LEGAL PROFESSION ACT 2006 - SECT 519 Confidentiality by external interveners

LEGAL PROFESSION ACT 2006 - SECT 519

    (1)     An external intervener for a law practice must not disclose information obtained because of the intervener's appointment except—

        (a)     so far as is necessary for exercising the intervener's functions; and

        (b)     as provided in subsection (2).

    (2)     The external intervener may disclose information to any of the following:

        (a)     any court, tribunal or other person acting judicially;

        (b)     a regulatory authority of any jurisdiction;

        (c)     any officer of, or Australian legal practitioner instructed by—

              (i)     a regulatory authority of any jurisdiction; or

              (ii)     any jurisdiction or the Commonwealth; or

              (iii)     an authority of any jurisdiction or the Commonwealth;

in relation to any proceeding, inquiry or other matter pending or contemplated arising out of the investigation or examination;

        (d)     a police officer of any jurisdiction or the Commonwealth if the relevant council, investigator or external intervener believes, on reasonable grounds, that the information relates to an offence that may have been committed by the law practice or an associate of the law practice;

        (e)     the law practice or a principal of the law practice or, if the practice is an incorporated legal practice, a shareholder in the practice;

        (f)     a client or former client of the law practice concerned, if the information relates to the client or former client;

        (g)     another external intervener appointed in relation to the law practice or any Australian legal practitioner or accountant employed by the other external intervener;

        (h)     any other external examiner carrying out an external examination of the trust records of the law practice.