# Why are the names of attorney's firms in the US so boring? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 25, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317 "2010-04-25T19:02:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zoltar7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b38774/32.png) [@zoltar7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoltar7)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/21 "2010-04-26T18:48:07Z")
As firm names go, I like [Mofo](http://www.mofo.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/22 "2010-04-26T19:03:26Z")
If I were a lawyer and started my own firm I would call it Hungadunda, Hungadunga, Hungadunga, and McCormick. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/23 "2010-04-26T19:23:49Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > If I were a lawyer and started my own firm I would call it Hungadunda, Hungadunga, Hungadunga, and McCormick. I think I recall from my professional responsibility class that most state bar associations have rules about the individual’s names that can be included in your firm name. For example, though it might lend prestige to my firm to call it Marshall & Holmes (after the supreme court justices), unless there are a Marshall and a Holmes, at some time in the firm’s history at least, the rules would prohibit it. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/24 "2010-04-26T19:27:53Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Its not simply a US thing. I believe all the magic circle firms in the UK are “boring” I think most of the law firms in the world follow this convention… Don’t most barristers’ chambers (yes, I realize it’s not the same thing as a law firm; just a bunch of sole practitioners sharing office space & clerical staff) have names based on geography or even just their street address? ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/25 "2010-04-27T02:14:58Z")
Who you gonna call? Chargebusters! ---
**Author:** ![Yogurt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/f0a364/32.png) [@Yogurt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yogurt)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/26 "2010-04-27T04:18:33Z")
In the fine state of Maryland, in order to operate as a professional service corporation, one MUST put their surname in the title. So that rather limits the options. ---
**Author:** ![MrFloppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@MrFloppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFloppy)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/27 "2010-04-27T04:42:03Z")
Dewey, Cheatem and Howe? ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/28 "2010-04-27T11:29:21Z")
> [@robert\_andrews](#): > > I think I once saw a “Smith, Smith, Smith, and Smith”. Guessing that it was a family business, what would have been the harm of calling it “Smith Family Law Practice”, or “Smith and Sons”, “Four Brothers”, or something even marginally more creative that “Smith, Smith, Smith, and Smith”? A man decides to call a law firm called Smith, Smith, Smith, and Smith. He asks to speak to Mr. Smith. The voice on the other end of the phone says, “He’s with a client.” He asks to speak to Mr. Smith. “Sorry, he’s at lunch.” Okay, can I speak with Mr. Smith? “He’s not in today, he’s out with the flu.” I’m sorry to hear that. Can I talk to Mr. Smith? “Speaking.” ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/29 "2010-04-27T12:09:52Z")
I’d definitely hire Kapowzler, Kapowzler, Cow Anuses, and Shit. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/30 "2010-04-27T13:17:32Z")
The name is Cheatham. “Cheatem” is not even a pun. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/31 "2010-04-27T14:42:26Z")
How can I be the first to mention **Mousebat, Follicle, Goosecreature, Ampersand, Spong, Wapcaplet, Looseliver, Vendetta and Prang**? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/32 "2010-04-27T15:00:42Z")
Because they’re advertisers, not lawyers. ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/33 "2010-04-27T15:13:13Z")
> [@robert\_andrews](#): > > I’ve noticed that all, or almost all, attorney’s firm names are simply something of the like: > > Name1, {Name2, …}, Attorneys At Law. > > For example, Smith and Jones, Attorneys At Law, or Johnson, Cohen, and Lieberman, Attorneys at Law. > > Do attorneys not care about branding? I know that some companies spend millions just on naming themselves - do attorneys just not care, and assume that since none of their law school profs ever worked under any company that wasn’t just a boring list of the founders or partners, that they shouldn’t either? > > Perhaps they need to maintain an aura of professionality, and something like "Su-Em-Nao ™ Inc., will get them laughed off the bar and onto every stuffy corporate executive’s blacklist. > > I think I once saw a “Smith, Smith, Smith, and Smith”. Guessing that it was a family business, what would have been the harm of calling it “Smith Family Law Practice”, or “Smith and Sons”, “Four Brothers”, or something even marginally more creative that “Smith, Smith, Smith, and Smith”? The posts about restrictions on professional service firm names seems to make sense. There is a firm around here that specializes in “lemon laws” for cars. Legally they are Kimmel and Silverman, but everywhere else they are [lemonlaw.com](http://lemonlaw.com). They drive these yellow VW beetles with Lemon [Law.Com](http://Law.Com) plastered on the side. That’s branding, but again, legally they have to be Kimmel and Silverman. Law firms can be branded around a person. After all, that is what they want you to buy into. When Joel Hyatt started Hyatt Legal Services, I suppose he could have called it Cheapo Attorneys R Us. But who would go there? Better to have Joel throw his mug up on the screen and tell people that they have his word on it. If you want a different name for your law firm, you probably need to get a partner with a cool name. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer which is based in the UK is usually just called Freshfields which is different at least. So if you start a law firm, legally change your name to John TaxBuster. Then you can call it Taxbusters Legal. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/34 "2010-04-27T15:18:05Z")
> [@Neptunian\_Slug](#): > > So if you start a law firm, legally change your name to John TaxBuster. Then you can call it Taxbusters Legal. In states that have strict naming guidelines, you likely won’t be able to get away with this. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/35 "2010-04-27T15:29:26Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Because they’re advertisers, not lawyers. Obviously, I should memorize the not-so-funny lines, too. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/36 "2010-04-27T16:08:27Z")
Out of curiosity what are law firms like in non-English speaking and/or common law countries like? Say France, Germany, Argentina, Russia, Japan, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/37 "2010-04-27T16:15:06Z")
New York is home to the atypically punctuated [Stroock & Stroock & Lavan](http://www.stroock.com/sitecontent.cfm?contentID=2). There must be a story behind that extra &, but it might not be all that interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/38 "2010-04-27T16:21:40Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Out of curiosity what are law firms like in non-English speaking and/or common law countries like? Say France, Germany, Argentina, Russia, Japan, etc. The non-U.K. firms (Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and Netherlands, mostly) appearing in [this list](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_European_law_firms) seem to follow the same naming pattern of British and American firms. ---
**Author:** ![Reloy3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/39 "2010-04-27T16:24:57Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > It seems like law firms want to convey an image of “Old Money.” “A1 Legal Services” or “Greater Springfield Attorneys” don’t really have that, sounding more like a tradesman. My law firm (OK, its just me and my wife) is named “_LastName_ Legal Services, P.C.”, and a friend of mine has a law office named “Plains Law Offices”, named after the geographical feature. That’s about as wild as I’ve seen it. When I was working for a couple of big law firms, I kind of thought the names backfired. If your name is on the firm, and you are dealing with an attorney whose name isn’t listed, it seems that you may feel like your a second-class client. (Although one of the firms I worked at, the last named partner died in the 1950’s.) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/40 "2010-04-27T16:33:46Z")
Accounting and consulting firms used to be the same way until about the 90s. After the merger, Price Waterhouse and Coopers and Lybrand came up with the infinitely more eyeball catching brand PricewaterhouseCoopers (or PwC). Whatever KPMG means, they were content to be an acronym. Deloitte & Touche went with the dot-comy Deloite. (note the period at the end). Even (the now defuct) Arthur Andersen’s consulting spinoff Andersen Consulting got on the dot-com tech consulting firm nonsensical one word name bandwagon and became “Accenture” (And they even hired a…gasp…Negro to be their spokesperson. And now it’s all pictures of powerplants at sunset and urban monuments and good looking people in suits writing on whiteboards with Expo markers. Exciting stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317.md?page=3)