US pressure on MDPs

The pressure to allow multi-disciplinary partnerships (MDPs) in the US is slowly growing, research has found.Since the American Bar Association (ABA) rejected a recommendation to allow MDPs last August, a further five states have come out in favour, taking the total to 12 around the country.A survey of MDP activity among the states, prepared ahead of the ABA conference in Chicago next week, showed that 15 states have adopted anti-MDP stances, while a further 16 states are studying the issue.However, for the first time in years, MDPs are lower on the ABA's agenda, with a major report from its Ethics 2000 commission - which reviewed all the ABA's rules - recommending no change to the current position.The only significant move will see the ABA's ruling House of Delegates debate a proposal that would ratchet up the need for lawyers in strategic alliances with non-lawyers to pay attention to potential conflicts of interest.New Law Society President David McIntosh and chief executive Janet Paraskeva are leading a five-strong delegation to the ABA conference.

The Society is co-sponsoring three sessions with the ABA's international section, including a 'showcase' session on overcoming barriers to global e-commerce, at which Robert Bond, a partner at City firm Hobson Audley, will speak.Top public international law solicitor Jeremy Carver, a partner at Clifford Chance, will speak at a session on implementing new anti-corruption standards, and there is also a session on the international regulation of data privacy.Solicitors from firms such as Nabarro Nathanson, Kingsley Napley and Peters & Peters are also expected to be at the conference.Neil Rose