EPAM to host the fourth meeting of the Minsk Legal Discussion Club

On February 15, 2013 EPAM hosted the fourth meeting of the Minsk Legal Discussion Club entitled “The reform of advocacy and the future of private legal practice”.

The main aim of the professional club foundation is the professional community’s intention to contribute to further effective development of the legal service market inBelarus.

Club meeting was held in the form of open discussion. This form gave an opportunity to the leading market participants to take part in discussions regarding current market situation as well as developing the strategy for further development and solving the most urgent problems.

Denis Turovets, Managing Partner of the Minsk Office of EPAM, opened discussion. Managing Partners and Partners of the leading law firms ofBelarusgave a speech at the event.

During the event the following issues were discussed:

• Transfer from lawyer to advocate: “for” and “against”.
• One or both: should the both forms of legal activity be kept?
• Options for cooperation with the client: parallel or consecutive? How should the relationship with the client be build when providing “monopoly” of services?
• The future of lawyers in terms of the reform of advocacy: whether lawyers will be able to continue providing legal services.

The event ended in summing up the results of the business meeting through the discussion of the Law “On Advocacy and Advocate Activity in the Republic of Belarus”, which came into force and was followed by the reception.