Informal Opinion Number: 950138

QUESTION: Attorney will incorporate under the name of “Law Office of Pat Doe.” The firm of which Attorney was previously a member was “Red, Green, Roe and Doe.” Red and Green were members of the firm at the time of their deaths. Roe was a member of the firm at the time Roe became a judge. May Attorney refer to these members of the previous firm on Attorney´s letterhead? May Attorney refer to this firm as “established in 19XX” which is the year that the first member of the predecessor firm began practice? ANSWER: No. The references would violate Rule 4-7.1 and 4-7.5

Informal Opinions are ethics advisory opinions issued by the Office of Legal Ethics Counsel to members of the Bar about Rule 4 (Rules of Professional Conduct), Rule 5 (Complaints and Proceedings Thereon), and Rule 6 (Fees to Practice Law) pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5.30(c). Written summaries of select Informal Opinions are published for informational purposes as determined by the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri pursuant to Rule 5.30(c). Informal opinion summaries are advisory in nature and are not binding. These opinions are published as an educational service and do not constitute legal advice.

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