Law Council to discuss Brexit and UK trade

HOW should Brexit affect the work of Australian lawyers in the United Kingdom? At a hearing in Canberra today, the Law Council of Australia will have its say.

The Trade Sub-Committee of the Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will hear from the Law Council at a public hearing today for its inquiry into Australia’s trade and investment relationship with the United Kingdom.

The Law Council, which is the peak representative body for the Australian legal profession, believes the decision by the UK to leave the European Union should not diminish the current level of access for Australian lawyers into the UK and should potentially expand access.

The Law Council’s submission says any proposed trade agreement with the UK should recognise the importance of multi-jurisdictional legal services in facilitating two-way trade and investment without costly legal disputes and possible failure. It supported the free movement of legal service providers from Australia and the UK.

The submission also raises concerns that as a consequence of Brexit, Australian legal firms and lawyers may no longer be in a position to recommend their clients to set up companies in the UK under the laws of England and Wales due to the uncertainties of post-Brexit trading rules and tariffs when trading with the EU.

Public hearing details: 10:05am - 11:00am, Wednesday 21 June, Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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