IN your story entitled (“Peru leader accused of taking bribes through company based at Scots law firm”, The Herald, February 12), your reporter David Leask states that I “refused” to answer certain questions.
That is untrue. Mr Leask has approached us a number of times requesting information. On every occasion we have responded.
However, as lawyers, we are bound by client confidentiality, which means we cannot disclose certain items of information, even if we wished to do so. This has been explained.
As reported on multiple occasions, neither Burness nor Burness Paull has broken any law or regulation. It has acted with integrity in all its dealings. Our market-leading funds practice continues to advise on the legitimate use of Scottish Limited Partnerships (SLPs) in the private funds sector. It is therefore frustrating that Mr Leask seems intent on attempting to draw tenuous connections between the firm and events over which it has no control.
The recent extension of the People with Significant Control (PSC) regulations to include SLPs has significantly reduced the number of new SLPs being registered. This reduction is reflective of the positive impact the new rules have had in tackling any concerns around their use.
Burness Paull believes this is a move in the right direction towards ensuring that there are no abuses of the SLP regime.
Philip Rodney, Chairman,
Burness Paull,
120 Bothwell Street, Glasgow.
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