Is it possible to name a lawyer's office in Vietnam in English?

Is it possible to name a lawyer's office in Vietnam in English?

Pursuant to Article 33 of the Law on Lawyers 2006, the regulations on the law offices are as follows:

1. A lawyer's office set up by a lawyer is organized and operates in the form of a private enterprise.

The lawyer who sets up a lawyer's office is the chief of the office and takes charge of fulfilling all the office's obligations with all his/her property. The chief of an office is the office's representative at law.

2. The name of a lawyer's office is selected by the lawyer according to the provisions of the Enterprise Law but must contain the phrase "van phong luat su" (lawyer's office), must not be identical to, or cause confusion with, the names of registered law-practicing organizations and must not contain words, phrases or symbols against the historical, cultural or ethical traditions as well as fine customs of the nation.

3. A lawyer's office has its own seal and account as provided for by law.

Accordingly, Article 37 of the Law on Enterprises 2020 provides for the business name as follows:

1. The Vietnamese name of an enterprise shall contain two elements in order:

a) The type of enterprise;

b) The proper name.

2. The type of enterprise shall be “công ty trách nhiệm hữu hạn” or “công ty TNHH” for limited liability companies; “công ty cổ phần” or “công ty CP” for joint stock companies; “công ty hợp danh” or “công ty HD” for partnerships; “doanh nghiệp tư nhân”, “DNTN” or “doanh nghiệp TN” for sole proprietorships.

3. The proper name shall consist of letters in the Vietnamese alphabet, the letters F, J, Z, W, numbers and symbols.

4. The enterprise’s name shall be displayed at the headquarters, branches, representative offices and business locations of the enterprise and printed or written on transaction documents, records and printed materials published by the enterprise.

5. Pursuant to regulations of this Article, Articles 38, 39 and 41 of this Law, the business registration authority is entitled to refuse to register enterprise’s name.

Thus, according to the current regulations, the name of the lawyer's office in English may still include the phrase “Attorney's Office” and this English name phrase does not violate the prohibitions in Vietnam.

What are the prohibitions in naming businesses in Vietnam?

According to Article 38 of the Law on Enterprises 2020 on prohibitions in naming enterprises as follows:

1. Use of any name that is identical or confusingly similar to another enterprise’s name that is registered in accordance with Article 41 of this Article.

2. Use of the name of a state authority, the People’s military unit, political organization, socio-political organization, socio-political-professional organization, social organization, social-professional organization as part or all of an enterprise’s name, unless it is accepted by that authority, unit or organization.

3. Use of words or symbols that against the country’s history, culture, ethical values and good traditions.

Best Regards!