Tom C. Clark

INFORMATION PURSUANT TO ART. 17 OF THE BARRISTERS DEONTOLOGICAL CODE

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All the information contained in this website is provided in compliance with the Barristers Code of Ethics and in particular with the requirements provided by art. 17 of the same:

«A lawyer is allowed to give information on his professional activity, in a correct and truthful manner, in compliance with the dignity and decorum of the profession and with the obligations of secrecy and confidentiality.
The information is given in compliance with the following provisions.
I – As regards the means of information:
A) The following must be considered permitted:
– ordinary means (letter paper, business cards, plates);
– information brochures (leaflets, circulars) also sent by post to specific subjects (the possibility of proposing questionnaires or allowing prepaid answers is to be excluded);
– professional directories, columns, legal journals, directories and bulletins with legal information (e.g. with updates on laws and jurisprudence);
– relations with the press (according to the provisions of article 18 of the forensic code of ethics);

– websites and telematic networks (Internet), provided that they belong to the lawyer or associated law firms or lawyers' companies, within the limits of information, and subject to notification to the Bar Council. With reference to existing sites, the lawyer is required to proceed with the reporting to the Council of the bar to which they belong within 120 days.B) Devono ritenersi vietati:
– television and radio media (television and radio);
– newspapers (newspapers and periodicals) and advertisements in general;
– anomalous means of dissemination and contrary to decorum (distribution of brochures or stationery or leaflets to the community or to unspecified subjects, in mailboxes or through deposits in public places or distribution in premises, or on car windshields, or in hospitals , in prisons and the like, through billboards, testimonials, and so on);
– sponsorships;
– introductory telephone calls and home visits not specifically requested;
– the use of the Internet to offer free services and advice, on its own or on third-party sites.
C) The following must be considered permitted if previously approved by the Bar Council (in relation to the envisaged methods and purposes):
– seminars and conferences organized directly by professional studios.
II – As for the contents of the information:
A) The following data are permitted and may be indicated:

– the necessary personal data (names, addresses, including web addresses, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail addresses, birth and training data of the professional, photographs, known languages, published articles and books, teaching activities, honors, and so on other relating to the person, limited to what pertains to the professional activity exercised);
– information about the firm (composition, name of founders, including deceased ones, main activities carried out, number of employees, secondary offices, opening hours);
– the indication of a logo;

– the indication of the quality certification (the lawyer who intends to mention a quality certification must deposit with the Council of the bar the justification of the valid certification and the complete indication of the certifier and of the field of application of the certification officially recognized by the State).
B) The use of the Internet and the website for the offer of consultancy is also permitted, in compliance with the following obligations:
– indication of personal data, e.g. VAT and Council of the order to which they belong;
– expressly declared commitment to comply with the code of ethics, with the reproduction of the text, or with the specification of the ways or means to allow its retrieval or consultation;
– indication of the responsible person;
– specification of the details of any insurance policy, with coverage also referring to online services and indication of the ceilings;
– indication of the current professional tariffs for the determination of the fees.
C) The following must be considered prohibited:
– data concerning third parties;

– the names of the customers (the prohibition must be considered to exist even with the consent of the customers);
– specializations (except for the specific hypotheses provided for by law);
– the prices of the individual services (it is forbidden to advertise that the first consultation is free);
– the percentages of cases won or the exaltation of merits;
– individual or studio turnover;
– promises of recovery;
– the offer of services in any case (in relation to the provisions of article 19 of the code of ethics).
III - The name of a deceased lawyer who was part of the firm may be indicated, provided that the professional at the time expressly provided for it or provided for it in his will, or there is the unanimous consent of his heirs>>.

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