NLJ this week: Shareholder secrecy sunk

That rule had allowed shareholders to inspect a company’s privileged legal advice in disputes with management. The Board declared it inconsistent with corporate personality—companies are separate legal entities, not trustees for shareholders. Attempts to reframe the rule as joint-interest privilege or a nuanced case-by-case doctrine were rejected as uncertain and unworkable.

The authors note that the decision restores clarity to legal professional privilege, removing a tactical weapon once used to pressure companies. For boards, it secures candid access to advice; for litigants, it ends a century-old anomaly. The judgment, binding in England and Wales, reshapes shareholder litigation strategy for years ahead.