Attorney Paymaster Services for Commissions and Large Transactions

What an attorney paymaster does

In many trades the buyer and seller are connected by a chain of mandates, facilitators and brokers, each expecting a commission. Nobody wants to send money straight to a stranger, and intermediaries worry about being cut out once the main parties meet. An attorney paymaster sits in the middle: the funds go into the attorney's trust account, and each person is paid from there exactly as agreed.

Who uses a paymaster

• Sellers who must pay several brokers and want one clean, documented payout.
• Brokers and intermediaries who want assurance their commission will be paid.
• Buyers who want the money held by a neutral lawyer rather than sent directly to the seller.
• Companies abroad that need a U.S. attorney to receive and distribute funds in dollars.

Paymaster services by industry

• Oil and petroleum paymaster
• Gold and precious metals paymaster
• Bitcoin and cryptocurrency paymaster
• Currency transaction paymaster
• Medical supplies and PPE paymaster

The paymaster process

1. All parties sign the sale contract and a commission or payment agreement listing every beneficiary and amount.
2. The paying party signs a paymaster fee agreement with the firm.
3. Each beneficiary uploads identification, company records and tax forms through our secure client portal.
4. Funds are wired to the client trust account and receipt is confirmed in writing.
5. Each beneficiary is paid by wire, and every party receives an accounting.

More detail: How commission disbursement works and attorney escrow services.

Questions about attorney paymasters

What is an attorney paymaster?

A licensed lawyer who acts as a neutral third party in a transaction. The paying party wires funds to the attorney's client trust account, and the attorney pays the seller, brokers and other beneficiaries according to the signed paymaster agreement.

How does a paymaster protect broker commissions?

Each intermediary's commission is written into a signed agreement, and the commission is paid from the attorney's trust account when the deal closes. The parties cannot simply bypass the brokers once they have been introduced.

Is a paymaster the same as escrow?

They are closely related. Escrow usually means holding funds until conditions are met. Paymaster usually means receiving funds and distributing them to several payees. Many engagements involve both.

Does the paymaster represent me in the deal?

No. The paymaster is neutral and does not negotiate for either side or change the contract terms. Separate legal advice is a different engagement.

What does a paymaster cost?

Fees quoted per transaction. Please contact Bahram Madaen directly for a price. Every fee is confirmed in writing before funds are received.

How long do payments take?

We aim to pay the same or next business day once all conditions are met and every party's documents are in hand. A bank may hold a large wire for its own review.