The Law Association has expressed regret over the public display between its president Seenath Jairam, SC, and former attorney general Karl Hudson-Phillips, QC. In a media release the Law Association said it wanted to remind its membership that as a self-regulating profession, attorneys must avoid pursuing personal conflicts in the public domain lest the profession is brought into disrepute.
But committee members have thrown their full support behind its president, Jairam. The release said the association considered the issues surrounding the acceptance and return of a brief from the Minister of Finance and the Economy by Jairam. "The council, after deliberation, wishes to express its continuing confidence in Mr Jairam, SC, as president of the association"
Two weeks ago, Jairam accepted a legal brief from the Ministry of Finance to appear at the Commission of Enquiry into the collapse of Clico and the Hindu Credit Union. Jairam's acceptance of the brief followed the termination of services for the ministry's initial team of attorneys Fyard Hosein, SC, and Michael Quamina.
Though Jairam in an interview with the T&T Guardian said there was no conflict of interests in his representing the ministry at the enquiry, Queen's Counsel Karl Hudson-Phillips disagreed. Jairam had previously represented a group of Clico policyholders led by Percy Farrell.
He defended his decision, saying his involvement in the policyholders' case dealt with a constitutional aspect and after accepting the brief in early October, he gave it back on October 4. Jairam had said also, a client is entitled to change representation. Days after his acceptance, Jairam returned the brief. A war of words ensued between the two.