FACTS:
Atty. Dacanay sought to enjoin Juan Collas and nine other
lawyers from practicing law under the name Baker and McKenzie, a law firm
organized in Illinois. In 1979 respondent Vicente A. Torres used the letterhead
of Baker & McKenzie which contains the names of the ten lawyers asking Rosie
Clurman for the release of 87 shares of Cathay Products International, Inc. to
H.E. Gabriel, a client. Atty. Dacanay replied denying any liability of Clurman
and asking the lawyer his purpose of using the letterhead of another law
office.
ISSUE: Whether or not respondents should enjoin from practising law under the firm name Baker & McKenzie.
HELD:
YES. Baker & McKenzie, being an alien law firm, cannot practice law in the
Philippines (Sec. 1, Rule 138, Rules of Court).
- Who may practice law. - Any person heretofore duly admitted as a member of the bar, or hereafter admitted as such in accordance with the provisions of this rule, and who is in good and regular standing, is entitled to practice law.
Respondents' use of
the firm name Baker & McKenzie constitutes a representation that being
associated with the firm they could "render legal services of the highest
quality to multinational business enterprises and others engaged in foreign
trade and investment" which the Court finds unethical because Baker &
McKenzie is not authorized to practise law here.
WHEREFORE, the respondents are enjoined from practising law
under the firm name Baker & McKenzie.
