1. (a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, an attorney at law has a lien on:

   1. (1) a cause of action or proceeding of a client of the attorney at law from the time the cause of action arises or the proceeding begins; and
   2. (2) a settlement, judgment, or award that a client receives as a result of legal services that the attorney at law performs.
2. (b) A lien under this section attaches only if, and to the extent that, under a specific agreement between an attorney at law and a client, the client owes the attorney at law a fee or other compensation for legal services that produced the settlement, judgment, or award.

3. (c) A lien under this section is subordinate only to:

   1. (1) a prior lien for wages due to an employee of the client for work related to the settlement, judgment, or award; or
   2. (2) a lien for taxes that the client owes the State.
4. (d) An attorney at law may retain property subject to a lien under this section and bring an action for execution under the lien only in accordance with rules that the Supreme Court of Maryland adopts.

Added by Acts 1989, c. 3, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1989, c. 632, § 3; Acts 2002, c. 422, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2002; Acts 2023, c. 49, § 6.

Formerly Art. 10, § 46.