Q I act for a seller who is dealing with two buyers, and I have given appropriate notification under practice rule 6A.

One buyer has now withdrawn.

Do I have an obligation to notify this to the buyer continuing with the purchase? My client does not want me to because he wants to keep the pressure on.

A You do not have a specific obligation to pass on information under rule 6A.

This information is confidential to your client and you need your client's consent to disclose it.

However, you need to consider carefully whether in the absence of that consent you can continue to deal with the remaining buyer's solicitor without deceiving or taking unfair advantage of his client.

Q For tax reasons, we have just incorporated our practice and had it recognised by the Law Society.

Will this 'recognised body' require a licence under the Consumer Credit Act 1974?

A The recognised body will need a consumer credit licence.

However, recognised bodies as well as solicitors are covered by the Society's group licence.

This covers the activities of consumer credit, credit brokerage, debt adjusting/counselling and debt collecting.

Telephone hotline

The Law Society's professional ethics lines are open for general enquiries between 11am and 1pm, and 2pm and 4pm.

The lines are less busy in the afternoon.

The team takes emergency calls outside these hours, tel: 0870 606 2577.

Question of ethics is compiled by the Law Society's professional ethics guidance team.

Send questions for publication to Austin O'Malley, the Law Society, Ipsley Court, Berrington Close, Redditch B98 0TD; DX 19114 Redditch