Privilege v Professional Secrecy

Représentant les avocats d’Europe
Representing Europe’s lawyers
Privilege v professional secrecy –
cross-border implications
Jonathan Goldsmith
Secretary General, CCBE
Conseil des barreaux européens – Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe
association internationale sans but lucratif - RPM Bruxelles 0.467.250.186
Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée 1-5 – B 1040 Brussels – Belgium – Tel. +32 (0)2 234 65 10 – Fax.+32 (0)2 234 65 11/12 – E-mail [email protected] – www.ccbe.org
Représentant les avocats d’Europe
Representing Europe’s lawyers
Question 1: Is there a need for action to eliminate
conflicts of professional rules to which
lawyers in cross-border practice may be
subject?
For
Against
There is clearly an increase in
such situations with increased
globalisation
The lawyer will usually be subject
to the most restrictive rule – is that
a bad thing?
Law firms/bars mention it more
often
Common sense will solve most
problems
A solution is legally more
satisfactory – if you have a
problem, try to solve it
Can there realistically be a
universal conflict rule?
How do you deal with national
legislation as opposed to
professional rules of the bar?
Conseil des barreaux européens – Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe
association internationale sans but lucratif - RPM Bruxelles 0.467.250.186
Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée 1-5 – B 1040 Brussels – Belgium – Tel. +32 (0)2 234 65 10 – Fax.+32 (0)2 234 65 11/12 – E-mail [email protected] – www.ccbe.org
Question 2: What kind of rule should be drawn up, one
of exclusive application or of priority?
Représentant les avocats d’Europe
Representing Europe’s lawyers
Exclusive
Exclusive
Priority - for
application - application for
against
Simple rule
One bar loses
control
Priority against
Both bars
Complicated on
continue to have the borderlines
some control
Difficult to
decide which
bar should lose
control
Double
deontology
continues
Conseil des barreaux européens – Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe
association internationale sans but lucratif - RPM Bruxelles 0.467.250.186
Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée 1-5 – B 1040 Brussels – Belgium – Tel. +32 (0)2 234 65 10 – Fax.+32 (0)2 234 65 11/12 – E-mail [email protected] – www.ccbe.org
Question 3: How will such a conflict rule be achieved?
Représentant les avocats d’Europe
Representing Europe’s lawyers
• harmonised legislation at national level unrealistic
• harmonised rules of professional conduct at
national level – achievable over a very long
term, but will it deal with all the problems (in
particular, where legislation differs)?
• appropriate provision in a universally adopted
(IBA?) Code of Conduct (but still problems with
conflicting legislation)
• within Europe, legislation at Community level,
possibly by way of amendment of the Services
Directive and the Establishment Directive
Conseil des barreaux européens – Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe
association internationale sans but lucratif - RPM Bruxelles 0.467.250.186
Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée 1-5 – B 1040 Brussels – Belgium – Tel. +32 (0)2 234 65 10 – Fax.+32 (0)2 234 65 11/12 – E-mail [email protected] – www.ccbe.org
Rule 8.5 Choice Of Law
Représentant les avocats d’Europe
Representing Europe’s lawyers
• (1) for conduct in connection with a matter
pending before a tribunal, the rules of the
jurisdiction in which the tribunal sits, unless the
rules of the tribunal provide otherwise; and
• (2) for any other conduct, the rules of the
jurisdiction in which the lawyer’s conduct
occurred, or, if the predominant effect of the
conduct is in a different jurisdiction, the rules of
that jurisdiction shall be applied to the conduct.
Conseil des barreaux européens – Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe
association internationale sans but lucratif - RPM Bruxelles 0.467.250.186
Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée 1-5 – B 1040 Brussels – Belgium – Tel. +32 (0)2 234 65 10 – Fax.+32 (0)2 234 65 11/12 – E-mail [email protected] – www.ccbe.org
Role of the IBA
Représentant les avocats d’Europe
Representing Europe’s lawyers
•
•
•
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An international model rule could be drawn up
To be aspirational, not mandatory
To serve as a model for others to follow
N.B. questionnaire coming on national ‘conflict of
rules’ provisions
• Get moving, IBA!
Conseil des barreaux européens – Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe
association internationale sans but lucratif - RPM Bruxelles 0.467.250.186
Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée 1-5 – B 1040 Brussels – Belgium – Tel. +32 (0)2 234 65 10 – Fax.+32 (0)2 234 65 11/12 – E-mail [email protected] – www.ccbe.org