Except by permission of the client engaging a licensee under this chapter, or the heirs, successors or personal representatives of that client, a licensee or any partner, officer, shareholder or employee of a licensee may not voluntarily disclose information communicated to the licensee, or any partner, officer, shareholder or employee of the licensee, by the client relating to, and in connection with, services rendered to the client by the licensee in the practice of public accountancy. That information must be considered confidential as long as nothing may be construed as prohibiting the disclosure of information required to be disclosed by the standards of the public accounting profession in reporting on the examination of financial statements or as prohibiting disclosures in court proceedings, investigations or proceedings under section 12273?A or Title 10, section 8003, subsection 5?A, in ethical investigations conducted by private professional organizations or in the course of quality reviews. [PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. B, §17 (AMD).]