All Kluge's lawyers are bound by the Norwegian Bar Association's Code of Conduct, which has now also been incorporated into Chapter 12 of the official Regulations for Advocates. In addition to the code of conduct, Kluge's own longstanding internal ethical rules apply to the firm's practice. Although, to some extent, these two sets of rules overlap, by and large Kluge's rules supplement and expand upon the Code of Conduct.
Ethical issues are under constant review and discussion at Kluge, and consequently our ethical rules are being continuously adapted and expanded to reflect Kluge's underlying attitudes towards its practice. At present, the firm is in the process of reviewing a number of issues, including the question of to what extent lawyers should take on directorships with clients of the firm. This review will result in new provisions in this area.
ETHICAL RULES
1. Kluge will ensure that all the firm's lawyers in all contexts act in accordance with the ethical rules laid down by the Norwegian Bar Association.
2. Kluge's general objective is the maintenance of a correct and good relationship with the courts, colleagues and opposite parties .
3. Kluge will not undertake assignments that facilitate unlawful activities or business activities which for other reasons are unethical or morally reprehensible.
4. If a potential client has a reasonable claim to representation, Kluge will not decline to provide such representation on the grounds that being identified with the party in question might reflect badly upon the firm.
5. Apart from the fee payable to the firm, Kluge will hold no financial interests in [the outcome of] a case.
6. Kluge will seek to resolve all assignments without unnecessary expense for the client. Where appropriate, Kluge will make it clear to the client that the cost involved in an assignment may be disproportionately high in relation to the financial importance of the case.
7. If the interests of a client so indicate, Kluge will refer the client to other lawyers with specialist expertise.
8. Kluge will not provide advice on the basis of an assessment of the likelihood that the circumstances in question will come to light. Kluge's practice will be confined to providing an opinion on what constitutes a correct understanding of the rules of law in question and of any uncertainty attaching thereto.
9. No Kluge lawyer will make his/her undertaking of a directorship conditional upon the company in question retaining Kluge as its legal adviser. A directorship will not be accepted if a conflict of interest might reasonably be expected to arise in relation to Kluge's position as the company's legal adviser. A Kluge lawyer will not act as director of a company where Kluge's relationship to a shareholder might provide grounds for questioning the independence of the director in question.