Advisory Opinion: 1571

Year Issued: 1994

RPC(s): RPC 7.5(a)

Subject: Firm name; use of deceased or former partner's name

I have been instructed by the Rules of Professional Conduct Committee to respond to your inquiry regarding a law firm name. Specifically, you ask if it was permissible to use a deceased partner's name in the law firm name, even though an attorney with the same name has left the firm.

It was the RPC Committee's opinion that it is permissible under RPC 7.5(a) to use the name of the deceased attorney in the law firm name, but it is not permissible to continue using the attorney's name who left the firm.

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.