The trouble with law is lawyers.

—Clarence Darrow

While the above aphorism is catchy, it is not the opinion of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA). For years, NYSBA has asserted nonlawyers have no place in the ownership and management of law firms. Although a simple proposition, this "no nonlawyers" stance may complicate lawyers' ethical responsibilities in the context of interstate and/or international law firms. Indeed, a recent NYSBA ethics opinion which addresses this issue may have significant implications for New York attorneys whose firms have a presence in multiple states. This article addresses how NYSBA views nonlawyer ownership in the interstate and international context with the goal of providing some guidance to New York law partners and partnerships as to their professional responsibilities.