ETHICS OPINION 593-1971 LISTING FOREIGN LAW FIRM ON STATIONERY OF NEW YORK LAW FIRM IMPROPER

Opinion Number 593-

NUMBER 593

QUESTION.

 

A New York law firm has entered into “partnership arrangements” with law firms in Rome and London relating to representation of clients in their respective countries. We understand that no member of the New York firm would be a partner of the Rome or London firm and no member of either of the foreign firms would be a member of the New York firm.

 

The New York firm asks whether any of the following listings would be permissible under our Code of Professional Responsibility, with similar listing for the Rome office:

 

I. London office:

 

No. – Jermyn Street

S t. James

London, S.W. 1, England

or

II. Jones-Smith (Firm Name)

No. – Jermyn Street

St. James

London, S.W.1. England

or

III. William Jones*

No. – Jermyn Street

(London, S.W.I, England

*(Admitted only in

Supreme Court of Judicature).

 

ANSWER.

The relationship described appears to be a contractual one among separate firms, not a partnership among individual lawyers. It is therefore a relationship equivalent to that of correspondents. As we stated in our Opinion No. 592, it constitutes improper advertising for a New York law firm to list a foreign firm as its “correspondent” either on the New York firm’s letterhead or on the entrance to its offices. See N.Y. City 847 and 867; Canon 2. Accordingly, none of the suggested listings or any other similar listing would be proper.

 

November 4, 1971