                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PROCEDURE FOR REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL LAW
CORPORATIONS OR PROFESSIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES (§ 54.1-3937)

A. 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.

B. 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.
			If 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. Bar Counsel of the Virginia State Bar shall prosecute the case. Special
counsel may be appointed to prosecute the case pursuant to &#xA7; 2.2-510.

D. 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.

E. 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&#8217;s or
professional limited liability company&#8217;s certificate of registration has
been revoked or suspended by the court, such revocation or suspension shall be
suspended pending appeal.

F. In any proceedings under this section the defendant shall be entitled to a
full and fair hearing and representation by counsel.

HISTORY: 1974, c. 674, § 54-74.1; 1980, c. 289; 1984, c. 703; 1988, c. 765;
1992, c. 574.