Art. 1 – Purpose and scope of application.

1. This Code of Ethics (hereinafter, the “Code”) sets out the general principles and lines of conduct of the Notaries and anyone (hereinafter for convenience “Staff”) who, in various capacities, carry out work at the structures or otherwise in the interest of NF Notai. The Code specifies the principles and duties of loyalty, impartiality, diligence and industriousness that must be applied by Notaries and Staff.
2. The activity of each Notary and members of staff shall always conform to the independence and impartiality that are typical of the notarial profession, with the duty of ensuring the legality and lawfulness of the deeds entrusted to the notaries, and compliance with confidentiality obligations.
3. The above is without prejudice to the generality of the rules of law and ethics applicable to notaries, with which each Notary and member of staff shall in any case comply, to the extent of their respective responsibilities and spheres of competence.

Art. 2 – General provisions.

1. Each Notary and member of staff shall comply with the Code and be inspired in their conduct by the principles of loyalty, impartiality, integrity and honesty.
2. Each Notary and member of staff undertakes not to carry out actions or behaviours that may be, or lead to the belief that they are, in violation of the provisions of any laws or of the regulations of this Code of Ethics..
3. The relationships between the Notaries and the Staff are based on mutual trust and cooperation. Each individual works to ensure that their relationships with others are inspired by harmony, in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation, and avoids any acts or behaviours characterized by hostility or conflict.
4. Each Notary and member of Staff shall conduct their respective activities and use the assets of NF Notai in compliance with the principles of fairness, cost-effectiveness, efficiency and efficacy.
5. Each Notary and member of Staff shall devote the right amount of time and effort to office work, in proportion to the professional profile and role attributed to each, avoiding unjustified leaves or absences.
6. Each Notary and member of Staff shall limit the personal use of telephone equipment, photocopiers and computers, including replying to incoming calls, as strictly necessary.
7. In external relations, each Notary and member of Staff shall behave in such a way as to inspire trust and cooperation by all those who come into contact with NF Notai; they shall show courtesy and readiness to help in all communications with the public and handle issues in an efficient and prompt manner.

Art. 3 – Impartiality.

1. Each Notary and member of Staff shall operate with impartiality, avoid preferential and unequal treatment, refrain from applying undue pressure and reject it, adopt initiatives and decisions with maximum transparency and avoid establishing, or benefiting from, any privileges.

2. In their relations with anyone interested in any capacity in the activity of NF Notai, Notaries and members of Staff shall not make any commitments or personal promises that could influence the fulfilment of their official duties and professional obligations, including of an ethical nature.

3. Without prejudice to the right of association and the right to join political parties and trade unions, each Notary and member of Staff shall communicate to NF Notai their membership of associations, clubs or other bodies of any nature whose interests may influence the performance of their office and the fulfilment of professional duties.

Art. 4 – Integrity.

1. Each Notary and member of Staff shall not use the structures and assets of NF Notai to pursue purposes or achieve benefits that are private and personal.

2. Notaries and Staff shall not use the position they hold within NF Notai to obtain advantages or benefits, including of a private nature, in external relationships. In private relationships, each Notary and member of Staff shall avoid declaring or implying their position when mentioning them is not objectively necessary.

3. Notaries and members of Staff shall refrain from using information that has not been disclosed or made available to the public, including when obtained confidentially in the performance of official activities, to achieve private profits or interests.

4. Notaries and Staff shall avoid receiving benefits of any kind, which may be or appear such as to influence their independence of judgment and impartiality. They shall not solicit or accept, for themselves or for others, any gift or other benefit from anyone having any interest in the activity of NF Notai or intending to establish relations with them, except for gifts of a modest value.

5. In the event of illegitimate pressures or offers of gifts, benefits or other advantages that exceed a modest value, Notaries or Staff are required to promptly notify NF Notai.

Art. 5 – Special rules.

1. Outside of ordinary procedures for the assignment of cases, members of staff shall not solicit or receive communications addressed to them, nor send unauthorized letters.

2. Each member of Staff shall attend only formal and informal meetings that are relevant to their office activity and that they are authorized to attend. They shall avoid any unauthorized contacts with direct or indirect recipients of the activities of NF Notai or anyone supplying or intending to supply goods or services to the Office.

3. The participation of members of Staff in conferences, seminars and debates is authorized on the basis of criteria of transparency, competence, opportunity and rotation, subject to a declaration regarding the amount of any reimbursement, token or compensation received for any reason, or regarding the use of particular benefits.

Art. 6 – Conflict of interest.

1. Each Notary and member of Staff shall endeavour to prevent conflicts of interest with NF Notai and shall inform NF Notai of any interests, including of an economic nature, that themselves, their spouse or relatives up to the fourth degree or live-in partners may have in the activities or decisions they are responsible for.

2. Each Notary and member of staff shall abstain in any case from taking part in activities or decisions that may determine such conflict and shall provide NF Notai with any further information requested.

3. Each Notary and member of Staff shall abstain from taking part in any event from which they could draw significant advantages or where their dealing with a matter could generate distrust in the impartiality of NF Notai, including as a result of serious personal hostility.

4. This Code requires each member of Staff who ceases to serve at or in the interest of NF Notai to avoid finding themselves in a situation of conflict of interest with the Firm for a period of at least two years.

Art. 7 – Confidentiality.

1. Each Notary and member of Staff shall observe professional secrecy and keep confidential any news and information received in the exercise of their respective offices and which are not required to be disclosed in compliance with any laws and regulations.

2. Each Notary and member of Staff shall comply with the duty of confidentiality, which will continue after termination of service.

3. In particular, Notaries and members of Staff shall not provide information regarding any preliminary inspection or investigation underway at NF Notai and shall not release information relating to deeds stipulated or to be stipulated.

4. Each member of Staff shall consult only the documents and files they are authorized to access and use them in accordance with their respective official duties, allowing access to authorised persons, in compliance with given instructions.

5. Each Notary and member of Staff shall prevent the possible dispersion of data by complying with any security measures given, keeping the documents entrusted to them with care and in good order, and avoid making unnecessary copies.

Art. 8 –  Relations with the press.

1. Notaries and members of Staff shall not maintain relations with the press or other media and shall abstain from making any public statement that could affect the image of NF Notai. Anyone requested to provide clarifications or information to the press or other means of information shall promptly inform NF Notai.

Art. 9 -Collateral activities.

1. Each Notary and member of Staff shall inform NF Notai of any papers and articles that they intend to publish on matters falling within the sphere of competence of NF Notai.

2. Members of Staff shall not have any other job, whether as employees or contractors, including consultancies, in matters related to any core competences of NF Notai.

3. Each Notary and member of Staff shall not carry out other activities outside the firm that are in conflict with their duties or that affect the correct performance of official duties.

Art. 10 – Respect and observance of the Policy.

1. Each Notary and member of Staff shall undertake to comply with the requirements dictated by the various policies adopted by NF Notai in the relevant sectors.

Art. 11 – Updates to the Code.

1. This Code of Ethics may be updated on the basis of emerging legislation and ethical principles, and of experience acquired over time.