In July, just before lawmakers went on summer break, the French Senate passed a bill that would extend legal professional privilege to written advice provided by in-house counsel. It’s worth noting that this legal shield will only apply to advice pertaining to commercial, civil, and administrative legal matters. However, before it can come into effect, the bill still needs to receive approval from the Assemblée Nationale, the other chamber of the French parliament. Despite this, local lawyers have celebrated the move and are optimistic.
In-house lawyers across Europe have been fighting for the right to legal professional privilege for several years. Despite the uphill battle, it seems their efforts are beginning to bear fruit. Increasingly, they are coming out victorious in their struggle.
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