Opinion 1343

The Committee reviewed your inquiry concerning the use of letterhead by your firm which would identify another law firm as "affiliated with" your firm. The other firm intended to use similar letterhead. The Committee was of the opinion that you would need to comply with RPC 7.5(d), and it is not clear to the Committee that such a proposed letterhead would do so. See Formal Opinion 178 and its definition of the term "of counsel." I also enclose a copy of an informal opinion, number 841, indicating that individual lawyers in a law firm may be listed as "of counsel" with another firm but that the firm itself may not be listed as "of counsel."

Advisory Opinions are provided for the education of the Bar and reflect the opinion of the Committee on Professional Ethics (CPE) or its predecessors. Advisory Opinions are provided pursuant to the authorization granted by the Board of Governors, but are not individually approved by the Board and do not reflect the official position of the Bar association. Laws other than the Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct may apply to the inquiry. The Committee's answer does not include or opine about any other applicable law other than the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct.