I have mentioned in the past that the use of the phrase "and associates" in a firm name can be found to be misleading when, in fact, there are no associates. I doubt a lawyer would be sanctioned just for that reason, but it has been discussed as a violation of the rules in cases where the attorneys violated a number of rules. For example, see Virginia State Bar v Head.
In that same context, Eric Turkewitz of the New York Personal Injury Blog is reporting that a recent case in New York listed the use of "and associates" as a violation of NY rule 7.5, as part of a list of violations discussed in the case. The case is Matter of Cardenas and you can read it here.
