“On 6 October 2022, the Council of the European Union, in relation to the situation in Ukraine, agreed on measures relating to sanctions affecting the provision of legal advice services. Thus, the provision, directly or indirectly, of legal advice by lawyers is prohibited: to the Government of Russia or legal persons, entities or bodies established in Russia”, explains the leader of the more than 35,000 lawyers, in a statement sent to all lawyers.

However, in the same text, signed by the chairman, Luís Menezes Leitão, four exceptions appear, according to a report by ECO.

The prohibition does not apply to the provision of services strictly necessary for the exercise of the right of defense in judicial proceedings and the right to effective judicial protection;

The prohibition does not apply to the provision of services that are strictly necessary to ensure access to judicial, administrative or arbitration proceedings in a Member State, or to the recognition or enforcement of an award or arbitral award given in a Member State, provided that such provision of services is compatible with the objectives of this Regulation and Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014;

The prohibition does not apply to the provision of services intended for the exclusive use of legal persons, entities or bodies established in Russia that are owned or controlled exclusively or jointly by a legal person, entity or body incorporated or constituted under the legislation of a State- Member, a member country of the European Economic Area, Switzerland or a partner country listed in Annex VIII;

The prohibition does not apply to the provision of services strictly necessary for the termination by January 8, 2023 of contracts concluded before October 7, 2022, or of ancillary contracts necessary for the performance of such contracts.