Can a law firm name itself '____ & Company'?
Apply this to your situation
This page answers the general question as of 1996. Ask about yours and see what the current Washington Rules of Professional Conduct say for your facts, with citations.
Plain-English summary
A lawyer asked whether a law practice can be named "____ & Company." The committee was of the opinion that the use of the word "company" in a law firm name is prohibited by RPC 7.1, 7.5(a), and 7.5(d) without further explanation of the organizational structure of the law practice.
Currency note
This opinion was issued in 1996, before the Washington State Bar Association's adoption of the 2006 revisions to the Rules of Professional Conduct. Subsequent rule amendments or later opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance. Verify against current rules before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or requirement mentioned here. Washington's RPC 7.1 and 7.5 correspond to ABA Model Rules 7.1 (communications about a lawyer's services) and 7.5 (firm names and letterheads).
Common questions
Q: Can a law firm call itself "& Company"?
A: The committee was of the opinion that using "company" in a law firm name is prohibited by RPC 7.1, 7.5(a), and 7.5(d) without further explanation of the law practice's organizational structure.
Q: Could the firm use "company" with some qualification?
A: The committee's conclusion was that the bar applies "without further explanation of the organizational structure of the law practice," indicating the problem is the unexplained use of the term.
Background and rules framework
The opinion applied RPC 7.1 (communications about a lawyer's services, corresponding to ABA Model Rule 7.1) and RPC 7.5(a) and (d) (firm names and letterheads, corresponding to ABA Model Rule 7.5). The committee treated "company" in a firm name as potentially misleading about the practice's organizational structure, and so prohibited absent further explanation.
Citations and references
Rules of Professional Conduct:
- ABA Model Rule 7.1 (communications concerning a lawyer's services); Washington RPC 7.1
- ABA Model Rule 7.5 (firm names and letterheads); Washington RPC 7.5(a), 7.5(d)
See also
- WA Ethics Op. 1657: Whether a P.L.L.C. May Call Itself a "Firm" or "Company"
- WA Ethics Op. 1622: Calling a Non-Owner Lawyer a "Principal"
Source
- Landing page: https://ao.wsba.org/print.aspx?ID=738
Original opinion text
Reproduced from the official source for research purposes. The linked source is authoritative.
Advisory Opinion: 1656
Year Issued: 1996
RPC(s): RPC 7.1; 7.5(a); 7.5(d)
Subject: Law firm name; use of "& Company"
You ask whether a law practice can be named "____ & Company". The Committee was of the opinion that the use of the word "company" in a law firm name is prohibited by RPC 7.1, 7.5(a), and 7.5(d) without further explanation of the organizational structure of the law practice.
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