U.S. lawyers can practice in the Dominican Republic

http://www.dominicantoday.com 08/03/07

The doors for foreign attorneys to practice law in the Dominican Republic are open by virtue of the DR-U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).

The situation begins to worry the country lawyers, because the over 34,000-strong local market of attorneys will grow with those from Central America and the U.S., but will not enjoy the foreigners’ privileges.

Dominican Bar president Julio Cesar Terrero affirmed that his organization states its position of rejecting the entrance of the foreign lawyers during meetings in the United States, Puerto Rico and the country.

He said that despite that the exercise of Law is regulated by the several regulations, when faced with the impossibility of reverting the imposition, the Dominican Bar raised the principle reciprocity, consisting in allowing the Dominican lawyers to practice in the U.S. as they can do here."

Terrero said that article 11-2 of the Free Trade Agreement establishes the validation for they would have to obtain a decree from the Executive Branch.

"We make a warning to the lawyers of Dominican Republic that the foreign lawyers will come as advisers, but to bean adviser of a company it’s necessary to be lawyer," he said.

He pointed out that in tragedy of American Airlines flight 587 in New York, the U.S lawyers practiced in the country, directing the entire process and did not allow the Dominicans to represent their clients.