*/
Profession
The Supreme Court has ruled against extending legal professional privilege (LPP) to non-lawyers, following a case put forward by financial services group Prudential, requesting its extension to protect advice given by accountants.
In R (on the application of Prudential plc and another) (Appellants) v Special Commissioner of Income Tax and another (Respondents) [2013] UKSC 1, the majority (5:2) held that LPP should not be extended to communications in connection with advice given by professional people other than lawyers, even where that advice is legal advice.
Extending LPP would bring uncertainty to a clear and well understood principle and raise questions of policy which should be left to Parliament, the judges said.
The Bar Council intervened in the case, represented on a pro bono basis by Field Fisher Waterhouse, and counsel Bankim Thanki QC, Ben Valentine and Henry King. The Bar Council argued that extending LPP would undermine the necessary absolute confidentiality agreement between lawyers and clients, create uncertainty around the established scope of LPP, and constitute a significant inroad into the principle, necessary for the sound administration of justice, that relevant material should be placed before the court.
In R (on the application of Prudential plc and another) (Appellants) v Special Commissioner of Income Tax and another (Respondents) [2013] UKSC 1, the majority (5:2) held that LPP should not be extended to communications in connection with advice given by professional people other than lawyers, even where that advice is legal advice.
Extending LPP would bring uncertainty to a clear and well understood principle and raise questions of policy which should be left to Parliament, the judges said.
The Bar Council intervened in the case, represented on a pro bono basis by Field Fisher Waterhouse, and counsel Bankim Thanki QC, Ben Valentine and Henry King. The Bar Council argued that extending LPP would undermine the necessary absolute confidentiality agreement between lawyers and clients, create uncertainty around the established scope of LPP, and constitute a significant inroad into the principle, necessary for the sound administration of justice, that relevant material should be placed before the court.
Profession
The Supreme Court has ruled against extending legal professional privilege (LPP) to non-lawyers, following a case put forward by financial services group Prudential, requesting its extension to protect advice given by accountants.
Our call for sufficient resources for the justice system and for the Bar to scrutinise the BSB’s latest consultation
Marie Law, Head of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, discusses alcohol testing for the Family Court
Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth explains how to make sure you are investing suitably, and in your long-term interests
In conversation with Matthew Bland, Lincoln’s Inn Library
Millicent Wild of 5 Essex Chambers describes her pupillage experience
Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth explores some key steps to take when starting out as a barrister in order to secure your financial future
From a traumatic formative education to exceptional criminal silk – Laurie-Anne Power KC talks about her path to the Bar, pursuit of equality and speaking out against discrimination (not just during Black History Month)
Inspiring and diverse candidates are being sought for the Attorney General’s Regional A, B and C Panels - recruitment closes at noon on 10 October 2024
Expectations, experiences and survival tips – some of the things I wished I had known (or applied) when I was starting pupillage. By Chelsea Brooke-Ward
If you are in/about to start pupillage, you will soon be facing the pupillage stage assessment in professional ethics. Jane Hutton and Patrick Ryan outline exam format and tactics
In a two-part opinion series, James Onalaja considers the International Criminal Court Prosecutor’s requests for arrest warrants in the controversial Israel-Palestine situation
