In-house lawyers

Akzo Nobel Chemicals Ltd and another v European Commission (C-550/07) 14 September 2010

The Court of Justice of the European Union’s judgment in the case of Akzo Nobel Chemicals Ltd and another v European Commission means that in EU competition law, investigations and legal advice from an in-house lawyer is not privileged and not protected and EU investigators will be able to seize and access this advice. This continues to be so, irrespective of the status of the lawyer’s advice in their national legal system.