| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | By: Cain H.B. No. 4543 | |
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 4 | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED | |
| 5 | 5 | AN ACT | |
| 6 | 6 | relating to firm names used by licensed attorneys. | |
| 7 | 7 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | |
| 8 | 8 | SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 81, Government Code, is | |
| 9 | 9 | amended by adding Section 81.116 to read as follows: | |
| 10 | 10 | Sec. 81.116. FIRM NAMES. (a) An attorney may not use a firm | |
| 11 | 11 | name, letterhead, or other professional designation that is false, | |
| 12 | 12 | misleading, or deceptive. | |
| 13 | 13 | (b) An attorney may practice under a trade name that: | |
| 14 | 14 | (1) does not imply a connection with a government | |
| 15 | 15 | agency or with a public or charitable legal services organization; | |
| 16 | 16 | (2) does not imply the firm is something other than a | |
| 17 | 17 | private law firm; and | |
| 18 | 18 | (3) is not false, misleading, or deceptive. | |
| 19 | 19 | (c) The supreme court may not adopt rules that conflict with | |
| 20 | 20 | this section. | |
| 21 | 21 | SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date | |
| 22 | 22 | of this Act, the Texas Supreme Court shall modify its rules as | |
| 23 | 23 | necessary to comply with Section 81.116, Government Code, as added | |
| 24 | 24 | by this Act. | |
| 25 | 25 | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |