Lawyers are frequently called upon to communicate with government officials on behalf of clients or, in the case of in-house counsel, on behalf of employers. This type of communication often constitutes lobbying and, as such, is subject to registration and reporting requirements. 

Against the backdrop of the Lobbying Act and the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct, this webinar will explore the legal, ethical, professional and practice-management issues that arise when lawyers undertake to communicate with Canadian government officials.

Our expert speakers will examine the distinction between traditional legal advocacy (which requires no registration) and lobbying (which does).

Topics will include: 

• Basic principles of federal lobbyist registration 
• Differences between in-house lobbying and consultant lobbying 
• Solicitor-client privilege and client confidentiality 
• How to deal with a client who is unwilling or refuses to support the lawyer’s lobbyist registration obligations 
• Ethical, professional and practice issues related to "volunteering" to lobby for clients 

Presenters:

Guy Giorno, Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (Ottawa) 

Bruce Bergen, Senior Counsel, Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying (Ottawa)