Report comment

When I set up my firin in 94, if I remember correctly, it was compulsory to use part of your real name. There were all kinds of other names I coudl have use d including describing the specialist area of commercial law I do in the title but no it was forbidden so instead I had to join a list of about 5 firms with a very similar name to mine. Too late to change it now but I do regularly have calls for one of the same name as I despite being smaller than they are do a lot more publicity. I am quite happy to pass people on to them.

By the way if someone does breach a registered trade mark however (although note there is an exception in trade mark law for using your own name although not if you deliberately change it by deed poll say to Mr Harrods) or engage in passing off you will breach the law and I bet the SRA rules say don't breach the law so you could well come unstuck that way.

Mind you the Law Society instructed me in 94 to use my own name and I obeyed and now they were to say I pass off as XYZ that would be a bit much. May be they would be estopped from so arguing!