Singapore legislation
Regulation 6
Regulation 6
Confidentiality
Subregulation 1
The following principle guides the interpretation of this rule.Principle A legal practitioner’s duty to act in the best interests of the legal practitioner’s client includes a responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of any information which the legal practitioner acquires in the course of the legal practitioner’s professional work.
Subregulation 2
Subject to paragraph (3) and any rules made under section 136, 150 or 166 of the Act, a legal practitioner must not knowingly disclose any information which —
is confidential to his or her client; and
is acquired by the legal practitioner (whether from the client or from any other person) in the course of the legal practitioner’s engagement.
Subregulation 3
A legal practitioner may disclose any information referred to in paragraph (2), if —
the client referred to in paragraph (2) authorises the disclosure;
the legal practitioner is permitted or is required by law, by an order of court, or by a tribunal to make the disclosure;
the legal practitioner discloses the information in confidence, for the sole purpose of obtaining advice in connection with the legal practitioner’s legal or ethical obligations;
the legal practitioner discloses the information in confidence to a provider or broker of the legal practitioner’s professional indemnity insurance, in connection with any claim or potential claim, or any complaint or potential complaint, by any person against the legal practitioner; or
the legal practitioner discloses the information for the sole purpose of responding to or defending any charge or complaint, relating to the legal practitioner’s conduct or professional behaviour, brought against the legal practitioner in court, before a Review Committee, an Inquiry Committee or a Disciplinary Tribunal, before a complaints committee appointed under section 36S(5) of the Act, or before any relevant professional disciplinary body of a state or territory (other than Singapore) in which the legal practitioner is duly authorised or registered to practise law.