It is routine to get potential client information (to ensure an attorney isn't adverse to the potential client on another matter) and to get information on known adverse parties for the potential matter of the potential client (to ensure those adverse parties aren't existing clients) prior to accepting a client.Furthermore, taking on a client without checking for conflicts may cause the attorney or firm to have to get rid of existing work they have for existing clients.  

Or perhaps they extended a curtesy invite expecting a friendly decline... and now they are caught in a very uncomfortable spot.

they just kept forgetting to send her the monthly reports in-between.Just don't believe them when they say not to worry about all those things in the contract that you feel uncomfortable with by saying oh, it won't ever happen, oh it's a standard contract.  

WE are going to Portugal in November will see if we run into him :) I know his routine if you do want to say hi. 

You need to be asking them all about their habits, routines, work hours, do they have weird hobbies or loud instruments.

We are investors who are here to help someone out of a situation that they’re uncomfortable being in.

These are to protect both parties and are not for the do-it-yourselfer.If things go wrong (after all, you could do this on a handshake) both of you will become different people and your relationship might turn in directions you're uncomfortable with.

If that market ends up being too uncomfortable for you but you still want to get in the STR game, we can certainly help you pivot to find something that is less of a budgetary stretch.

He went on to say that if that made me uncomfortable, then RE was probably not for me because the info is needed for underwriting. 

They yammered on about not ever doing business with me again, like it was their choice.Always do the right thing, even if it is uncomfortable.