Lawyers in Italy have called a ten-day strike in protest at the proposed repeal of mandatory fixed or minimum tariffs for legal work.

They began the action on Monday (10 July) after the Italian government passed a decree scrapping the tariffs in a bid to open up the sector to greater competition.


The strike is expected to affect non-urgent civil and criminal court hearings, and a demonstration in Rome is planned for 21 July.

Italy's minimum tariffs were criticised in February 2004 by the then European competition commissioner Mario Monti, in a report into competition in the regulated professions. The report was backed by the President of the European Commission at the time, Romano Prodi, who was recently elected as Italy's prime minister.


According to Luca Arnaboldi, managing partner of Italian commercial firm Carnelutti, 'the strike articulates lawyers' opposition to the proposed new Bill and, in the process, aims to protect the dignity of the legal profession'. Mr Arnaboldi, whose firm has offices in Rome and Milan, said: 'The main issues relate to the repeal of mandatory fixed or minimum tariffs, which have long been a central feature of the way many Italian lawyers charge for work. The decree also calls for conditional fee agreements, advertising and inter-disciplinary practices to become, for the very first time, part of the framework of Italian legal services.


'Business law firms, however, such as Carnelutti, are not affected by the new proposed rules as advertising is minimally used by this segment of the market. They also always negotiate their fees up front.'


The strike is not expected to have much success, as the decree has now been published in the Official Journal of the Italian Republic. All that remains is for Italy's parliament to gather within five days and to convert the decree into ordinary law within 60 days.


Jonathan Rayner