Publication
Legal Alert: Accountant-Client Communications Not Protected by Legal Advice Privilege in the UK
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January 24, 2013
On January 23, 2013, a majority of the United Kingdom Supreme Court decided that communications between chartered accountants and their clients in connection with the accountant’s expert tax advice are not protected by Legal Advice Privilege. This is the case even in circumstances where there is no doubt that those same communications would be protected by Legal Advice Privilege if the same advice were being given to the same client by a lawyer. Canadian courts are not required to follow this decision, although they may choose to do so.
Click here to read the Press Summary of the United Kingdom Supreme Court’s decision in R (on the application of Prudential plc and another) (Appellants) v Special Commissioner of Income Tax and another (Respondents).
Watch for our full analysis of this case to be published soon.
Please contact your McInnes Cooper lawyer or any member of our McInnes Cooper Tax Team to discuss this topic or any other legal issue.
McInnes Cooper has prepared this document for information only; it is not intended to be legal advice. You should consult McInnes Cooper about your unique circumstances before acting on this information. McInnes Cooper excludes all liability for anything contained in this document and any use you make of it.
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