IBA Annual Conference Sydney 2017

8 Oct - 13 Oct 2017

Room C3.5, Convention Centre, Level 3

Session information

Is there any such thing as unauthorised practice of law in the global legal market?
Room C3.5, Convention Centre, Level 3

Committee(s)

Alternative and New Law Business Structures Committee (Lead)
Professional Ethics Committee

Description

As global firms continue to consolidate and merge, considerations of territoriality become more challenging. What is considered allowable transient practice in one jurisdiction may be unauthorised practise of law in other jurisdictions. The ability of law firms to maintain legally distinct affiliates while projecting a ‘one-stop shop’ is under challenge. At the same time, affiliations and the use of partners outside the home jurisdiction may trigger claims of unauthorised practice that can affect the ability to collect fees, as well as issues of attorney-client privilege. Have traditional concepts of what is and is not the practise of law been eroded? This session surveys the field of how alternative business structures and contemporary means of delivery of legal services and whether 20th century notions of unauthorised practise of law can survive the emergence of new and varied legal structures and mechanisms.

Session / Workshop Chair(s)

Dalton Albrecht EY Law, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Chair, Alternative and New Law Business Structures Committee

Speakers

Robert Heslett CBE The Law Society of England & Wales, London, England; IBA Council MemberLaw Society of England and Wales
Shigenobu Itoh Rutan & Tucker, Irvine, California, USA; Membership Officer, Professional Ethics Committee
Donald Johnston Aird & Berlis LLP, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Secretary-Treasurer, Alternative and New Law Business Structures Committee
Judith Alison Lee Membership Officer, International Commerce and Distribution Committee
Isobelle Watts Clayton Utz, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Communications and Website Co-Officer, Alternative and New Law Business Structures Committee