DLA Piper sent the below reply-email to WSRW on 6 March 2015. DLA Piper has co-produced a legal opinion for the Moroccan state-owned phosphate company OCP, purportedly stating that OCP's exports of occupied Western Sahara's phosphates is permissible under international law as it accrues benefits to the "local people". Read WSRW's initial letter, asking whether the firm would share its legal opinion with the Saharawi people, here.
REPLY BY DLA PIPER, 6 March 2015
Dear Ms Eyckmans
I refer to your email and letter to Jay Rains and Simon Levine dated 18 February 2015. By way of introduction, I am the firm's General Counsel and Jay and Simon have asked me to respond to you on their behalf.
The opinion referred to in your letter, which we co-authored with Palacio y Asociados, was written for the benefit of Phospates de Boucraa S.A., and its holding company, Office Cherifien des Phosphates S.A. (OCP). It is their property and may only be disclosed to others by them or with their consent. Therefore, we are not in a position to provide you with a copy of the opinion.
Yours sincerely
Amber Matthews
General Counsel/Partner
DLA Piper Australia
Level 22
No.1 Martin Place
Sydney NSW 2000
GPO Box 4082
Sydney NSW 2001
Australia
www.dlapiper.com
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