Concerns over foreign influence and ethical misconduct have prompted the German Bar Association to remind its lawyers of their responsibilities. Following dealings with the Trump administration by U.S. law firms, the association emphasized the need for independence and adherence to the legal professional code of conduct. They warn that the acceptance of large contracts could compromise lawyers' obligations. This reflects broader anxieties about how foreign collaborations can blur lines and raise the stakes of legal ethics, especially in a volatile political climate.
The suspicion makes sense. If pledging $100M in labor to a government that can direct that effort to whatever causes it sees fit doesn't make you an arm of that government, what more would it take?
The German Bar Association took it upon themselves to remind German lawyers of their ethical responsibilities - especially if their work involved one of the Yellow-Bellied Nine.
Collection
[
|
...
]