Law firms that carry out EU lobbying work have been criticised by the European Commission for failing to enter their clients’ names on its voluntary lobbying register.

The commission said that law firms, in arguing that they would breach professional conduct rules by revealing clients’ names, are ‘hiding behind’ these rules. The commission said it is ‘convinced that there is a way to register while respecting the bar rules’ and that it ‘intends to actively pursue its contacts with the bar associations to resolve this issue.’

The commission’s register lists the names of organisations that directly and indirectly lobby European institutions. Each organisation is tagged with an identification number and a profile of each organisation lists details of its lobbying activities, its goals, and an estimate for the yearly amount it spends on EU lobbying.

Responding to the criticisms, Law Society president Robert Heslett said: ‘The Society reiterates that law firms are already highly regulated and bound by strict ethical rules.

‘I am pleased that the commission has expressed its intention to continue existing contacts with the bar associations to discuss law firm registration. There are still incompatibilities between the register and professional rules. I too hope we can find a solution that provides a way to register while respecting the bar rules.

‘We appreciate the commission's effort to clarify what activities do not constitute interest representation in relation to providing legal advice and assistance.’

The commission said that more than 2,000 organisations have entered their names since the register was opened a year ago. It said that it soon hopes to take the register further by agreeing a common, improved register with the European Parliament.