Hong Kong Regulations

SOLICITORS (GROUP PRACTICE) RULES - SECT 8

Reporting to Society

(1) Where a group practice name has been approved under section  5 (4), the
members of the group practice shall, within 14 days of any one of the members
beginning to practise as member of the group practice-

   (a)  furnish the Society with a declaration, in a form approved by the
        Society and signed by all member solicitors and all principals of each
        member firm, declaring that they have entered into a group practice 
        agreement and specifying-

        (i)    the date of the agreement;

        (ii)   the commencement date of the agreement; and

        (iii)  the parties to the agreement;

   (b)  notify the Society in writing in a form approved by the Society of the
        following particulars in relation to the group practice-

        (i)    the name of the group practice as approved by the Council under
               section 5;

        (ii)   the address of the group practice together with its telephone,
               fax, telex and DX numbers, where appropriate;

        (iii)  the names of the members of the group practice;

        (iv)   the date on which each member began to conduct his or its
               business as a member of the group practice; and

   (c)  notify the Society in writing in a form approved by the Society of the
        following particulars in relation to the group practice's
        management company-

        (i)    the name of the management company, the address of its
               registered office, its registration number under the
               Companies Ordinance ( Cap 32) and its registration number under
               the Business Registration  Ordinance ( Cap 310);

        (ii)   the names of the directors and shareholders of the management 
               company;

        (iii)  the address of the management company together with its
               telephone, fax, telex and DX numbers, where appropriate;

        (iv)   as regards any employee of the management company (whether
               part-time or full-time, whether remunerated or otherwise and
               whether or not performing duties as a staff member of the
               group practice), the employee's name, the number of the
               identity card issued to him under the
               Registration of Persons Ordinance ( Cap 177) and the Chinese
               commercial code appearing on that identity card, his date of
               birth, his position in the management company and the date on
               which his employment began.

(2) The members of a group practice shall, within 14 days of such occurrence,
notify the Society in writing in a form approved by the Society of any change
in the particulars referred to in subsection (1) relating to the
group practice.

(3) Except on a formal resolution of the Council or as provided in subsection
(4), particulars furnished under subsection (1)(c) shall not be disclosed by
the Secretary General of the Society to any person.

(4) Particulars furnished under subsection (1)(c) may be disclosed to any of
the following persons where it is the proper business of that person to have
access to such particulars for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not
there has been compliance with these Rules or for dealing with the
disciplinary consequences of any alleged breach of these Rules-

   (a)  Council members;

   (b)  members of committees established by the Council;

   (c)  a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal;

   (d)  the Tribunal Convenor of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal Panel;

   (e)  counsel, accountants, solicitors and agents appointed by the Society;

   (f)  employees of the Society.

(5) For the avoidance of doubt, rule 5 of the Practice Rules applies in
relation to a firm that is a member of a group practice as it applies in
relation to any other firm.