New York Consolidated Laws, Judiciary Law - JUD § 475-a. Notice of lien

If prior to the commencement of an action, arbitration, mediation or a form of alternative dispute resolution, or a special or other proceeding, an attorney serves a notice of lien upon the person or persons against whom his or her client has or may have a claim or cause of action, the attorney has a lien upon the claim or cause of action from the time such notice is given, which attaches to a verdict, report, determination, decision, award, settlement or final order in his or her client's favor of any court, arbitral tribunal or of any state, municipal or federal department, except a department of labor, and to any money or property which may be recovered on account of such claim or cause of action in whatever hands they may come; and the lien cannot be affected by any settlement between the parties after such notice of lien is given. The notice shall, (1) be served by either personal service or registered mail; (2) be in writing; (3) state that the relationship of attorney and client has been established, the nature of the claim or cause of action, and that the attorney claims a lien on such claim or cause of action; (4) be signed by the client, or by a person on his or her behalf whose relationship is shown, and which signature shall also be witnessed by a disinterested person whose address shall also be given; and (5) be signed by the attorney. A lien obtained under this section shall otherwise have the same effect and be enforced in the same manner as a lien obtained under section four hundred seventy-five of this article.