A recent English High Court decision could significantly affect how companies structure internal investigations and legal communications under English law. In Aabar Holdings v. Glencore, the court held that certain internal corporate communications created for the purpose of obtaining legal advice may be protected by legal advice privilege even where no lawyer is directly involved in the communication. The decision provides important clarification on the scope of English legal privilege, particularly for multinational companies navigating cross-border investigations and compliance reviews, while also underscoring the continued importance of carefully defining the corporate “client group” when seeking legal advice.

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