6/16/2016

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TodayisThursday,June16,2016

RepublicofthePhilippines
SUPREMECOURT
Manila
ENBANC
July30,1979
PETITIONFORAUTHORITYTOCONTINUEUSEOFTHEFIRMNAME"SYCIP,SALAZAR,FELICIANO,
HERNANDEZ&CASTILLO."LUCIANOE.SALAZAR,FLORENTINOP.FELICIANO,BENILDOG.
HERNANDEZ.GREGORIOR.CASTILLO.ALBERTOP.SANJUAN,JUANC.REYES.JR.,ANDRESG.
GATMAITAN,JUSTINOH.CACANINDIN,NOELA.LAMAN,ETHELWOLDOE.FERNANDEZ,ANGELITOC.
IMPERIO,EDUARDOR.CENIZA,TRISTANA.CATINDIG,ANCHETAK.TAN,andALICEV.PESIGAN,
petitioners.
INTHEMATTEROFTHEPETITIONFORAUTHORITYTOCONTINUEUSEOFTHEFIRMNAME"OZAETA,
ROMULO,DELEON,MABANTA&REYES."RICARDOJ.ROMULO,BENJAMINM.DELEON,ROMAN
MABANTA,JR.,JOSEMA,REYES,JESUSS.J.SAYOC,EDUARDODELOSANGELES,andJOSEF.
BUENAVENTURA,petitioners.
RESOLUTION
MELENCIOHERRERA,J.:

+.wph!1

TwoseparatePetitionswerefiledbeforethisCourt1)bythesurvivingpartnersofAtty.AlexanderSycip,whodied
onMay5,1975,and2)bythesurvivingpartnersofAtty.HerminioOzaeta,whodiedonFebruary14,1976,praying
thattheybeallowedtocontinueusing,inthenamesoftheirfirms,thenamesofpartnerswhohadpassedaway.In
theCourt'sResolutionofSeptember2,1976,bothPetitionswereorderedconsolidated.
Petitionersbasetheirpetitionsonthefollowingarguments:
1.Underthelaw,apartnershipisnotprohibitedfromcontinuingitsbusinessunderafirmnamewhichincludesthe
nameofadeceasedpartnerinfact,Article1840oftheCivilCodeexplicitlysanctionsthepracticewhenitprovides
inthelastparagraphthat:
t.hqw

Theusebythepersonorpartnershipcontinuingthebusinessofthepartnershipname,orthenameof
adeceasedpartneraspartthereof,shallnotofitselfmaketheindividualpropertyofthedeceased
partnerliableforanydebtscontractedbysuchpersonorpartnership.1
2.Inregulatingotherprofessions,suchasaccountancyandengineering,thelegislaturehasauthorizedtheadoption
offirmnameswithoutanyrestrictionastotheuse,insuchfirmname,ofthenameofadeceasedpartner2the
legislativeauthorizationgiventothoseengagedinthepracticeofaccountancyaprofessionrequiringthesamedegreeof
trustandconfidenceinrespectofclientsasthatimplicitintherelationshipofattorneyandclienttoacquireanduseatrade
name,stronglyindicatesthatthereisnofundamentalpolicythatisoffendedbythecontinuedusebyafirmofprofessionals
ofafirmnamewhichincludesthenameofadeceasedpartner,atleastwheresuchfirmnamehasacquiredthe
characteristicsofa"tradename."3

3.TheCanonsofProfessionalEthicsarenottransgressedbythecontinueduseofthenameofadeceasedpartner
inthefirmnameofalawpartnershipbecauseCanon33oftheCanonsofProfessionalEthicsadoptedbythe
AmericanBarAssociationdeclaresthat:
t.hqw

...Thecontinueduseofthenameofadeceasedorformerpartnerwhenpermissiblebylocalcustom,is
notunethicalbutcareshouldbetakenthatnoimpositionordeceptionispracticedthroughthisuse....4
4.Thereisnopossibilityofimpositionordeceptionbecausethedeathsoftheirrespectivedeceasedpartnerswere
wellpublicizedinallnewspapersofgeneralcirculationforseveraldaysthestationeriesnowbeingusedbythem
carrynewletterheadsindicatingtheyearswhentheirrespectivedeceasedpartnerswereconnectedwiththefirm
petitionerswillnotifyallleadingnationalandinternationallawdirectoriesofthefactoftheirrespectivedeceased
partners'deaths.5
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5.Nolocalcustomprohibitsthecontinueduseofadeceasedpartner'snameinaprofessionalfirm'sname6thereis
nocustomorusageinthePhilippines,oratleastintheGreaterManilaArea,whichrecognizesthatthenameofalawfirm
necessarilyIdentifiestheindividualmembersofthefirm.7

6.Thecontinueduseofadeceasedpartner'snameinthefirmnameoflawpartnershipshasbeenconsistently
allowedbyU.S.Courtsandisanacceptedpracticeinthelegalprofessionofmostcountriesintheworld.8
ThequestioninvolvedinthesePetitionsfirstcameunderconsiderationbythisCourtin1953whenalawfirmin
Cebu(theDeencase)continueditspracticeofincludinginitsfirmnamethatofadeceasedpartner,C.D.Johnston.
ThematterwasresolvedwiththisCourtadvisingthefirmtodesistfromincludingintheirfirmdesignationthename
ofC.D.Johnston,whohaslongbeendead."
ThesameissuewasraisedbeforethisCourtin1958asanincidentinG.R.No.L11964,entitledRegisterofDeeds
ofManilavs.ChinaBankingCorporation.ThelawfirmofPerkins&PonceEnrilemovedtointerveneasamicus
curiae.Beforeactingthereon,theCourt,inaResolutionofApril15,1957,statedthatit"wouldliketobeinformed
whythenameofPerkinsisstillbeingusedalthoughAtty.E.A.Perkinsisalreadydead."InaManifestationdated
May21,1957,thelawfirmofPerkinsandPonceEnrile,raisingsubstantiallythesameargumentsasthosenow
beingraisedbypetitioners,prayedthatthecontinueduseofthefirmname"Perkins&PonceEnrile"beheldproper.
OnJune16,1958,thisCourtresolved:

t.hqw

AftercarefullyconsideringthereasonsgivenbyAttorneysAlfonsoPonceEnrileandAssociatesfor
theircontinueduseofthenameofthedeceasedE.G.Perkins,theCourtfoundnoreasontodepart
fromthepolicyitadoptedinJune1953whenitrequiredAttorneysAlfredP.DeenandEddyA.Deenof
CebuCitytodesistfromincludingintheirfirmdesignation,thenameofC.D.Johnston,deceased.The
Courtbelievesthat,inviewofthepersonalandconfidentialnatureoftherelationsbetweenattorney
andclient,andthehighstandardsdemandedinthecanonsofprofessionalethics,nopracticeshould
beallowedwhicheveninaremotedegreecouldgiverisetothepossibilityofdeception.Saidattorneys
areaccordinglyadvisedtodropthename"PERKINS"fromtheirfirmname.
PetitionershereinnowseekareexaminationofthepolicythusfarenunciatedbytheCourt.
TheCourtfindsnosufficientreasontodepartfromtherulingsthuslaiddown.
A.Inasmuchas"Sycip,Salazar,Feliciano,HernandezandCastillo"and"Ozaeta,Romulo,DeLeon,Mabantaand
Reyes"arepartnerships,theuseintheirpartnershipnamesofthenamesofdeceasedpartnerswillruncounterto
Article1815oftheCivilCodewhichprovides:
t.hqw

Art.1815.Everypartnershipshalloperateunderafirmname,whichmayormaynotincludethename
ofoneormoreofthepartners.
Thosewho,notbeingmembersofthepartnership,includetheirnamesinthefirmname,shallbe
subjecttotheliability,ofapartner.
Itisclearlytacitintheaboveprovisionthatnamesinafirmnameofapartnershipmusteitherbethoseofliving
partnersand.inthecaseofnonpartners,shouldbelivingpersonswhocanbesubjectedtoliability.Infact,Article
1825oftheCivilCodeprohibitsathirdpersonfromincludinghisnameinthefirmnameunderpainofassumingthe
liabilityofapartner.Theheirsofadeceasedpartnerinalawfirmcannotbeheldliableastheoldmemberstothe
creditorsofafirmparticularlywheretheyarenonlawyers.Thus,Canon34oftheCanonsofProfessionalEthics
"prohibitsanagreementforthepaymenttothewidowandheirsofadeceasedlawyerofapercentage,eithergross
ornet,ofthefeesreceivedfromthefuturebusinessofthedeceasedlawyer'sclients,bothbecausetherecipientsof
suchdivisionarenotlawyersandbecausesuchpaymentswillnotrepresentserviceorresponsibilityonthepartof
therecipient."Accordingly,neitherthewidownortheheirscanbeheldliablefortransactionsenteredintoafterthe
deathoftheirlawyerpredecessor.Therebeingnobenefitsaccruing,thereranbenocorrespondingliability.
Prescindingthelaw,therecouldbepracticalobjectionstoallowingtheusebylawfirmsofthenamesofdeceased
partners.Thepublicrelationsvalueoftheuseofanoldfirmnamecantendtocreateundueadvantagesand
disadvantagesinthepracticeoftheprofession.Anablelawyerwithoutconnectionswillhavetomakeanamefor
himselfstartingfromscratch.Anotherablelawyer,whocanjoinanoldfirm,caninitiallyrideonthatoldfirm's
reputationestablishedbydeceasedpartners.
B.InregardstothelastparagraphofArticle1840oftheCivilCodecitedbypetitioners,supra,thefirstfactorto
consideristhatitiswithinChapter3ofTitleIXoftheCodeentitled"DissolutionandWindingUp."TheArticle
primarilydealswiththeexemptionfromliabilityincasesofadissolvedpartnership,oftheindividualpropertyofthe
deceasedpartnerfordebtscontractedbythepersonorpartnershipwhichcontinuesthebusinessusingthe
partnershipnameorthenameofthedeceasedpartneraspartthereof.Whatthelawcontemplatesthereinisahold
oversituationpreparatorytoformalreorganization.
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Secondly,Article1840treatsmoreofacommercialpartnershipwithagoodwilltoprotectratherthanofa
professionalpartnership,withnosaleablegoodwillbutwhosereputationdependsonthepersonalqualificationsof
itsindividualmembers.Thus,ithasbeenheldthatasaleablegoodwillcanexistonlyinacommercialpartnership
andcannotariseinaprofessionalpartnershipconsistingoflawyers.9
t.hqw

Asageneralrule,uponthedissolutionofacommercialpartnershipthesucceedingpartnersorparties
havetherighttocarryonthebusinessundertheoldname,intheabsenceofastipulationforbiddingit,
(s)incethenameofacommercialpartnershipisapartnershipassetinseparablefromthegoodwillof
thefirm....(60AmJur2d,s204,p.115)(Emphasissupplied)
Ontheotherhand,

t.hqw

...aprofessionalpartnershipthereputationofwhichdependsortheindividualskillofthemembers,
suchaspartnershipsofattorneysorphysicians,hasnogoodwintobedistributedasafirmassetonits
dissolution,howeverintrinsicallyvaluablesuchskillandreputationmaybe,especiallywherethereisno
provisioninthepartnershipagreementrelatingtogoodwillasanasset....(ibid,s203,p.115)
(Emphasissupplied)
C.Apartnershipforthepracticeoflawcannotbelikenedtopartnershipsformedbyotherprofessionalsorfor
business.Foronething,thelawonaccountancyspecificallyallowstheuseofatradenameinconnectionwiththe
practiceofaccountancy.10
t.hqw

Apartnershipforthepracticeoflawisnotalegalentity.Itisamererelationshiporassociationfora
particularpurpose....Itisnotapartnershipformedforthepurposeofcarryingontradeorbusinessor
ofholdingproperty."11Thus,ithasbeenstatedthat"theuseofanomdeplume,assumedortradenamein
lawpracticeisimproper.12
Theusualreasongivenfordifferentstandardsofconductbeingapplicabletothepracticeoflawfromthose
pertainingtobusinessisthatthelawisaprofession.

DeanPound,inhisrecentlypublishedcontributiontotheSurveyoftheLegalProfession,(TheLawyer
fromAntiquitytoModernTimes,p.5)definesaprofessionas"agroupofmenpursuingalearnedartas
acommoncallinginthespiritofpublicservice,nolessapublicservicebecauseitmayincidentally
beameansoflivelihood."
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Primarycharacteristicswhichdistinguishthelegalprofessionfrombusinessare:
1.Adutyofpublicservice,ofwhichtheemolumentisabyproduct,andinwhichonemayattainthe
highesteminencewithoutmakingmuchmoney.
2.Arelationasan"officerofcourt"totheadministrationofjusticeinvolvingthoroughsincerity,integrity,
andreliability.
3.Arelationtoclientsinthehighestdegreefiduciary.
4.Arelationtocolleaguesatthebarcharacterizedbycandor,fairness,andunwillingnesstoresortto
currentbusinessmethodsofadvertisingandencroachmentontheirpractice,ordealingdirectlywith
theirclients.13
"Therighttopracticelawisnotanaturalorconstitutionalrightbutisinthenatureofaprivilegeorfranchise.14Itis
limitedtopersonsofgoodmoralcharacterwithspecialqualificationsdulyascertainedandcertified.15Therightdoesnot
onlypresupposeinitspossessorintegrity,legalstandingandattainment,butalsotheexerciseofaspecialprivilege,highly
personalandpartakingofthenatureofapublictrust."16

D.PetitionerscitedCanon33oftheCanonsofProfessionalEthicsoftheAmericanBarAssociation"insupportof
theirpetitions.
ItistruethatCanon33doesnotconsiderasunethicalthecontinueduseofthenameofadeceasedorformer
partnerinthefirmnameofalawpartnershipwhensuchapracticeispermissiblebylocalcustombuttheCanon
warnsthatcareshouldbetakenthatnoimpositionordeceptionispracticedthroughthisuse.
ItmustbeconcededthatinthePhilippines,nolocalcustompermitsorallowsthecontinueduseofadeceasedor
formerpartner'snameinthefirmnamesoflawpartnerships.Firmnames,underourcustom,Identifythemore
activeand/ormoreseniormembersorpartnersofthelawfirm.Aglimpseatthehistoryofthefirmsofpetitioners
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andofotherlawfirmsinthiscountrywouldshowhowtheirfirmnameshaveevolvedandchangedfromtimetotime
asthecompositionofthepartnershipchanged.
t.hqw

Thecontinueduseofafirmnameafterthedeathofoneormoreofthepartnersdesignatedbyitis
properonlywheresustainedbylocalcustomandnotwherebycustomthispurportstoIdentifythe
activemembers....
Therewouldseemtobeaquestion,undertheworkingoftheCanon,astotheproprietyofaddingthe
nameofanewpartnerandatthesametimeretainingthatofadeceasedpartnerwhowasnevera
partnerwiththenewone.(H.S.Drinker,op.cit.,supra,atpp.207208)(Emphasissupplied).
Thepossibilityofdeceptionuponthepublic,realorconsequential,wherethenameofadeceasedpartnercontinues
tobeusedcannotberuledout.Apersoninsearchoflegalcounselmightbeguidedbythefamiliarringofa
distinguishednameappearinginafirmtitle.
E.PetitionersarguethatU.S.Courtshaveconsistentlyallowedthecontinueduseofadeceasedpartner'snamein
thefirmnameoflawpartnerships.Butthatissobecauseitissanctionedbycustom.
InthecaseofMendelsohnv.EquitableLifeAssuranceSociety(33N.Y.S.2d733)whichpetitionersSalazar,etal.
quotedintheirmemorandum,theNewYorkSupremeCourtsustainedtheuseofthefirmnameAlexander&Green
evenifnoneofthepresenttenpartnersofthefirmbearseithernamebecausethepracticewassanctionedby
customanddidnotoffendanystatutoryprovisionorlegislativepolicyandwasadoptedbyagreementoftheparties.
TheCourtstatedtherein:
t.hqw

Thepracticesoughttobeproscribedhasthesanctionofcustomandoffendsnostatutoryprovisionor
legislativepolicy.Canon33oftheCanonsofProfessionalEthicsofboththeAmericanBarAssociation
andtheNewYorkStateBarAssociationprovidesinpartasfollows:"Thecontinueduseofthenameof
adeceasedorformerpartner,whenpermissiblebylocalcustomisnotunethical,butcareshouldbe
takenthatnoimpositionordeceptionispracticedthroughthisuse."Thereisnoquestionastolocal
custom.Manyfirmsinthecityusethenamesofdeceasedmemberswiththeapprovalofother
attorneys,barassociationsandthecourts.TheAppellateDivisionoftheFirstDepartmenthas
consideredthematterandreachedTheconclusionthatsuchpracticeshouldnotbeprohibited.
(Emphasissupplied)
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NeitherthePartnershipLawnorthePenalLawprohibitsthepracticeinquestion.Theuseofthefirm
namehereinisalsosustainablebyreasonofagreementbetweenthepartners.18
Notsointhisjurisdictionwherethereisnolocalcustomthatsanctionsthepractice.Customhasbeendefinedasa
ruleofconductformedbyrepetitionofacts,uniformlyobserved(practiced)asasocialrule,legallybindingand
obligatory.19Courtstakenojudicialnoticeofcustom.Acustommustbeprovedasafact,accordingtotherulesof
evidence.20Alocalcustomasasourceofrightcannotbeconsideredbyacourtofjusticeunlesssuchcustomisproperly
establishedbycompetentevidencelikeanyotherfact.21Wefindsuchproofoftheexistenceofalocalcustom,andofthe
elementsrequisitetoconstitutethesame,wantingherein.Merelybecausesomethingisdoneasamatterofpracticedoes
notmeanthatCourtscanrelyonthesameforpurposesofadjudicationasajuridicalcustom.Juridicalcustommustbe
differentiatedfromsocialcustom.Theformercansupplementstatutorylaworbeappliedintheabsenceofsuchstatute.Not
sowiththelatter.

Moreover,judicialdecisionsapplyingorinterpretingthelawsformpartofthelegalsystem.22WhentheSupreme
CourtintheDeenandPerkinscasesissueditsResolutionsdirectinglawyerstodesistfromincludingthenamesofdeceased
partnersintheirfirmdesignation,itlaiddownalegalruleagainstwhichnocustomorpracticetothecontrary,evenifproven,
canprevail.Thisisnottospeakofourcivillawwhichclearlyordainsthatapartnershipisdissolvedbythedeathofany
partner.23Customwhicharecontrarytolaw,publicorderorpublicpolicyshallnotbecountenanced.24

Thepracticeoflawisintimatelyandpeculiarlyrelatedtotheadministrationofjusticeandshouldnotbeconsidered
likeanordinary"moneymakingtrade."
t.hqw

...Itisoftheessenceofaprofessionthatitispracticedinaspiritofpublicservice.Atrade...aims
primarilyatpersonalgainaprofessionattheexerciseofpowersbeneficialtomankind.If,asintheera
ofwidefreeopportunity,wethinkoffreecompetitiveselfassertionasthehighestgood,lawyerand
grocerandfarmermayseemtobefreelycompetingwiththeirfellowsintheircallinginordereachto
acquireasmuchoftheworld'sgoodashemaywithintheallowedhimbylaw.Butthememberofa
professiondoesnotregardhimselfasincompetitionwithhisprofessionalbrethren.Heisnotbartering
hisservicesasistheartisannorexchangingtheproductsofhisskillandlearningasthefarmersells
wheatorcorn.Thereshouldbenosuchthingasalawyers'orphysicians'strike.Thebestserviceof
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theprofessionalmanisoftenrenderedfornoequivalentorforatriflingequivalentanditishisprideto
dowhathedoesinawayworthyofhisprofessionevenifdonewithnoexpectationofreward,This
spiritofpublicserviceinwhichtheprofessionoflawisandoughttobeexercisedisaprerequisiteof
soundadministrationofjusticeaccordingtolaw.Theothertwoelementsofaprofession,namely,
organizationandpursuitofalearnedarthavetheirjustificationinthattheysecureandmaintainthat
spirit.25
Infine,petitioners'desiretopreservetheIdentityoftheirfirmsintheeyesofthepublicmustbowtolegalandethical
impediment.
ACCORDINGLY,thepetitionsfiledhereinaredeniedandpetitionersadvisedtodropthenames"SYCIP"and
"OZAETA"fromtheirrespectivefirmnames.Thosenamesmay,however,beincludedinthelistingofindividuals
whohavebeenpartnersintheirfirmsindicatingtheyearsduringwhichtheyservedassuch.
SOORDERED.
Teehankee,Concepcion,Jr.,Santos,Fernandez,GuerreroandDeCastro,JJ.,concur
Fernando,C.J.andAbadSantos,J.,tooknopart.

SeparateOpinions

FERNANDO,C.J.,concurring:
Thepetitionsaredenied,asthereareonlyfourvotesforgrantingthem,sevenoftheJusticesbeingofthecontrary
view,asexplainedinthepluralityopinionofJusticeAmeurfinaMelencioHerrera.Itisoutofdelicadezathatthe
undersigneddidnotparticipateinthedispositionofthesepetitions,asthelawofficeofSycip,Salazar,Feliciano,
HernandezandCastillostartedwiththepartnershipofQuisumbing,Sycip,andQuisumbing,theseniorpartner,the
lateRamonQuisumbing,beingthefatherinlawoftheundersigned,andthemostjuniorpartnerthen,NorbertoJ.
Quisumbing,beinghisbrotherinlaw.Fortherecord,theundersignedwishestoinvitetheattentionofall
concerned,andnotonlyofpetitioners,tothelastsentenceoftheopinionofJusticeAmeurfinaMelencioHerrera:
'Thosenames[SycipandOzaeta]may,however,beincludedinthelistingofindividualswtes
AQUINO,J.,dissenting:
Idissent.Thefourteenmembersofthelawfirm,Sycip,Salazar,Feliciano,Hernandez&Castillo,intheirpetitionof
June10,1975,prayedforauthoritytocontinuetheuseofthatfirmname,notwithstandingthedeathofAttorney
AlexanderSyciponMay5,1975(Mayherestinpeace).Hewasthefounderofthefirmwhichwasoriginallyknown
astheSycipLawOffice.
Ontheotherhand,thesevensurvivingpartnersofthelawfirm,Ozaeta,Romulo,DeLeon,Mabanta&Reyes,in
theirpetitionofAugust13,1976,prayedthattheybeallowedtocontinueusingthesaidfirmnamenotwithstanding
thedeathoftwopartners,formerJusticeRomanOzaetaandhisson,Herminio,onMay1,1972andFebruary14,
1976,respectively.
TheyallegedthatthesaidlawfirmwasacontinuationoftheOzaetaLawOfficewhichwasestablishedin1957by
JusticeOzaetaandhissonandthat,astothesaidlawfirm,thenameOzaetahasacquiredaninstitutionaland
secondaryconnotation.
Article1840oftheCivilCode,whichspeaksoftheusebythepartnershipofthenameofadeceasedpartneraspart
ofthepartnershipname,iscitedtojustifythepetitions.Alsoinvokedisthecanonthatthecontinuedusebyalaw
firmofthenameofadeceasedpartner,"whenpermissiblebylocalcustom,isnotunethical"aslongas"no
impositionordeceptionispractisedthroughthisuse"(Canon33oftheCanonsofLegalEthics).
Iamoftheopinionthatthepetitionmaybegrantedwiththeconditionthatitbeindicatedintheletterheadsofthe
twofirms(asthecasemaybe)thatAlexanderSycip,formerJusticeOzaetaandHerminioOzaetaaredeadorthe
periodwhentheyservedaspartnersshouldbestatedtherein.
Obviously,thepurposeofthetwofirmsincontinuingtheuseofthenamesoftheirdeceasedfoundersistoretainthe
clientswhohadcustomarilysoughtthelegalservicesofAttorneysSycipandOzaetaandtobenefitfromthe
goodwillattachedtothenamesofthoserespectedandesteemedlawpractitioners.Thatisalegitimatemotivation.
Theretentionoftheirnamesisnotillegalperse.ThatpracticewasfollowedbeforethewarbythelawfirmofJames
Ross.NotwithstandingthedeathofJudgeRossthefounderofthelawfirmofRoss,Lawrence,Selphand
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Carrascoso,hisnamewasretainedinthefirmnamewithanindicationoftheyearwhenhedied.Noone
complainedthattheretentionofthenameofJudgeRossinthefirmnamewasillegalorunethical.

#SeparateOpinions
FERNANDO,C.J.,concurring:
Thepetitionsaredenied,asthereareonlyfourvotesforgrantingthem,sevenoftheJusticesbeingofthecontrary
view,asexplainedinthepluralityopinionofJusticeAmeurfinaMelencioHerrera.Itisoutofdelicadezathatthe
undersigneddidnotparticipateinthedispositionofthesepetitions,asthelawofficeofSycip,Salazar,Feliciano,
HernandezandCastillostartedwiththepartnershipofQuisumbing,Sycip,andQuisumbing,theseniorpartner,the
lateRamonQuisumbing,beingthefatherinlawoftheundersigned,andthemostjuniorpartnerthen,NorbertoJ.
Quisumbing,beinghisbrotherinlaw.Fortherecord,theundersignedwishestoinvitetheattentionofall
concerned,andnotonlyofpetitioners,tothelastsentenceoftheopinionofJusticeAmeurfinaMelencioHerrera:
'Thosenames[SycipandOzaeta]may,however,beincludedinthelistingofindividualswtes
AQUINO,J.,dissenting:
Idissent.Thefourteenmembersofthelawfirm,Sycip,Salazar,Feliciano,Hernandez&Castillo,intheirpetitionof
June10,1975,prayedforauthoritytocontinuetheuseofthatfirmname,notwithstandingthedeathofAttorney
AlexanderSyciponMay5,1975(Mayherestinpeace).Hewasthefounderofthefirmwhichwasoriginallyknown
astheSycipLawOffice.
Ontheotherhand,thesevensurvivingpartnersofthelawfirm,Ozaeta,Romulo,DeLeon,Mabanta&Reyes,in
theirpetitionofAugust13,1976,prayedthattheybeallowedtocontinueusingthesaidfirmnamenotwithstanding
thedeathoftwopartners,formerJusticeRomanOzaetaandhisson,Herminio,onMay1,1972andFebruary14,
1976,respectively.
TheyallegedthatthesaidlawfirmwasacontinuationoftheOzaetaLawOfficewhichwasestablishedin1957by
JusticeOzaetaandhissonandthat,astothesaidlawfirm,thenameOzaetahasacquiredaninstitutionaland
secondaryconnotation.
Article1840oftheCivilCode,whichspeaksoftheusebythepartnershipofthenameofadeceasedpartneraspart
ofthepartnershipname,iscitedtojustifythepetitions.Alsoinvokedisthecanonthatthecontinuedusebyalaw
firmofthenameofadeceasedpartner,"whenpermissiblebylocalcustom,isnotunethical"aslongas"no
impositionordeceptionispractisedthroughthisuse"(Canon33oftheCanonsofLegalEthics).
Iamoftheopinionthatthepetitionmaybegrantedwiththeconditionthatitbeindicatedintheletterheadsofthe
twofirms(asthecasemaybe)thatAlexanderSycip,formerJusticeOzaetaandHerminioOzaetaaredeadorthe
periodwhentheyservedaspartnersshouldbestatedtherein.
Obviously,thepurposeofthetwofirmsincontinuingtheuseofthenamesoftheirdeceasedfoundersistoretainthe
clientswhohadcustomarilysoughtthelegalservicesofAttorneysSycipandOzaetaandtobenefitfromthe
goodwillattachedtothenamesofthoserespectedandesteemedlawpractitioners.Thatisalegitimatemotivation.
Theretentionoftheirnamesisnotillegalperse.ThatpracticewasfollowedbeforethewarbythelawfirmofJames
Ross.NotwithstandingthedeathofJudgeRossthefounderofthelawfirmofRoss,Lawrence,Selphand
Carrascoso,hisnamewasretainedinthefirmnamewithanindicationoftheyearwhenhedied.Noone
complainedthattheretentionofthenameofJudgeRossinthefirmnamewasillegalorunethical.
#Footnotes

t.hqw

1SeeMemorandumofSalazar,etal.,p.5:seealsoPetitionofRomulo,etal.,p.3.
2CitingSec,16A,PublicActNo.3105,asamendedbyCommonwealthActNo.342Sec.39,
CommonwealthActNo.294Sec.23,RepublicActNo.318Sec.39,RepublicActNo.184.
3MemorandumofSalazar,etal.,pp.78.
4MemorandumofSalazar,etal.,pp.810PetitionofRomulo,etal.,pp.34.
5MemorandumofSalazar,etal.,p.13PetitionofRomulo,etal.,p.4.
6PetitionofRomulo,etal.,p.4.
7MemorandumofSalazar,etal.,p.11.
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8MemorandumofSalazar,etal.,pp.67andpp.1618PetitionofRomulo.etal.,p,5.
9Seddalvs.Keating,8App.Div.2d44,185NYS2d630,affd7NY2d846,196NYS2d986,164NE
2d860.
10Section16A,CommonwealthActNo.342.
11InreCrawford'sEstate,184NE2d779,783.
12H.S.Drinker,LegalEthics(1953),p.206seealsoCanon33,par.2,CanonsofProfessionalEthics.
13H.S,Drinker,LegalEthics(1953)pp.45.
147C.J.S.708.
15AmJur270.
16InreLavine,41P2d161,allcitedinMartin,LegalandJudicialEthics,FifthEd.,p.8.
17Canons1to32whichwereadoptedbytheAmericanBarAssociationin1908werealsoadoptedby
thePhilippineBarAssociationin1917.TheAmericanBarAssociationadoptedCanons33to45in
1928,Canon46in1933andCanon47in1937.OnApril20,1946,whenCanons33to47where
alreadyineffect,theRevisedConstitutionofthePhilippineBarAssociationwasapprovedandit
providedthattheAssociation"adoptsandmakesitsowntheCodeofEthicsoftheAmericanBar
Association."(Martin,LegalandJudicialEthics,FifthEd.p,341).
1833N.Y.S.2d733,734.
19JBLReyes&RCPuno,OutlineofPhilippineCivilLaw.FourthEd.,Vol.I,p.7
20Article12,CivilCode.
21Patriarcavs.Orate,7Phil.390,395(1907).
22Art.8,CivilCode
23Art.1830,CivilCode.
24Art.11,CivilCode.
25RoscoePound,TheLawyerFromAntiquityToModernTimes,(1953),pp.910.
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