ABA president urges protection of attorney-client privilege

American Bar Association President Linda A. Klein sent a comment letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, urging it to modify its proposed rule on Disclosure of Records and Information.

Klein is seeking clarification that the CFPB cannot share privileged information it receives from supervised or regulated entities with foreign, state or non-federal government agencies, as such sharing could threaten the privileged status of the information.

The ABA strongly supports the preservation of the attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine and opposes governmental policies, practices and procedures that could erode these protections.

Klein said the ABA is concerned that several aspects of the Proposed Rule could undermine and weaken fundamental attorney-client privilege and work product protections.