A Queens lawyer who promoted his law firm on signs attached to buildings he owns through corporate entities cannot sidestep New York City’s permit requirements for outdoor advertising, even though he was selling his own services on the signs, the majority on a Manhattan appeals court has ruled.

A panel of the Appellate Division, First Department on Thursday okayed fines imposed on attorney John Ciafone under the billboard law on a 3-2 vote, holding that the corporate ownership made a difference.