Over the past year I was retained as local counsel on two matters here in Colorado and retained local counsel (on behalf of clients) twice to assist with matters in out-of-state venues. One case involved my obtaining pro hac vice status for my co-counsel here in Colorado, and another where I was admitted pro hac vice in a state where I am not licensed to practice law.
You need a good pathfinder when you travel away from home. A good local counsel will know more than the written and the unwritten rules—she will know the people.
Article: The Indispensable Local Counsel (American Bar Association)
Multi-jurisdictional practices and governance of lawyers means different rules in different venues limit what out of state lawyers can do with or without a license. In Utah, where I attended a mediation this year with a business client, to assist a client in a one-time ADR is not considered unauthorized practice of law in the state so long as I was not opening an office or trolling for clients while I was in Salt Lake City.
Co-counseling on cases locally in Colorado and working with out of state lawyers admitted or seeking to be admitted pro hac vice in Colorado continues to be a rewarding professional experience. I am looking forward to such collaborations in the future.