http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5064328

Storm erupts as city axes law firm

July 03, 2009 Edition 1

Karen Breytenbach

A HEATED debate has broken out in legal and academic circles over the City of Cape Town's decision to axe a top law firm from its panel of attorneys for taking on a case for a group of poor litigants against the municipality.

The municipality insisted there was a conflict of interest, but others have warned that this could set a dangerous precedent by scaring off law firms that wanted to act for the poor against the government, but feared losing lucrative briefs from that source.