The Supreme Court is set to hear Prudential's appeal against the Court of Appeal's much-publicised decision from October 2010 which confirmed that legal professional privilege did not extend to advice on tax law given by accountants, or anyone other than members of the legal professions (ie qualified solicitors, barristers or foreign lawyers): R (on the application of Prudential PLC & Anor) v Special Commissioner of Income Tax & Anor [2010] EWCA Civ 1094 (see post).
The appeal has been listed for a hearing of three days before a panel of (unusually) seven Justices of the Supreme Court, which reflects the great public importance of the appeal. Its importance is also highlighted by the fact that various bodies including the Law Society (represented by Herbert Smith Freehills), the Bar Council, the Legal Services Board and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales are intervening in the appeal.
For those who are keen, the proceedings can be followed from 10.30 am on “Supreme Court TV”, which allows Supreme Court hearings to be viewed live over the internet.
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