header-logo header-logo

SFO v ENRC: the right outcome?

01 November 2018 / Tom Dane
Issue: 7815 / Categories: Features
printer mail-detail
nlj_7815_dane

Does ENRC represent a missed opportunity for legal professional privilege, asks Tom Dane

  • This decision provides a short term recalibration of the law. However, the long overdue opportunity for the Supreme Court to provide clarity as to the scope of legal professional privilege is still no nearer.

The Court of Appeal’s decision last month in The Director of the Serious Fraud Office v Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation Limited [2018] EWCA Civ 2006, has been heralded as a success for the legal profession in protecting the boundaries of legal professional privilege. The decision certainly provides a welcome short term recalibration of the law, particularly in the context of internal investigations. However, the long overdue opportunity for the Supreme Court to provide clarity as to the scope of legal professional privilege is still no nearer.

The First Instance Decision

The facts of ENRC will no doubt be well known and can be summarised briefly: various internal investigations were carried out by ENRC’s external lawyers and accountants against the backdrop of allegations of criminal activities

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll