Regulation 62
Approval of formation and name of foreign group practice
of Legal Profession (Law Practice Entities) Rules 2015
Subregulation 1
The sole proprietors, partners and directors of the licensed foreign law practices which wish to practise as a foreign group practice must apply to the Director of Legal Services for —
approval to form the foreign group practice; and
approval of the proposed name of the foreign group practice (including the manner in which that name will be used in conjunction with the names of each licensed foreign law practice in the foreign 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 foreign 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 licensed foreign law practice must not practise as a member of a foreign group practice unless the Director of Legal Services approves under paragraph (3) the formation and name of the foreign group practice.
Subregulation 6
The Director of Legal Services must not approve a proposed name of a foreign 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 foreign 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 foreign 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 licensed foreign law practice has withdrawn from a foreign group practice —
the Director of Legal Services may direct that the name of the foreign group practice be changed to such other name as the Director of Legal Services may approve; and
the foreign 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 foreign group practice fails to comply with any direction under paragraph (8), the sole proprietors, partners and directors of the licensed foreign law practices constituting the foreign group practice must immediately cease to practise under the name of the foreign group practice.
Subregulation 10
Any licensed foreign law practice which joins or withdraws from a foreign 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 foreign group practice must, within 7 days after any change in such particulars of the foreign 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
If, at any time after the Director of Legal Services has approved under paragraph (3) the formation and name of a foreign 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 13
The Director of Legal Services must maintain a register of foreign group practices and the licensed foreign law practices in each foreign group practice.