An admonition reported on the web page of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers

The respondent is the principal in a law firm in which he historically has employed at least one associate. Between 2000 and 2012 the respondent employed an attorney, first as an associate and later “of counsel” to the firm. The respondent owned the office building where one of the firm’s offices was located. In 2005, he put signage on the building’s façade including the associate’s name. The sign was displayed prominently above the main entrance to the building on a main street near the local courthouse.

In August 2012, the associate left the respondent’s employ entirely and in December 2012, began working in a government position. Eighteen months later, having noticed that the building’s façade still displayed her name, the now former associate contacted the respondent and requested that he remove it. The respondent acknowledged that he needed to do so and agreed to do it. By October 2016, the respondent had not removed her name from the building’s external façade.

The respondent removed the signage from the building nearly four years after the associate left the firm, and only after a complaint had been filed with bar counsel.

By holding his firm out to the public as including the associate for almost four years after she had left the firm, the respondent violated Mass. R. Prof. C. 7.1 and 7.5(a).

The respondent has been a member of the Massachusetts bar since 1987 and has no prior discipline. He received an admonition for the above misconduct.