Regulation 41
Approval of formation and name of Singapore group practice
of Legal Profession (Law Practice Entities) Rules 2015
Subregulation 1
The sole proprietors, partners and directors of the Singapore law practices which wish to practise as a Singapore group practice must apply to the Director of Legal Services for —
approval to form the Singapore group practice; and
approval of the proposed name of the Singapore group practice (including the manner in which that name will be used in conjunction with the name of each Singapore law practice in the Singapore group practice).
Subregulation 2
An application under paragraph (1) must be made in such form as the Director of Legal Services may require, and must be accompanied by —
such documents, particulars and information as the Director of Legal Services may require; and
the appropriate fee specified in the First Schedule.
Subregulation 3
The Director of Legal Services may, on receiving an application under paragraph (1), approve the formation and name of a Singapore group practice, subject to such conditions as the Director of Legal Services may think fit to impose in any particular case.
Subregulation 4
If an approval under paragraph (3) is granted, the Director of Legal Services must issue the applicants a certificate of approval.
Subregulation 5
A Singapore law practice must not practise as a member of a Singapore group practice unless —
there are at least 2 Singapore law practices constituting the Singapore group practice; and
the Director of Legal Services approves under paragraph (3) the formation and name of the Singapore group practice.
Subregulation 6
The Director of Legal Services must not approve a proposed name of a Singapore group practice if, in the opinion of the Director of Legal Services, the proposed name —
is misleading or detracts from the dignity of the legal profession;
is so similar to the name of another law practice entity, Singapore group practice or foreign group practice as to be likely to be confused with that other law practice entity, Singapore group practice or foreign group practice; or
is inconsistent with any rules made under section 71(2) of the Act.
Subregulation 7
The name of a Singapore group practice cannot be changed without the prior approval in writing of the Director of Legal Services.
Subregulation 8
Despite paragraphs (6) and (7), where the Director of Legal Services is satisfied that the name of a Singapore group practice has been approved (whether through inadvertence or otherwise and whether originally or by change of name) in contravention of paragraph (6), or that any Singapore law practice has withdrawn from a Singapore group practice —
the Director of Legal Services may direct that the name of the Singapore group practice be changed to such other name as the Director of Legal Services may approve; and
the Singapore group practice must comply with that direction within 6 weeks after the date of that direction or such longer period as the Director of Legal Services may allow.
Subregulation 9
If a Singapore group practice fails to comply with any direction under paragraph (8), the sole proprietors, partners and directors of the Singapore law practices constituting the Singapore group practice must immediately cease to practise under the name of the Singapore group practice.
Subregulation 10
Any Singapore law practice which joins or withdraws from a Singapore group practice must, within 7 days after such joining or withdrawal, notify the Director of Legal Services of such joining or withdrawal.
Subregulation 11
Every Singapore group practice must, within 7 days after any change in such particulars of the Singapore group practice as the Director of Legal Services may require in any specific case, notify the Director of Legal Services of such change.
Subregulation 12
Where a Singapore group practice ceases to be constituted by at least 2 Singapore law practices (for example, after the withdrawal of any Singapore law practice from the Singapore group practice) —
the Singapore group practice is dissolved; and
a Singapore law practice which had constituted the Singapore group practice must cease to hold itself out as a member of the Singapore group practice.
Subregulation 13
If, at any time after the Director of Legal Services has approved under paragraph (3) the formation and name of a Singapore group practice, the Director of Legal Services is satisfied that the application for the approval, or any certificate or other document accompanying that application, contains any substantially false statement or a suppression of any material fact, or that any such certificate or document was obtained by fraud or misrepresentation —
the Director of Legal Services may cancel the approval; and
upon the cancellation of the approval, the certificate of approval issued in respect of the approval ceases to be in force.
Subregulation 14
The Director of Legal Services must maintain a register of Singapore group practices and the Singapore law practices in each Singapore group practice.
Subregulation 15
Every group practice the name of which was approved by the Council under rule 6 of the revoked Legal Profession (Group Practice) Rules (R 19, 2001 Ed.) as in force before 18 November 2015, and which continues to exist immediately before that date, is to be treated, on and after that date, as a Singapore group practice the formation and name of which are approved by the Director of Legal Services under paragraph (3).
Subregulation 16
The Society may transfer to the Director of Legal Services the particulars of any group practice referred to in paragraph (15) (including the particulars of the Singapore law practices in that group practice), and the Director of Legal Services may, upon receiving those particulars, issue an approval under paragraph (3) in respect of that group practice, without any action on the part of that group practice or the sole proprietors, partners and directors of the Singapore law practices in that group practice.
Subregulation 17
With effect from 18 November 2015, any application which was made before that date under rule 6(4) of the revoked Legal Profession (Group Practice) Rules as in force immediately before that date, and which is pending immediately before that date, is to be treated, on and after that date, as an application under paragraph (1).
Subregulation 18
The Society may transfer to the Director of Legal Services the particulars of and any documents relating to any application referred to in paragraph (17).