Attorney Client Privilege With Board Of Directors In Queens
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Email Is Discoverable in Litigation Including legal counsel in board communications does not protect emails from discovery. A communication is privileged only if the dominant purpose of the communication is to further the objectives of the attorney-client relationship. (2022 Ranch LLC v. Superior Court (2003) 113 Cal.
A lawyer serving as an outside director has the same duty of care as any other outside director, and the same exposure to liability. The lawyer's skill and knowledge must be brought into the boardroom in the interest of the corporation.
There are two major exceptions to the lawyer-client privilege under the California Evidence Code, as discussed below. 2.1. Crime or fraud. 2.2. Preventing death or substantial physical harm.
Board minutes often contain information that is subject to the attorney-client privilege and that directors may prefer to keep confidential. However, most jurisdictions allow stockholders to inspect corporate books and records, including board minutes.
"The power to waive the corporate attorney-client privilege rests with the corporation's management and is normally exercised by its officers and directors." Weintraub, 471 U.S. at 348; see also, ABA/BNA Lawyer's Manual, at 05; United States v.
Legal advice privilege protects client/lawyer communications from the time the communication is made until it is waived either by the client or by some other person such as a successor, who is entitled to do so. If there is no one to do so, the privilege, having been established, is absolute and remains in existence.
The court held that “just as the attorney-client privilege itself survives the death of the client for whose benefit the privilege exists, the right to waive that privilege in the interest of the deceased client's estate also survives and may be exercised by the decedent's personal representative.”
Crime or Fraud Exception. If a client seeks advice from an attorney to assist with the furtherance of a crime or fraud or the post-commission concealment of the crime or fraud, then the communication is not privileged.
In representing a client, a lawyer shall not communicate about the subject of the representation with a person the lawyer knows to be represented by another lawyer in the matter, unless the lawyer has the consent of the other lawyer or is authorized to do so by law or a court order.
