Hong Kong Regulations

SOLICITORS (GROUP PRACTICE) RULES - SECT 11

Professional relationship of solicitors within group practice

(1) A solicitor practising within a group practice who wishes to instruct any
other solicitor practising within the group practice to undertake work
entrusted to the instructing solicitor by a client shall obtain the written
authorization of the client before instructing the other solicitor.

(2) For the purposes of any rule of professional practice, conduct or
discipline relating to conflict of interest or confidentiality, the various
member solicitors and principals of member firms of a group  practice shall be
regarded as practising in partnership with each other.

(3) Except as otherwise provided by express mention or necessary implication,
nothing in these Rules is to be construed as providing that any
member solicitor or principal of a member firm of a group practice is for any
purpose to be regarded as practising in partnership with any other
member solicitor or principal of a member firm of the group practice.