Is an order of substitution required for a change of counsel within the same firm?

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Substitution of counsel within the same firm is handled administratively rather than by court order. The proper mechanism is to file a Notice of Substitution of Counsel (or Association of Counsel) with the court and serve it on all parties. This updates the court’s records and informs opposing counsel who will represent the client going forward. The client must consent to the change, and the new attorney of record from the same firm simply takes over the representation. Because there’s no change of firms or new attorney-client relationship, no court order is required. If the change involved moving to a different firm or if local rules require it, a formal motion and order might be necessary, but within the same firm the notice suffices.