{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-3937.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-3937.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-3937.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-3937.html"}],"law_id":85023,"edition_id":1,"section_id":85023,"structure_id":14793,"section_number":"54.1-3937","catch_line":"Procedure for revocation of certificate of registration of professional law corporations or professional limited liability companies","history":"1974, c. 674, \u00a7 54-74.1; 1980, c. 289; 1984, c. 703; 1988, c. 765; 1992, c. 574.","full_text":"A\n\nIf the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any circuit court of this Commonwealth observes, or if a complaint, verified by affidavit, is made by any person to a circuit court having jurisdiction where the alleged violation occurred, that any law corporation or professional limited liability company has willfully failed to comply with the applicable ethical standards of the Virginia Code of Professional Responsibility or the applicable statutes governing professional corporations or professional limited liability companies, such court may issue a rule against such law corporation or law professional limited liability company to show cause why its certificate of registration should not be revoked. If the complaint, verified by affidavit, is made by the Bar Counsel or a district committee of the Virginia State Bar, the court shall issue a rule against the law corporation or law professional limited liability company to show cause why its certificate of registration should not be revoked. However, such rule shall not issue if the violation is (i) that of one or several persons only and the interest of justice and the protection of the public can be fairly served by appropriate disciplinary proceedings against the individuals involved, or (ii) that the law corporation does not have a valid certificate of registration.B\n\nIf the rule is issued by the Supreme Court, the rule shall be returnable to the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond. At the time the rule is issued, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall designate three circuit court judges to hear and decide the case.\n\t\t\tIf the rule is issued by a circuit court or the Court of Appeals, it shall thereupon certify the fact of such issuance to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice shall designate three circuit court judges of circuits other than the circuit in which the case is pending to hear and decide the case.C\n\nBar Counsel of the Virginia State Bar shall prosecute the case. Special counsel may be appointed to prosecute the case pursuant to § 2.2-510.D\n\nIf, after notice and opportunity to be heard, the law corporation or law professional limited liability company is found guilty by the court of a willful failure to comply with the applicable ethical standards in the Virginia Code of Professional Responsibility or the applicable statutes governing professional corporations or professional limited liability companies, the court may (i) reprimand the professional corporation or professional limited liability company, (ii) put it on terms to comply with the applicable law or ethical standards within a reasonable time upon condition that failure to comply shall constitute grounds for suspension or revocation of the certificate of registration or for other disciplinary action, or (iii) suspend or revoke the certificate of registration. If the violation is such that it can be corrected upon notice to the law corporation or law professional limited liability company and it is corrected to the satisfaction of the court, or if the violation is that of one or several persons only, the certificate of registration shall not be suspended or revoked if the interest of justice and the protection of the public can be fairly served by applicable disciplinary proceedings against the individuals involved.E\n\nThe law corporation or professional limited liability company may, as of right, appeal from the judgment of the court to the Supreme Court by petition based upon a true transcript of the record, which shall be made up and certified as in actions at law. In all cases where a professional corporation’s or professional limited liability company’s certificate of registration has been revoked or suspended by the court, such revocation or suspension shall be suspended pending appeal.F\n\nIn any proceedings under this section the defendant shall be entitled to a full and fair hearing and representation by counsel.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":304757,"text":"If the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any circuit court of this Commonwealth observes, or if a complaint, verified by affidavit, is made by any person to a circuit court having jurisdiction where the alleged violation occurred, that any law corporation or professional limited liability company has willfully failed to comply with the applicable ethical standards of the Virginia Code of Professional Responsibility or the applicable statutes governing professional corporations or professional limited liability companies, such court may issue a rule against such law corporation or law professional limited liability company to show cause why its certificate of registration should not be revoked. If the complaint, verified by affidavit, is made by the Bar Counsel or a district committee of the Virginia State Bar, the court shall issue a rule against the law corporation or law professional limited liability company to show cause why its certificate of registration should not be revoked. However, such rule shall not issue if the violation is (i) that of one or several persons only and the interest of justice and the protection of the public can be fairly served by appropriate disciplinary proceedings against the individuals involved, or (ii) that the law corporation does not have a valid certificate of registration.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":304758,"text":"If the rule is issued by the Supreme Court, the rule shall be returnable to the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond. At the time the rule is issued, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall designate three circuit court judges to hear and decide the case.\n\t\t\tIf the rule is issued by a circuit court or the Court of Appeals, it shall thereupon certify the fact of such issuance to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice shall designate three circuit court judges of circuits other than the circuit in which the case is pending to hear and decide the case.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":304759,"text":"Bar Counsel of the Virginia State Bar shall prosecute the case. Special counsel may be appointed to prosecute the case pursuant to § 2.2-510.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":304760,"text":"If, after notice and opportunity to be heard, the law corporation or law professional limited liability company is found guilty by the court of a willful failure to comply with the applicable ethical standards in the Virginia Code of Professional Responsibility or the applicable statutes governing professional corporations or professional limited liability companies, the court may (i) reprimand the professional corporation or professional limited liability company, (ii) put it on terms to comply with the applicable law or ethical standards within a reasonable time upon condition that failure to comply shall constitute grounds for suspension or revocation of the certificate of registration or for other disciplinary action, or (iii) suspend or revoke the certificate of registration. If the violation is such that it can be corrected upon notice to the law corporation or law professional limited liability company and it is corrected to the satisfaction of the court, or if the violation is that of one or several persons only, the certificate of registration shall not be suspended or revoked if the interest of justice and the protection of the public can be fairly served by applicable disciplinary proceedings against the individuals involved.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":304761,"text":"The law corporation or professional limited liability company may, as of right, appeal from the judgment of the court to the Supreme Court by petition based upon a true transcript of the record, which shall be made up and certified as in actions at law. In all cases where a professional corporation’s or professional limited liability company’s certificate of registration has been revoked or suspended by the court, such revocation or suspension shall be suspended pending appeal.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":304762,"text":"In any proceedings under this section the defendant shall be entitled to a full and fair hearing and representation by counsel.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14793,"edition_id":1,"name":"Revocation or Suspension of Licenses; Disbarment Proceedings","identifier":"6","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13488,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:55","permalink":{"id":244411,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14793,"identifier":"6","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/6","url":"\/54.1\/IV\/39\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13488,"edition_id":1,"name":"Attorneys","identifier":"39","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13487,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:01","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:01","permalink":{"id":244227,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13488,"identifier":"39","token":"54.1\/IV\/39","url":"\/54.1\/IV\/39\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13487,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions Regulated by the Supreme Court","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:01","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:01","permalink":{"id":244225,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13487,"identifier":"IV","token":"54.1\/IV","url":"\/54.1\/IV\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":61301,"structure_id":14793,"section_number":"54.1-3934","catch_line":"Revocation of license by Board","url":"\/54.1-3934\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/6\/54.1-3934","metadata":false},{"id":63454,"structure_id":14793,"section_number":"54.1-3935","catch_line":"Procedure for disciplining attorneys by three-judge circuit court","url":"\/54.1-3935\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/6\/54.1-3935","metadata":false},{"id":82515,"structure_id":14793,"section_number":"54.1-3936","catch_line":"Protection of client interests in proceedings pending disciplinary action","url":"\/54.1-3936\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/6\/54.1-3936","metadata":false},{"id":85023,"structure_id":14793,"section_number":"54.1-3937","catch_line":"Procedure for revocation of certificate of registration of professional law corporations or professional limited liability companies","url":"\/54.1-3937\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/6\/54.1-3937","metadata":false},{"id":56586,"structure_id":14793,"section_number":"54.1-3938","catch_line":"Service of process in license revocation proceedings","url":"\/54.1-3938\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/6\/54.1-3938","metadata":false},{"id":73696,"structure_id":14793,"section_number":"54.1-3938.1","catch_line":"Subpoena issued pursuant to law of another jurisdiction","url":"\/54.1-3938.1\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/6\/54.1-3938.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":82515,"structure_id":14793,"section_number":"54.1-3936","catch_line":"Protection of client interests in proceedings pending disciplinary action","url":"\/54.1-3936\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/6\/54.1-3936","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":56586,"structure_id":14793,"section_number":"54.1-3938","catch_line":"Service of process in license revocation proceedings","url":"\/54.1-3938\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/6\/54.1-3938","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3937\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1974. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 674 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1974 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1980, chapter 289; in 1984, chapter 703; in 1988, chapter 765; in 1992, chapter 574.<\/p>","references":[{"id":87232,"section_number":"17.1-406","catch_line":"Appeals in criminal matters; cases over which Court of Appeals does not have jurisdiction","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-406\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":244425,"object_type":"law","relational_id":85023,"identifier":"54.1-3937","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/6\/54.1-3937","url":"\/54.1-3937\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3937\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/6\/54.1-3937","dublin_core":{"Title":"Procedure for revocation of certificate of registration of professional law corporations or professional limited liability companies","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3937","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> If the Supreme Court<\/span>, the Court<\/span> of Appeals<\/span> or any circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of this Commonwealth observes, or if a complaint, verified by affidavit<\/span>, is made by any person to a circuit<\/span> court<\/span> having jurisdiction<\/span> where the alleged violation occurred, that any law<\/span> corporation or professional limited liability company has willfully failed to comply with the applicable ethical standards of the Virginia Code of Professional Responsibility or the applicable statutes<\/span> governing professional corporations or professional limited liability companies, such court<\/span> may issue<\/span> a rule against such law<\/span> corporation or law<\/span> professional limited liability company to show cause why its certificate of registration should not be revoked. If the complaint, verified by affidavit<\/span>, is made by the Bar Counsel<\/span> or a district committee of the Virginia State Bar, the court<\/span> shall issue<\/span> a rule against the law<\/span> corporation or law<\/span> professional limited liability company to show cause why its certificate of registration should not be revoked. However, such rule shall not issue<\/span> if the violation is (i) that of one or several persons only and the interest of justice and the protection of the public can be fairly served by appropriate disciplinary proceedings against the individuals involved, or (ii) that the law<\/span> corporation does not have a valid certificate of registration. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If the rule is issued by the Supreme Court<\/span>, the rule shall be returnable to the Circuit<\/span> Court<\/span> of the City of Richmond. At the time the rule is issued, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court<\/span> shall designate three circuit<\/span> court<\/span> judges<\/span> to hear and decide the case.\n\t\t\tIf the rule is issued by a circuit<\/span> court<\/span> or the Court<\/span> of Appeals<\/span>, it shall thereupon certify the fact<\/span> of such issuance to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court<\/span>. The Chief Justice shall designate three circuit<\/span> court<\/span> judges<\/span> of circuits<\/span> other than the circuit<\/span> in which the case is pending to hear and decide the case. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Bar Counsel<\/span> of the Virginia State Bar shall prosecute<\/span> the case. Special counsel<\/span> may be appointed to prosecute<\/span> the case pursuant to § 2.2-510<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> If, after notice and opportunity to be heard, the law<\/span> corporation or law<\/span> professional limited liability company is found guilty by the court<\/span> of a willful failure to comply with the applicable ethical standards in the Virginia Code of Professional Responsibility or the applicable statutes<\/span> governing professional corporations or professional limited liability companies, the court<\/span> may (i) reprimand the professional corporation or professional limited liability company, (ii) put it on terms to comply with the applicable law<\/span> or ethical standards within a reasonable time upon condition that failure to comply shall constitute grounds for suspension or revocation<\/span> of the certificate of registration or for other disciplinary action, or (iii) suspend or revoke the certificate of registration. If the violation is such that it can be corrected upon notice to the law<\/span> corporation or law<\/span> professional limited liability company and it is corrected to the satisfaction of the court<\/span>, or if the violation is that of one or several persons only, the certificate of registration shall not be suspended or revoked if the interest of justice and the protection of the public can be fairly served by applicable disciplinary proceedings against the individuals involved. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The law<\/span> corporation or professional limited liability company may, as of right, appeal<\/span> from the judgment<\/span> of the court<\/span> to the Supreme Court<\/span> by petition<\/span> based upon a true transcript<\/span> of the record, which shall be made up and certified as in actions at law<\/span>. In all cases where a professional corporation’s or professional limited liability company’s certificate of registration has been revoked or suspended by the court<\/span>, such revocation<\/span> or suspension shall be suspended pending appeal<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> In any proceedings under this section the defendant<\/span> shall be entitled to a full and fair hearing<\/span> and representation by counsel<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROCEDURE FOR REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL LAW\nCORPORATIONS OR PROFESSIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES (\u00a7 54.1-3937)\n\nA. If the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any circuit court of this\nCommonwealth observes, or if a complaint, verified by affidavit, is made by any\nperson to a circuit court having jurisdiction where the alleged violation\noccurred, that any law corporation or professional limited liability company has\nwillfully failed to comply with the applicable ethical standards of the Virginia\nCode of Professional Responsibility or the applicable statutes governing\nprofessional corporations or professional limited liability companies, such\ncourt may issue a rule against such law corporation or law professional limited\nliability company to show cause why its certificate of registration should not\nbe revoked. If the complaint, verified by affidavit, is made by the Bar Counsel\nor a district committee of the Virginia State Bar, the court shall issue a rule\nagainst the law corporation or law professional limited liability company to\nshow cause why its certificate of registration should not be revoked. However,\nsuch rule shall not issue if the violation is (i) that of one or several persons\nonly and the interest of justice and the protection of the public can be fairly\nserved by appropriate disciplinary proceedings against the individuals involved,\nor (ii) that the law corporation does not have a valid certificate of\nregistration.\n\nB. If the rule is issued by the Supreme Court, the rule shall be returnable to\nthe Circuit Court of the City of Richmond. At the time the rule is issued, the\nChief Justice of the Supreme Court shall designate three circuit court judges to\nhear and decide the case.\n\t\t\tIf the rule is issued by a circuit court or the Court of Appeals, it shall\nthereupon certify the fact of such issuance to the Chief Justice of the Supreme\nCourt. The Chief Justice shall designate three circuit court judges of circuits\nother than the circuit in which the case is pending to hear and decide the case.\n\nC. Bar Counsel of the Virginia State Bar shall prosecute the case. Special\ncounsel may be appointed to prosecute the case pursuant to § 2.2-510.\n\nD. If, after notice and opportunity to be heard, the law corporation or law\nprofessional limited liability company is found guilty by the court of a willful\nfailure to comply with the applicable ethical standards in the Virginia Code of\nProfessional Responsibility or the applicable statutes governing professional\ncorporations or professional limited liability companies, the court may (i)\nreprimand the professional corporation or professional limited liability\ncompany, (ii) put it on terms to comply with the applicable law or ethical\nstandards within a reasonable time upon condition that failure to comply shall\nconstitute grounds for suspension or revocation of the certificate of\nregistration or for other disciplinary action, or (iii) suspend or revoke the\ncertificate of registration. If the violation is such that it can be corrected\nupon notice to the law corporation or law professional limited liability company\nand it is corrected to the satisfaction of the court, or if the violation is\nthat of one or several persons only, the certificate of registration shall not\nbe suspended or revoked if the interest of justice and the protection of the\npublic can be fairly served by applicable disciplinary proceedings against the\nindividuals involved.\n\nE. The law corporation or professional limited liability company may, as of\nright, appeal from the judgment of the court to the Supreme Court by petition\nbased upon a true transcript of the record, which shall be made up and certified\nas in actions at law. In all cases where a professional corporation’s or\nprofessional limited liability company’s certificate of registration has\nbeen revoked or suspended by the court, such revocation or suspension shall be\nsuspended pending appeal.\n\nF. In any proceedings under this section the defendant shall be entitled to a\nfull and fair hearing and representation by counsel.\n\nHISTORY: 1974, c. 674, \u00a7 54-74.1; 1980, c. 289; 1984, c. 703; 1988, c. 765;\n1992, c. 574.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}