Business & M&A, Legal Knowledge

Under What Enterprise Forms May a Law Firm Be Established?

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Short answer: A law firm may be organized under 3 forms: a single-member law firm LLC (established by one lawyer), a multi-member law firm LLC (established by at least two lawyers), and a law firm partnership (established by at least two lawyers). The mandatory common point: founding members must be practicing lawyers.

Legal basis

  • Law on Lawyers 2006 (as amended and supplemented), Articles 33–35 — lawyer practice organizations.

The three forms of law firms

  • Single-member law firm LLC: established by one lawyer or one organization as the owner;
  • Multi-member law firm LLC: established by at least two lawyers;
  • Law firm partnership: established by at least two lawyers, with general partners bearing unlimited liability.

Membership conditions

  • Founding members must be lawyers holding a Lawyer Practice Certificate and admitted to a Bar Association;
  • A lawyer establishing a law firm must have at least 02 years of continuous practice (as prescribed);
  • The law firm’s name must include the words “Law Firm”.

Distinction from lawyer’s offices

  • Lawyer’s office: established by one lawyer, operating as a private enterprise — unlimited liability;
  • Law firm LLC: limited liability within the scope of charter capital;
  • Law firm partnership: general partners bear unlimited liability, capital-contributing members bear limited liability.

Establishment procedures

  1. Prepare the dossier: application for operation registration, draft Charter, copies of Lawyer Practice Certificates…;
  2. Submit to the provincial Department of Justice where the head office is located;
  3. Be granted the Operation Registration Certificate when conditions are met;
  4. Make seals, open accounts, and publish information as prescribed.

If you need to determine the right approach for your specific situation, you should discuss it with a lawyer in advance for a review of your documents and advice on the course of action.

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  • What enterprise form does a lawyer’s office established by one lawyer take?
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