The International Bar Association (IBA) called last month for business lawyers to be allowed to advise clients in any country at any time, albeit on a temporary basis. Judging by the strength of debate sparked by the IBA’s taskforce investigating cross-border practice rights, many lawyers across the world certainly do not like rivals stepping on their turf – especially when they do not have local rights of practice.
Lawyers advising clients on so-called ‘fly in fly out’ visits have been criticised by German, Indian, Indonesian, South Korean and Swiss firms to name just a few. The controversial practice is banned by the bar rules of numerous jurisdictions.
