Subject to subsection (b) of this section, an attorney at law has a lien on: 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 a settlement, judgment, or award that a client receives as a result of legal services that the attorney at law performs. 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. A lien under this section is subordinate only to: a prior lien for wages due to an employee of the client for work related to the settlement, judgment, or award; or a lien for taxes that the client owes the State. 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.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Lawyer counseling committee” means a group of individuals that: is recognized by the Supreme Court of Maryland; is a standing committee of the Maryland State Bar Association or of a local bar association; consists of lawyers and other individuals necessary to carry out the functions of the committee; and evaluates and helps a lawyer in need of treatment and rehabilitation for: substance abuse; or any other physical, emotional, or mental condition that adversely affects the ability of the lawyer to practice law in accordance with the rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Maryland. “Local bar association” means: in Baltimore City, the Bar Association of Baltimore City; or in each county, the bar association with the greatest number of members who are residents of the county and who maintain their principal office for the practice of law in that county. This subsection does not apply to a proceeding before the Attorney Grievance Commission or a disciplinary proceeding against a lawyer before a circuit court or the Supreme Court of Maryland. The proceedings, records, and files of a lawyer counseling committee are not admissible into evidence or discoverable in an action that arises out of a matter that the lawyer counseling committee is or has been reviewing. Notwithstanding any other law, a member of a lawyer counseling committee shall have the immunity from liability and may not be subject to any disciplinary proceeding as described in § 5–416 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article.