Respecting confidentiality in mutual legal assistance requests (Abacha and others v National Crime Agency)

Table of contents

• Original news
• What are the practical implications of this case?
• What is the background to the proceedings?
• What did the court decide, particularly with reference to the application of CPR 31.14?
• What was the basis of the court’s reasoning?
• What does this case suggest about the limits of MLA between the US and UK—and expectations as to confidentiality of those requests?
• What practical lessons can practitioners take away from this case?

Article summary

Corporate Crime analysis: Elizabeth Seborg, partner at Byrne and Partners, examines the court’s treatment of confidential state-to-state communications subject to mutual legal assistance (MLA) requests in Abacha and others v National Crime Agency and the lessons practitioners can take away from this case.