorney did not 
provide his cobroker with legal services; the only service the attorney provided to the 
seller and the seller's broker was delivering willing buyers).  
 
 
Implied in the rationale of these cases is a concept that is more extensively 
discussed in Sherman v. Bruton, 497 S.W.2d 316, 321 (Tex. Civ. App. 1973), and Matter 
of Roth, 120 N.J. 665, 667-69, 577 A.2d 490 (1990). These courts reason that the 
contractual trigger for earning a commission is producing a ready and willing buyer; in 
other words, the attorney is the procuring cause of the contract between the buyer and the 
seller. Consequently, it is this activity, which is primarily a broker's service, that is the 
principal activity for earning a commission. These courts hold that any legal services are 
incidental to providing brokerage services, not vice versa.  
 
 
 
For example, in the Texas case of Sherman, 497 S.W.2d at 321, the court took a 
different view of the Texas attorney exemption than the one adopted by a different Court 
of Appeals panel in Elin, 720 S.W.2d at 226. As we have discussed, the Elin panel held 
that Texas attorney exemption was absolute. In contrast, the Sherman panel focused on 
the phrase "services rendered by an attorney at law" and noted that the phrase had not 
been included in the absolute exemption found in the earlier version of that statute, which 
was considered in Burchfield, 156 Tex. 329. The Sherman court accepted that "[i]f a 
18 
 
lawyer is employed to render legal services, [the statute] exempts him . . . even though 
some of the services he renders as an attorney, such as negotiations for a sale or lease, 
would fall within the function of a real estate broker." Sherman, 497 S.W.2d at 321-22. 
Even so, the court held an attorney, who was also a licensed real estate broker, could not 
circumvent a requirement in the real estate law requiring compensation contracts to be in 
writing by hiding behind the attorney exemption if the attorney primarily performed 
services as a broker and only incidentally provided legal services. Sherman, 497 S.W.2d 
at 322. 
 
 
In reaching this conclusion, the Sherman court focused on the nature of the 
contract that allowed the attorney to earn the commission. According to the parties' 
description of what the attorney was hired to do, the attorney was to "'study the property 
and appraise it, expose it to the market, and find out the highest and best use and who 
wanted to pay the most money for it on a ground lease.'" Sherman, 497 S.W.2d at 318. In 
exchange for those services, the client agreed to pay the attorney a commission. In 
closing the deal, the attorney drafted lease proposals, but, the court noted:  "This work 
was not done under any separate agreement for legal services for which a separate fee 
would be charged, but was incidental to plaintiff's efforts to secure a lease under the 
original indivisible contract of employment." Sherman, 497 S.W.2d at 322. Because the 
attorney acted primarily as a broker and only incidentally as an attorney, the attorney's 
compensation agreement had to be in writing under the Texas real estate licensing act and 
the attorney could not rely on the act's attorney exemption to get around the requirement.  
 
The New Jersey Supreme Court, in Roth, also noted that one earns a real estate 
commission by performing primarily brokerage services, meaning any legal services 
were subordinate to the brokerage services. Roth, 120 N.J. at 667-70. Roth is an attorney 
discipline case arising from an attorney's attempt to share in a real estate commission and 
to have that share credited as a reduction in the purchase price to the benefit of his client. 
The New Jersey Supreme Court concluded the attorney could not share in the 
19 
 
commission. The court noted that for the New Jersey Real Estate Brokers and 
Salespersons Licensing Law's exemption for "attorneys at law" to apply, an attorney not 
licensed as a broker must "confine any broker's services to those that are obviously 
minor, incidental, ancillary, and subordinate to the legal services entailed in the client's 
representation." Roth, 120 N.J. at 672-73.  
 
In determining if this test had been met, the Roth court found the manner of 
compensation to be highly relevant. The court noted the long-standing rule that a broker 
must be the efficient procuring cause of the contract between buyer and seller in order to 
receive a commission and concluded that a claim of entitlement to a commission is 
necessarily evidence of the performance of substantial brokerage services. Roth, 120 N.J. 
at 673. Thus, the court held: 
 
"Common sense and ordinary experience tell us that an attorney who performs sufficient 
work as a broker to be entitled to a commission for those services would not be acting as 
a broker in a manner only incidental to the normal practice of law. Conversely, an 
attorney performing brokerage services that are really only incidental to his or her work 
as a lawyer would not be entitled to a commission because . . . those incidental services 
would be substantially less significant than the 'activities normally associated with a real 
estate broker.' We therefore hold that an attorney whose actions as a broker are 
undertaken pursuant to the 'attorney' exemption to the licensing law, N.J.S.A. 45:15-4, 
may perform brokerage services that are only incidental to the normal practice of law, 
which cannot be the basis for a claim of compensation as a broker." Roth, 120 N.J. at 
673-74. 
 
 
Similar to the New Jersey standard, this court has held that a real estate broker is 
entitled to a commission if he or she is "the efficient and procuring cause of a 
consummated sale." Campbell-Leonard Realtors v. El Matador Apartment Co., 220 Kan. 
659, Syl. ¶ 1, 556 P.2d 459 (1976). Given that test, the reasoning of the Roth court rings 
20 
 
true. In fact, the Listing Agreement under which McGrath asserts his right to the real 
estate commission at issue in this appeal stated:  
 
"a) Seller agrees to pay Reece & Nichols Realtors a Broker's Administrative 
Commission of $175.00 and a sales commission of 6% of the selling price. . . . The 
commission is due and payable if BROKER or anyone else, including SELLER, 
produces or finds a purchaser ready, willing, and able to purchase the Property at the 
price and terms offered now or at the price and terms acceptable to SELLER at a later 
date. Seller authorizes the payment of the commission to BROKER from SELLER'S 
proceeds at closing." (Emphasis added.) 
 
Consequently, McGrath could have performed all manner and amounts of legal 
services, but he would not have been able to share in the commission if he had not 
produced a ready, willing, and able buyer. That action, not his providing legal services 
incidental to closing the sale, serves as the basis for claiming a right to split the brokerage 
commission with RAN. Yet, as our Court of Appeals noted in Metcalf Assocs.-2000, 42 
Kan. App. 2d at 428, an attorney is not entitled to a finder's fee because finding a 
property or a buyer for a property is not an activity that demands knowledge and 
application of legal principles. As such, it is not an activity encompassed within the 
practice of law. See State ex rel. Stephan v. Williams, 246 Kan. 681, 689, 793 P.2d 234 
(1990) ("practice of law" has been explained to be "'"the rendition of services requiring 
the knowledge and application of legal principles and technique to serve the interests of 
another with his consent."'"). An attorney may apply legal knowledge to the task of 
procuring a sale, but those services are incidental to the brokerage service that can be 
performed by a nonattorney. In other words, entitlement to a commission presupposes the 
performance of substantial brokerage services, not legal services.  
 
Consequently, any legal services performed by McGrath were incidental to his 
procuring a sale. See In re Adoption of B.C.S., 245 Kan. 182, 184, 777 P.2d 776 (1989) 
(defining "'"incidental"'" as meaning "'"casual, minor importance, insignificant, and of 
21 
 
little consequence"'"). As noted by courts of other states, this conclusion is evidenced by 
the fact there is no additional contract between McGrath and Lausier for compensation 
for duties above and beyond the compensation that becomes due and owing once a 
willing and able buyer is procured. E.g., Sherman, 497 S.W.2d at 322.  
 
 
An additional consideration arises under the KREBSLA's attorney exemption 
because of two words in K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3037(c)—"professional duties." An 
attorney's professional duties are many and varied, depending on the circumstances, but 
always include compliance with the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct (KRPC) 
imposed by this court on all attorneys licensed in Kansas. See Preamble to KRPC (2011 
Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 407). Based on considerations of professional duties, other states have 
held an attorney cannot share in a real estate brokerage commission. See Kentucky Bar 
Ass'n v. Burbank, 539 S.W.2d 312, 313 (Ky. 1976) (attorney's conduct in requesting a 
split in the broker's commission for negotiating and drafting contracts was unethical); 
Roth, 120 N.J. at 677 ("an attorney who seeks to obtain a commission for brokerage 
services in connection with legal services rendered in the same transaction for the same 
client will have violated our ethics rules"); Estate of Schuldt, 428 N.W.2d 251, 258 (S.D. 
1988) (improper for attorney to be dually compensated as an attorney and a broker) 
(Henderson, J., concurring) ("When a lawyer begins to hold himself out as being in the 
real estate business, he must obtain a real estate license.").  
 
In part, these courts determined that splitting a broker's commission violated the 
respective state's real estate license exemption. Therefore, the attorney's conduct was 
unethical under attorney discipline provisions that prohibit an attorney from representing 
a client if the representation will result in a violation of a law and that require an attorney 
to uphold the integrity of the legal profession. See Kentucky Bar Ass'n, 539 S.W.2d at 
313; Roth, 120 N.J. at 678; see also Preamble to KRPC (2011 Kansas Ct. R. Annot. 408) 
("A lawyer's conduct should conform to the requirements of the law, both in professional 
service to clients and in the lawyer's business and personal affairs."); KRPC 1.16(a)(1) 
22 
 
(2011 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 535) ("a lawyer shall not represent a client. . . if:  [1] the 
representation will result in violation of the rules of professional conduct or other law").  
 
More significantly, these courts have focused on conflict of interest concerns. 
Conflict of interest complications arise, the courts noted, because in a commission-split 
situation the fee of a buyer's attorney would be paid by the seller under an agreement the 
seller has made with the seller's broker, meaning a third party would pay the attorney's 
fee. This potential conflict is exacerbated by the attorney's personal interest in the 
outcome of the transaction and is heightened where the attorney acts as an agent for the 
buyer because the attorney earns a higher fee if his or her client, the buyer, pays more for 
the property. Hence, the attorney's personal benefit irreconcilably clashes with that of his 
or her client.  
 
In finding this inherent conflict prevents the attorney from ethically making claim 
to the commission, the courts cited rules of professional conduct that correspond with 
KRPC 1.7(a)(2) (2011 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 484) and KRPC 1.8 (2011 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 
494). KRPC 1.7(a)(2) provides that "[a] concurrent conflict of interest exists if:  . . . (2) 
there is a substantial risk that the representation of one or more clients will be materially 
limited . . . by a personal interest of the lawyer." According to KRPC 1.8(f) (2011 Kan. 
Ct. R. Annot. 495), "[a] lawyer shall not accept compensation for representing a client 
from one other than the client." See Roth, 120 N.J. at 677; Estate of Schuldt, 428 N.W.2d 
at 258.  
 
These statements in KRPC 1.7 and KRPC 1.8 are followed by exceptions and 
qualifications that may allow an attorney to continue representation of a client despite a 
conflict. Both the New Jersey and South Dakota Supreme Courts recognized similar 
exceptions in their attorney discipline rules, yet both courts adopted a blanket rule 
prohibiting an attorney who does not have a real estate license from receiving all or a 
portion of a real estate commission. Roth, 120 N.J. at 676; Estate of Schuldt, 428 N.W.2d 
23 
 
at 258-59. The New Jersey court found the conflict was "unacceptable." Roth, 120 N.J. at 
677. Similarly, the South Dakota court, after noting that under South Dakota's equivalent 
to KRPC 1.8, an arrangement may normally "pass muster" if the client is given a 
reasonable opportunity to seek the advice of independent counsel, declined to limit its 
holding to allow for this possibility. The court concluded that "[a]n attorney should be an 
attorney first and foremost, not broker," and that dual employment as an attorney and a 
broker put the attorney's "economic interests ahead of his promised loyalty to this client." 
Estate of Schuldt, 428 N.W.2d at 259. 
 
 
The South Dakota Supreme Court also expressed concerns about the 
reasonableness of the attorney fee. Estate of Schuldt, 428 N.W.2d at 259. Obviously, this 
is a fact-based determination; yet, it seems the odds will be high for this concern to arise 
in Kansas as well because there is not an inherent tie between the reasonableness of the 
sales price for real estate and an attorney's services related to the sale. See KRPC 1.5 
(2011 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 470) (fees).  
 
 
We note there are other potential issues under the KRPC. For example, KRPC 
5.4(a) (2011 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 593), prohibits splitting a legal fee with a nonattorney. 
This provision would be violated if the attorney is a seller's broker sharing a fee with the 
buyer's broker, and it arguably is violated if the attorney is the buyer's broker. Further, in 
some cases, as noted by RAN, there will be a conflict between the duties of an attorney to 
maintain his or her client's confidences and a broker's duty of disclosure under the 
Brokerage Relationships in Real Estate Transaction Act, K.S.A. 58-30,101 et seq. See 
KRPC 1.6 (2011 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 480) (confidentiality of information).  
  
 
In summary, the very nature of the basis for a claim to a real estate commission—
being the efficient and procuring cause of a consummated sale—means an attorney 
asserting a claim to a brokerage commission has performed primarily brokerage services. 
Even if legal services were performed, when an attorney claims a right to a brokerage 
24 
 
commission, by default those legal services are incidental to the ultimate activity that 
produces the commission. While an attorney acting within the realm of an attorney-client 
relationship may perform some of the same services as would a real estate broker, those 
brokerage-type services must be incidental or ancillary to the performance of legal 
services for an attorney to fall within the attorney exemption under K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 
58-3037(c). And, because of the inherent tension between a claim for fees arising from a 
real estate commission and the duties of an attorney under the KRPC, an attorney may 
not be separately compensated for brokerage services through the payment of a real estate 
commission.  
 
Consequently, K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3037(c), the attorney exemption to the 
KREBSLA does not exempt an attorney from the prohibition in K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-
3062(a)(10) against splitting a fee with a nonlicensee because the commission is not 
earned by primarily performing services encompassed within and incidental to the 
practice of law, within the context of an attorney-client relationship, and in a manner 
consistent with the attorney's professional duties.  
  
Public Policy 
 
 
McGrath makes an additional argument, contending a determination that he cannot 
share in the commission would violate public policy because barring attorneys from 
participating in commission-based compensation unreasonably restrains competition in 
the brokerage service market. McGrath, however, cites no credible support for his 
argument. See McCain Foods USA, Inc. v. Central Processors, Inc., 275 Kan. 1, 15, 61 
P.3d 68 (2002) ("Simply pressing a point without pertinent authority, or without showing 
why it is sound despite a lack of supporting authority, is akin to failing to brief an 
issue."). Moreover, under our holding, McGrath may provide legal services in real estate 
transactions and in the course of that representation may incidentally perform brokerage 
25 
 
services. He merely must contract with and be paid by his client independently of the real 
estate commission.  
 
CONCLUSION 
 
 
The district court reached the correct conclusion that McGrath was not entitled to 
share in the brokerage commission. The activities McGrath performed to earn the fee 
were primarily brokerage services, and any attorney services were incidental. Yet to fall 
within the attorney exemption of K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3037(c), McGrath had to have 
primarily performed legal services and any broker's services must have been minor, 
incidental, ancillary, and subordinate to the legal services performed. Furthermore, 
McGrath sharing in the fee would be inconsistent with his professional duties as an 
attorney.  
 
 
As a result, under K.S.A. 2011 Supp. 58-3062(a)(10), RAN cannot pay a share of 
the commission to McGrath, and McGrath is not entitled to the funds at issue in this 
interpleader action. 
 
Affirmed.