These summaries were prepared by McGuireWoods LLP lawyer Thomas E. Spahn. They are based on the letter opinions issued by the Virginia State Bar. Any editorial comments reflect Mr. Spahn's current personal views, and not the opinions of the Virginia State Bar, McGuireWoods or its clients. 
 
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41-Non-Virginia Lawyers

45-Law Firms - Miscellaneous

U.S. law firms may include partners who are foreign lawyers, as long as the arrangement complies with U.S. and foreign law, and the foreigners are "members of a recognized legal profession in the foreign jurisdiction" (examples include lawyers in European Union countries, Great Britain, Japan, and Sweden); U.S. lawyers must avoid assisting in the unauthorized practice of law by foreign lawyers in the U.S., and should remember that many countries recognize only a narrow attorney-client privilege (for example, most civil law countries do not protect communications with in-house corporate counsel).

Copyright 2000, Thomas E. Spahn