Code of Conduct for Trans-Tasman Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys 2018 (Cth)

Code of Conduct for Trans-Tasman Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys 2018

The Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board establishes the following Code of Conduct as a standard of practice under subparagraph 228(2)(r)(ia) of the Patents Act 1990 and subparagraph 231(2)(ha)(ia) of the Trade Marks Act 1995.

Dated: 14 December 2017

The Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary 1 1 Name of code....................................................1 2 Commencement..................................................1 3 Authority.......................................................1 4 Definitions......................................................1 5 Former Code of Conduct............................................3

Part 2—Overview 4 6 Application of code................................................4 7 Objective of code.................................................4 8 Guidelines to code.................................................4 9 Rights of clients not affected..........................................4 10 Administration of code.............................................4

Part 3—Professional conduct 6 11 Core obligations.................................................6 12 Responsibility...................................................6 13 Integrity.......................................................6 14 Competency....................................................7 15 Diligence......................................................7 16 Communication..................................................7 17 Disclosure.....................................................8 18 Confidentiality..................................................8 19 Loyalty.......................................................8 20 Conflicts......................................................9 21 Independence...................................................9 22 Termination of services............................................10