The EU Court of Justice rules that the prohibition by the Dutch General Council of multi-disciplinary partnerships between members of the bar and accountants is compatible with competition law (Wouters)

THE NETHERLANDS RULES PROHIBITING MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE BAR AND ACCOUNTANTS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE TREATY* The obligations of professional conduct imposed on lawyers, who must advise and represent their clients independently, may militate against that kind of partnership. The Court considers, however, that professional bodies are associations of undertakings subject to Community competition law. The Supervisory Board of the Bar refused Mr Wouters and Mr Savelbergh, lawyers enrolled at the Amsterdam and Rotterdam Bars, authorisation to enter into partnership with accountancy firms Arthur Andersen and Price