Sparks fly over mistranslated Orrick press release about new Ivory Coast office
A BigLaw firm’s use of the word “lawyer,” in a press release about a new office or affiliation, might not seem unusual or controversial.
However, when that press release is translated into French, it could pose a problem, as a furor over Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe’s announcement last week of a new Ivory Coast affiliation has demonstrated.
In the West African country, some attorneys are “conseil juridique,” or legal advisors who serve a role akin to that of British solicitors, reports the Financial Times (sub. req.). However, other Ivory Coast lawyers are “avocats,” advocates who, like British barristers, are exclusively authorized to appear in court proceedings.
The two lawyers who work in Orrick’s new affiliated office are conseil juridique, but are described in the translated press release as “avocats,” sparking a strongly worded objection from the Ivory Coast bar association, the newspaper reports. Not helping the situation is the fact that country’s Ministry of Justice has been trying without success to combine the two groups of lawyers into one.
Orrick declined to comment when contacted by the Financial Times.
