Section 10A: Law firm

10A. Law firm (1) Where one or more law practitioners, or one or more law practitioners and a legal consultant intend to set up a law firm, they shall make a written application to the Attorney-General for registration in such form and manner as may be prescribed. (2) On receipt of an application under subsection (1), the AttorneyGeneral may cause the name of the law firm to be entered in the Register where— (a) the constitution or the objects of the law firm provide that its primary object is to provide legal services in accordance with this Act; (b) the name of the law firm— (i) is not misleading or inappropriate, having regard to the dignity of the legal profession; (ii) is not similar to that of another registered law firm, foreign law firm or joint law venture so as to be likely to cause confusion; or (iii) in the case of a company, is not inconsistent with section 35 of the Companies Act; and (c) the firm otherwise complies with the requirements of this Act. (3) A law firm which is a company, need not, notwithstanding sections 32 and 33 of the Companies Act, have the word “Limited” or “Ltd” as part of its name. (4) Where the name of a law firm has been entered in the Register, it shall— (a) notwithstanding any other enactment, not alter its constitution or objects or its name except with the written approval of the Attorney-General; [Issue 4] L8 – 8 (2) Revised Laws of Mauritius (b) on every correspondence, invoice or other document issued by it or on its behalf, mention the fact that it is a law firm registered under this Act; and (c) designate in writing to the Legal Secretary the name of its signing practitioner or practitioners. (5) Where the name of a law firm has, through inadvertence or otherwise, been entered in the Register in contravention of subsection (2) (b), the Attorney-General may direct the name to be altered and the law firm shall comply with any such direction. (6) In any enactment other than this Act, a reference to a barrister, an attorney or a notary shall be construed as including a reference to a law firm. (7) Any invoice raised by a law firm for the provision of legal services shall be made in the name of that firm. [S. 10A inserted by s. 6 of Act 8 of 2008 w.e.f. 15 December 2008.]