On December 30, 2020, the European Union and the United Kingdom signed the "EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement" (EU-UK TCA or the Agreement) setting out the terms for their future economic and commercial relations after the UK definitively leaves the EU Single Market and Customs Union on January 1, 2021.
Our team offers our clients a multi-disciplinary approach to advising our clients on compliance with evolving regulatory divergence and new trade and investment landscape emerging after the UK withdrawal from the EU. We have extensive experience in advising on trade and investment agreements and policy, as well as in cross-border work in chemical and environmental law, competition, employment law, international regulatory compliance, and financial services, including insurance. That experience, and our presence in Brussels, London, and Washington, enables us to provide an analysis of the impact of Brexit and practical strategic and tactical advice to companies in different sectors and areas of law.
Our team is led by David O'Sullivan, who as EU Ambassador to the United States, oversaw the EU's bilateral relationship with the United States including political, economic, and commercial affairs. It also includes lawyers involved in negotiating recent EU bilateral Free trade agreements: a former senior counsel to Canada in the negotiation of the Canada – European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), and a former official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan engaged in the negotiation, drafting and legal verification of the Japan–EU Economic Partnership Agreement.
The Brexit Agreement: the Great Divorce
December 31, 2020
Brexit Bluff and Double Bluff – UK-EU Deal Still Possible, If Politics Permit
October 5, 2020
Brexit Brinkmanship: The Clock is Ticking for Negotiators and Businesses
July 24, 2020
Brexit Talks Remain Stalled: But a Deal is Still Within Reach if the Politics Permit
July 3, 2020
Brexit Talks at an Impasse: But Hope of an Agreement is Not Entirely Dead
June 8, 2020
Brexit Negotiations in the Midst of the COVID-19 Crisis: is the Challenge Still Feasible?
April 27, 2020
Brexit Flash Report - A Tale of Two Mandates, Part 2: The UK Approach to Negotiations
February 28, 2020
Brexit Flash Report - A Tale of Two Mandates, Part 1: The EU Negotiating Mandate
February 25, 2020
Brexit - A Long Goodbye
February 4, 2020
Contacts: Richard Cunningham, Thomas Trendl, Christophe Bondy
Alerts & Articles
- "Practical Implications of Brexit to EU Trade Remedy Investigations and Measures," Global Trade Polucy Blog, January 27, 2021
- "The UK's Post-Transition Period Sanctions Regime – Continuity or Change?," Client Alert, November 6, 2020
- "Brexit: How Do US and Overseas Investors Take Advantage?," Client Alert, September 27, 2019
- "United Kingdom and Korea Sign Continuity Free Trade Agreement," Client Alert, August 23, 2019
- Brexit Briefing: The Impact of Brexit on Trade Remedies (Anti-Dumping, Anti-Subsidy, Safeguard) in the UK," University of East Anglia: International Law Blog, February 15, 2019
- "FTA EU-UK and Origin Rules," ACITA and AGM National Meeting, London, UK, February 6, 2019
- "Brexit: Consequences for Import/Export Licences for Certain Categories of Products," Client Alert, March 14, 2018
Events
- "UK Investment Protection Policy Post-Brexit," British Institute of International and Comparative Law, London, UK, February 25, 2020
- "UK Trade Remedies After Brexit," The UK Trade Forum, January 15, 2018
- National Meeting for the UK Association for International Trade ACITA, October 18, 2017
Commentary
- Christophe Bondy Cited in House of Lords Report on TCA, March 25, 2021
- Christophe Bondy was invited to give evidence at an official session of the UK Parliament's Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union, London, UK, March 17, 2020
- Financial Times Interviews Christophe Bondy on UK/EU Trade Talks Amid Coronavirus Fears, March 16, 2020
- ITV Interviews Christophe Bondy on EU-UK Free Trade Agreement Negotiations, March 5, 2020
Contacts: Charles Whiddington, Simon Hirsbrunner
Alerts & Articles
- "EU/UK Trade Post-Brexit: Rules of Origin and Their Impact on Competition Law," Client Alert, February 19, 2021
- "Relation Between EU and UK Competition Law Post-Brexit," Client Alert, July 1, 2020
- "UK Competition Law Enforcement Post-Brexit: Choppy Waters Ahead?," Client Alert, January 31, 2019
- "House of Lords Report on Brexit and Competition: What Does it Mean for Businesses?," Client Alert, February 18, 2018
Contact: Paul Hughes
Alerts & Articles
- "Brexit - The Impact on Personal Data Flows Between the UK, US, EU/EEA," Client Alert, January 28, 2020
Contacts: Ruxana Cana, Daren Abrahams, Anna Gergely
Alerts & Articles
- "How Can Biocidal Product Suppliers Ensure Market Access When the Brexit Transition Period Ends?," Chemical Watch, November 4, 2020
- "Impact of Brexit on Chemicals: Now Is the Time to Act," Client Alert, September 7, 2020
- "Brexit Day Briefing: Chemical, Environment, and Life Sciences," Client Alert, January 31, 2020
- "Brexit Briefing: Environment & Life Sciences," Client Alert, November 16, 2018
- "Biocides and Brexit: Hope for the Best - Prepare for the Worst," International Chemical Regulatory and Law Review and Zeitschrift für Stoffrecht, December 2018
- "Brexit Briefing: Environment & Life Sciences," Client Alert, November 16, 2018
- "Biocides & Brexit Update," Client Alert, September 24, 2018
- "Brexit and the BPR: Navigating the Uncertainties," Chemical Watch, March 23, 2018
Events
- "Brexit and the Chemical Sector, Steptoe and Lexxion, Frankfurt, Germany, March 3, 2020
- "Post Brexit Scenario," Eurofins 4th Annual Biocides Conference 2019, Milan, Italy, September 26-27, 2019
- "Brexit and Chemicals: Practical Steps for Compliance," European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) Materials Regulations Event, Stuttgart, Germany, March 29, 2019
- "Brexit and the Chemical Sector," Steptoe and Lexxion, Frankfurt, Germany, March 19, 2019
- "Brexit and the EU Chemical Regulation," Seminar Internationales Chemikalienrecht, Frankfurt, Germany, February 20, 2019
- "Brexit and REACH - Consequences for EU and UK," Chemierechtstag, Frankfurt, Germany, January 31, 2019
- "Brexit und das EU Chemikalienrecht (Brexit and the EU Chemical Regulation)," Internationales Chemikalienrecht, Frankfurt, Germany, September 26, 2018
- "Brexit: Implications for the Regulation of Biocides," 17th International Fresenius Conference, Mainz, Germany, February 28, 2018
Contacts: Angus Rodger, Philip Woolfson, Guy Soussan
Alerts & Articles
- "United Kingdom to Consider Post-Brexit 'Reform to the Capital Markets,'" Client Alert, March 16, 2021
- "Legal Focus: Belgium Brings in Local MGAs Through New Law," Insurance Day, April 17, 2019
- "Legal Focus: Belgium Proposes Post-Brexit Bill to Woo UK MGAs, Insurance Day, February 13, 2019
- "Legal Focus: Brexit White Paper Leaves UK Insurers Unsure of Market Access," Insurance Day, August 15, 2018
- "An EU Perspective on Market and Regulatory Developments as Brexit Looms," Insurance Day, March 28, 2018
Events
- "Panel: Brexit - Boom or Bust for Captives & (Re)insurance," The European Captive Forum 2018, Luxembourg, November 14, 2018
Alerts & Articles
- "UK Breakaway: A Brexit Guide for Retailers," Client Alert, December 18, 2019
Events
- "Practical Aspects of Brexit in the Food Sector," Lexxion 13th European Food and Feed Law Conference, Brussels, Belgium, October 24, 2019