Pearce v Foster: CA 1885

‘The privilege with regard to confidential communications between solicitor and client for professional purposes ought to be preserved, and not frittered away. The reason of the privilege is that there may be that free and confident communication between solicitor and client which lies at the foundation of the use and service of the solicitor to the client; but, if at any time or under any circumstances such communications are subject to discovery, it is obvious that this freedom of communication will be impaired. The liability of such communications to discovery in a subsequent action would have this effect as well as their liability to discovery in the original action.’

Judges:

Sir Baliol Brett MR

Citations:

(1885) 15 QBD 114

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

CitedB and Others Russell McVeagh McKenzie Bartleet and Co v Auckland District Law Society, Gary J Judd PC 19-May-2003
(New Zealand) Solicitors resisted requests to disclose papers in breach of legal professional privilege from their professional body investigating allegations of professional misconduct against them.
Held: The appeal was allowed. The . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Legal Professions, Litigation Practice

Updated: 06 May 2022; Ref: scu.182245