Informal Opinion Number: 980185

QUESTION: Attorney has practiced as a sole practitioner for the last year using only Attorney´s name. Attorney has a colleague, “Pat Doe´, who is also a solo practitioner, but uses the firm name the Pat Doe Law Firm. The colleague has taken another position with a government entity and can no longer practice law. Attorney has started working out of the colleague´s office and they would like to continue using Pat Doe Law firm. May Attorney continue to use the firm name in spite of the absence of the colleague from the practice at this point?
ANSWER: Attorney may not continue to use the name Pat Doe Law Firm while Pat Doe is not a part of the practice.

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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