IBA International Principles on Conduct for the Legal Profession

displace those of their client. A lawyer must not
exercise any undue influence intended to benefit the
lawyer in preference to that of a client. A lawyer must
not accept instructions or continue to act for a client,
when the lawyer becomes aware that the client’s
interest in the proceedings would be in conflict with
the lawyer’s own interest.
3.3 <strong>International</strong> implications
The differences in national rules on conflicts of
interest will have to be taken into account in any
case of cross-border practice. Every lawyer is called
upon to observe the relevant rules on conflicts of
interest when engaging in the practice of law outside
the jurisdiction in which the lawyer is admitted to
practice. Every international law firm will have to
examine whether its entire organisation complies
with such rules in every jurisdiction in which it
is established and engaged in the provision of
legal services. A universally accepted framework
for determining proper conduct in the event of
conflicting or incompatible rules has yet to be
developed, although certain jurisdictions have
adopted conflict of law principles to determine which
rules of professional conduct apply in cross-border
practice.
20