Legal Definitions - counsel of record

The counsel of record, also known as attorney of record, is the lawyer who represents a party in a judicial proceeding. They receive formal documents and appear in court on behalf of their client.

• In People v. Macrander, the Supreme Court of Colorado defined an attorney of record as a lawyer who has formally appeared in court to represent a party in a judicial proceeding.
• In Maner v. Maner, the Alabama Supreme Court held that an attorney of record is a lawyer who has filed an appearance or pleading in the cause and is therefore presumed to have authority to bind their client by acceptance of service.
• In patent and trademark law, the attorney of record is a lawyer or agent named in a power of attorney filed by a patent or trademark applicant.

These examples illustrate that the counsel of record is the lawyer who officially represents a party in a legal proceeding. They are authorized to receive formal documents and appear in court on behalf of their client.