Rule 7.5.Firm Names and Letterheads 
 (a)A lawyer shall not use or participate in the use of a firm 
 name, letterhead, professional card, office sign, telephone directory 
 listing, law list, legal directory listing, or other professional 
 designation that violates Rule 7.1. 
  
 (b)A lawyer in private practice shall not practice under a 
 tradename, a name that is misleading as to the identity of the lawyer or 
 lawyers practicing under such a name, or firm name containing names 
 other than those of one or more of the lawyers in the firm; provided, 
 the name of a professional corporation or professional association may 
 contain "P.C.", "L.L.C.", "L.L.P.", "P.A." or similar symbols indicating the 
 nature of the 
 organization,  and a legal clinic which meets all of the criteria of a 
 legal clinic  as defined by these rules may use "legal clinic" in its 
 name. 
  
 (c)A law firm with offices in more than one jurisdiction may 
 use the same name in each jurisdiction, but identification of the 
 lawyers in an office of the firm shall indicate the jurisdictional 
 limitations of those not licensed to practice in the jurisdiction where 
 the office is located. 
  
 (d)A firm may use, or continue to include in its name, the name 
 or names of one or more deceased or retired members of the firm or of a 
 predecessor firm in a continuing line of succession. 
  
 (e)The name of a lawyer holding a public office shall not be 
 used in the name of a law firm or in communications on its behalf, 
 during any substantial period in which the lawyer is not actively and 
 regularly practicing with the firm. 
  
 (f)Lawyers may state or imply that they practice in a 
 partnership or other organization only when that is a fact. 
  
 

                                                                
ANNOTATIONSSource: 
 (b) amended October 17, 1996, effective January 1, 1997. 
  
  
  
 COMMENT 
 The firm may be designated by the names of all or some of its members 
 or by the names of deceased members where there has been a continuing 
 succession in the firm's identity.  It may be observed that any name 
 including 
 the name of a deceased partner is, strictly speaking, a tradename.  The use of 
 such names to designate law firms is proven a useful means of identification. 
 However, it is misleading to use the name of a lawyer not associated with the 
 firm or a predecessor of the firm. 
  
 With regard to paragraph (f), lawyers sharing office facilities, 
 but who are not in fact partners, may not denominate themselves as, for 
 example, "Smith & Jones", for that title suggests partnership in the 
 practice of law. 
  
 A lawyer occupying a judicial, legislative, or public executive or 
 administrative position who has the right to practice law concurrently 
 may allow his or her name to remain in the name of the firm if the 
 lawyer actively continues to practice law as member thereof.  Otherwise, 
 the name should be removed from the firm name, and the lawyer should not 
 be identified as a past or present member of the firm.  In addition, the 
 lawyer should not hold himself or herself out as a practicing lawyer. 
  
 In order to avoid the possibility of misleading persons with whom 
 the lawyer deals, a lawyer should be scrupulous in the representation of 
 his or her professional status.  The lawyer should not hold himself or 
 herself out as being a partner or associate of a law firm if the lawyer 
 is not one in fact, and thus should not hold himself or herself out as a 
 partner or associate if the lawyer only shares office space with another 
 lawyer. 
  
 COMMITTEE COMMENT 
 The Committee decided not to adopt the provision in ABA proposed 
 Model Rule 7.5 which permits lawyers to practice under a tradename.  The 
 Committee determined that it would be misleading to the public if any 
 attorney practiced under a tradename.  Firms develop "a persona" which 
 becomes known to the public, which might not be known if lawyers 
 practiced under a tradename.  The Committee incorporated portions of 
 DR2-102(B) into Model Rule 7.5, paragraph (b) and (c).  The Committee 
 also believes that incorporating EC2-12 and EC2-13 into the Comments is 
 helpful in providing guidance to practicing lawyers. 
  
  
  
 ANNOTATION 
  
 Conduct violating this rule in conjunction with other disciplinary rules is sufficient 
 to justify suspension.  People v. Reed, 955 P.2d 65 (Colo. 1998).