Argentina's Capital Federal Lawyers' College Wins Right to File Collective Suit Against Labour Reform

A federal judge granted the Public College of Lawyers of the Capital Federal (CPACF) standing to bring a collective action challenging two provisions of Argentina's recent labour reform (Law 27.802) that amend the Labour Contract Law.

The disputed articles are the one that makes lawyers share court costs when a claim is deemed overestimated, and the one that permits court‑ordered payments to be paid in up to six or twelve installments, which the CPACF says undermines the alimentary nature of attorney fees. The CPACF, which represents roughly 90,000 registered lawyers, argues the reforms create uniform pressure on the profession and delay fee collection.

Judge Martín Cormick recognized the association’s active legitimacy, allowing the case to proceed as a collective action to avoid a flood of individual lawsuits. CPACF president Alejandra García called the ruling “a first essential step” to defend the free practice of law and ensure fair, timely remuneration for lawyers.