1. Publicity and ethics

1.1 Members shall avoid adverse publicity, both for LAWorld, other member firms and their own law firms.

1.2 Members shall impose the obligations from article 1.1 upon those they employ or hire.

1.3 Members shall only seek publicity when this is in accordance with the wishes, the interest of their clients and in conformity with the rules of their national law society.

1.4 Members shall abide with the laws and codes of their national law society.

1.5 Members shall endeavour to represent and refer only clients of good standing.

2. Business referral procedures

2.1 On receipt of a business referral, acknowledgement will be given within three working days.

2.2 Referral work must always be the subject of an engagement letter to be issued by the member firm to whom the work is referred. The following items must be included in the engagement letter or in a covering letter sent with the engagement letter:

(a) a description of the work to be undertaken.

(b) nature of independent contractual relationship and responsibilities.

(d) a statement indicating the professional indemnity insurance which is required in the jurisdiction, and the amount which is actually held by the firm.

(e) the name of the partner responsible for carrying out the work together with details of staff assigned.

(f) the hourly charge-out rates applicable. Copies of engagement letters must be made available to referring firms upon request.

2.3 A partner must always be responsible for satisfactory completion of the work referred by another member.

2.4 No member shall conduct business in the name of LAWorld but only in the name of their own independent firm.

2.5 Members shall not refer work where they foresee that the client will not be able to settle the fees. Settlement of the fees, however, is the responsibility of the member to whom the work is referred. Members to whom work is referred will generally ask for an advance payment and the referring law firm will inform the client accordingly.

2.6 Members shall not accept referrals for which they do not have the necessary expertise. In that case they will recommend another law firm that has the required expertise.

2.7 After having received all the necessary information, members will give their first opinion as to the referred case, to the client within 10 working days.

2.8 The referring and the referred law firm will agree the manner, form and extent to which information is communicated either directly or indirectly with the client.