Iraqi Bar raising legal adviser fees, and fines imposed to companies operating in Iraq

The Iraqi Bar Association has issued the administrative order no. (3021) on 11 April 2021 stating approximately 100% raise to the minimum fees for appointing a lawyer as a legal adviser for local companies, industrial projects and foreign companies branches, the order has specified the lawyer minimum fees for being appointed as the legal adviser for local companies and industrial projects to (300,000 IQD) Three Hundred Thousand Iraqi Dinars per month, while it has specified the minimum fees for the lawyer being appointed as the legal adviser for the foreign companies branches to (600,000 IQD) Six Hundred Thousand Iraqi Dinars per month.

On the same level; the mentioned order has stated the duplication of fines imposed to the companies for not appointing a legal adviser, as it has specified the monthly fines due to the local companies and industrial projects to an amount of (750,000 IQD) Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Iraqi Dinar, and an amount of (1,500,00 IQD) One Million and Five Hundred Thousand Iraqi Dinar monthly fines to foreign companies branches.

While it has obliged all local companies, industrial projects and foreign companies branches to deduct an amount equaling to (5%) of the appointed legal adviser monthly fees to be paid with the Bar fund in cash.

The decision comes as part of the Bar endeavors to leverage the lawyers’ standard of living and adding more reliability with regard the necessity of appointing a legal adviser by the companies operating in Iraq and to achieve balance between the interests of the lawyers and those of the companies and industrial projects. Principally that this decision was issued following considerable facilities provided by the Bar for the local companies, industrial projects and foreign companies branches during the past couple of years via applying different allowances and discounts to encourage updating their status with the Bar in appointing a legal adviser. While the Bar has obliged all its departments to strictly implement the decision contents while explicitly assuring that the Bar shall not allow any allowances or discounts after the decision effective date 01 May 2021.

A copy of the Bar order together with its English translation is enclosed.

Iraqi bar association_administrative order_11 04 2021

Iraqi bar association_administrative order_11 04 2021_English