ACC Europe salutes ELD and EDJ 2023 and the heightened awareness these days bring to the importance of the rule of law.
Brussels - The Association of Corporate Counsel Europe (ACC Europe), which serves the needs of more than 3,700 lawyers practicing in corporations and other organizations throughout Europe, salutes European Lawyers’ Day and European Day of Justice 2023, which are celebrated on 23 and 25th October 2023:
- The European Lawyers’ Day (ELD) is celebrated by the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) to highlight the essential role that lawyers play as actors of the judicial system and their contribution to the protection of the rule of law, a cornerstone of European democracy.
- The European Day of Justice (EDJ) is celebrated by the Council of Europe and the European Commission and aims mainly to bring justice closer to citizens, informing citizens on their rights and promoting the work of the Council of Europe and the European Commission in the field of justice.
This year’s theme of ELD, “Confidentiality of client-lawyer communications: a must for protecting your rights” was especially fitting given the recent legislative victory in France extending legal professional privilege to in-house counsel. As the trend toward legal professional privilege for in-house counsel continues in Europe, ELD and EDJ are excellent opportunities to recognize that confidentiality and legal professional privilege for all lawyers are cornerstones of effective legal representation.
Maria Barros, member of the ACC Europe Board of Directors and Chair of its Advocacy Committee, and SVP and Chief Legal & Public Affairs Officer at Booking.com, states: “Client-lawyer confidentiality is a long-recognized necessity to ensure that clients provide their lawyers with all relevant information to assist in their representation. Without effective legal representation, the justice system cannot function as intended. ACC Europe salutes ELD and EDJ 2023 and the heightened awareness these days bring to the importance of the rule of law.”
ABOUT ACC EUROPE: The Association of Corporate Counsel Europe (ACC Europe) serves the needs of lawyers practicing in corporations and other organisations throughout Europe. ACC Europe, with more than 3,700 members, promotes the interests of all in-house counsel across the region through the sharing of information, education, networking and advocacy while demonstrating innovation, inclusion and leadership for the benefit of the whole profession. ACC Europe is a chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), which since its founding in 1982 has grown to more than 45,000 members in 95 countries employed by over 10,000 organizations, ACC connects its members to the people and resources necessary for both personal and professional growth. Additional information about ACC Europe can be found at https://www.acc.com/chapters-networks/chapters/europe. By in-house counsel, for in-house counsel®.