§466-12 Ownership of accountant's working papers. All statements, records, schedules, working papers, and memoranda made by the licensee, partner, shareholder, officer, director, or employee incidental to, or in the course of rendering services to a client in the practice of public accountancy, except reports submitted by the licensee to the client and except for records that are part of the client's records, shall be and remain the property of the licensee in the absence of an express agreement between the licensee and the client to the contrary. No statement, record, schedule, working paper, or memorandum shall be sold, transferred, or bequeathed, without the consent of the client or the client's personal representative or assignee, to anyone other than one or more surviving partners or stockholders or new partners or stockholders of the licensee, or any combined or merged firm or successor in interest to the licensee or operation of law. [L 1973, c 158, pt of §2; gen ch 1985; am L 1989, c 110, §13]