FT: UK Court refuses legal privilege to accountants

23 January 2013

The Supreme Court has refused to extend legal privilege to accountants offering tax advice, in a landmark ruling that means the long-standing principle of confidentiality will remain the preserve of solicitors and barristers.

The judgement ends a long-running battle over legal professional privilege – the confidentiality of communications between a lawyer and a client – which many accountants consider gives an unfair advantage to the legal profession.

Rupert Choat of CMS Cameron McKenna, a law firm, said: “Solicitors and barristers will welcome the judgement because it maintains their special status. The court has left it to parliament to legislate. As parliament is well-stocked with lawyers it has to be doubtful whether it will bother.”

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