The purpose of this site is to provide easy access to reports and other materials useful in opinion practice,
without charge, for non-commercial use.
The ABA Business Law Section Legal Opinions Committee and the TriBar Opinion Committee have issued influential reports that have shaped opinion practice for over two decades. In recent years the Federal Securities Law Subcommittee of the Section's Committee on Federal Regulation of Securities has begun issuing authoritative reports, and other Section committees may issue reports in the future of interest to the practice. Law firms and law departments are encouraged to link their internal websites permanently to this resource.
The ABA Business Law Section Legal Opinions Committee and the TriBar Opinion Committee have issued influential reports that have shaped opinion practice for over two decades. In recent years the Federal Securities Law Subcommittee of the Section's Committee on Federal Regulation of Securities has begun issuing authoritative reports, and other Section committees may issue reports in the future of interest to the practice. Law firms and law departments are encouraged to link their internal websites permanently to this resource.
Reports of the Business Law Section
- Legal Opinion Principles
, 53 The Business Lawyer 831 (1998)
- Guidelines for the Preparation of Closing Opinions (including Legal Opinion Principles) , 57 The Business Lawyer 875 (2002)
- Closing Opinions of Inside Counsel , 58 The Business Lawyer 1127 (2003)
- Negative Assurance in Securities Offerings , 59 The Business Lawyer 1513 (2004)
- Legal Opinions in SEC Filings , 59 The Business Lawyer 1505 (2004)
- Law Office Opinion Practices , 60 The Business Lawyer 327 (2004)
- No Registration Opinions , 63 The Business Lawyer 187 (2007)
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Statement on the Role of Customary Practice in the Preparation and Understanding of Third-Party Legal Opinions , 63 The Business Lawyer 1277 (2008)
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Statement on Effect of FIN 48 on Audit Response Letters - ABA Business Law Section Subcommittee on Audit Responses (October 16, 2008)
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Negative Assurance in Securities Offerings (2008 Revision) , 64 The Business Lawyer 395 (2009)
Bar Association Reports and Other Materials
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Third-Party "Closing" Opinions , 53 The Business Lawyer 592 (1998)
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UCC Security Interest Opinions – Revised Article 9 Report , 58 The Business Lawyer 1449 (2003)
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The Remedies Opinion – Deciding When to Include Exceptions and Assumptions , 59 The Business Lawyer 1483 (2004)
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Third-Party Closing Opinions: Limited Liability Companies , 61 The Business Lawyer 679 (2006)
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Special Report of the TriBar Opinion Committee: Duly Authorized Opinions on Preferred Stock , 63 The Business Lawyer 921 (2008)
Other ABA Publications and Articles of Interest
- The Collected ABA and Tribar Opinion Reports 2009
- Annual Survey of the Law on Legal Opinions, 60 The Business Lawyer, 1057 (2005)
- No-Litigation Opinions Can Be Risky Business, 14 Business Law Today, 6 (2005)
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Ethics Issues in Opinion Practice 62 The Business Lawyer, 417 (2007)
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The Legal Opinion Risk Seminar Papers 62 The Business Lawyer, 397 (2007)
- Courting the Suicide King, 17 Business Law Today, 4 (2008)
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Cost-Benefit Analysis and Third-Party Opinion Practice , 63 The Business Lawyer, 1187 (August 2008)
Meetings, CLE and Other Useful Information
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New Rules for New York Powers of Attorney Raise Opinion Issues ,
Arthur N. Field and Stanley Keller -
Legal Opinion Committee Meeting Materials
Some materials may require membership in the
ABA Business Law Section [join]
and/or the
Legal Opinions Committee [join].
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"Crossing the Threshold: Why Ask for an Opinion at All?"
Program presented by the ABA Business Law Section Legal Opinions Committee, Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (August 12, 2007) -
Legal Opinion Risk Seminar Breakout Descriptions (October 30, 2007)
State and Local Bar Reports
Over the years, various state and local bar organizations have issued reports on legal opinions. Below is a link to a list of certain recent reports, as a research aid to those engaged in opinion practice.
