What exactly is the point of these things?

I sent an email to a friend at KPMG. At the bottom of the reply is this. Why do these things exist? Is there any POSSIBLE way I am legally bound by this? Is this designed to make the lawyers at KPMG feel like they are earning their salaries? Or to scare me? Or what?

This email has been sent from KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership (which is a subsidiary of KPMG Europe LLP), from KPMG Europe LLP or from one of the companies within KPMG LLP’s control (which include KPMG Audit Plc, KPMG United Kingdom Plc and KPMG UK Limited), together "KPMG".  KPMG Europe LLP does not provide services to clients.  None of KPMG Europe LLP’s subsidiaries have any authority to obligate or bind KPMG Europe LLP.  This email is confidential and may be legally privileged.  It is intended solely for the addressee.  Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorised.  If you are not the addressee or an intended recipient or have not agreed with us the terms on which you are receiving this email any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on the contents of this email or its attachments, is at your own risk, prohibited and may be unlawful, and to the fullest extent permitted by law KPMG accepts no responsibility or liability to you.  When addressed to our clients any opinions or advice contained in this email or its attachments are subject to the terms and conditions expressed in the governing KPMG client engagement letter.  Anything in this email or its attachments which does not relate to KPMG's official business is neither given nor endorsed by KPMG.

Comments

[BP]

I hope you consulted your lawyer before posting this ;)

[Matt]

Sounds like they assume one of their employees will eventually do something stupid with their corporate email account. Maybe it's the hiring process that the lawyers should focus on.

[bob]

i don't know but that looks like $1000 in legal fee's just to have had the lawyer write it in the first place.