Brexit

Les Allamby, the outgoing chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC), reflects on the human rights landscape in Northern Ireland ahead of the end of his term early next week. Human rights remains a contested space, both publicly and politically. Nonetheless, as I refl

European citizens are being detained and threatened with deportation, despite having applied for settled status – contrary to the Brexit withdrawal agreement. The Home Office has served EU nationals removal directions even though they could prove they had applied for settled status.

The Supreme Court has referred a case to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in which the appellants challenged the legal basis for their surrender to the UK on foot of a European arrest warrant. The appellants had claimed that the EAW system between Ireland and the UK was invalid beca

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is to be given new powers to fine companies that rip off customers, make misleading claims, or have unfair terms and conditions. It is expected that Kwasi Kwarteng, business secretary, will announce the proposals next week to strengthen the CMA's powers po

The High Court has dismissed two legal challenges brought by several high-profile unionist politicians to the EU Withdrawal Protocol and the Withdrawal Acts and Regulations. The applicants claimed that Northern Ireland had been placed on a different constitutional footing than the other parts of the

The High Court in Belfast has rejected two high-profile legal challenges to the Northern Ireland Protocol. Mr Justice Adrian Colton today dismissed both applications for judicial review, the first brought by unionist politicians including Jim Allister and the second brought by loyalist pastor Cliffo

The Covid-19 pandemic and the subsiding of the "Brexit effect" led to a slowing in the number of solicitors and barristers admitted to practise last year, according to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA). The latest figures from the legal watchdog show that 906 solicitors and 167 barriste

The UK government has set out plans for a new post-Brexit subsidy control system that will allow public authorities – including the devolved administrations – to provide direct support to businesses in line with strategic goals. The Subsidy Control Bill, introduced to Westminster today,

Professor Colin Harvey of Queen's University Belfast School of Law considers the post-Brexit challenges for Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has always been, and remains, a ‘special arrangement’. The changes in the leadership of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) do not alter the basi

Eugene F Collins partner Paul Dempsey and associate Rachel Solanki consider what options creditors have in the aftermath of Brexit in enforcing a judgement handed down by a UK court in Ireland or vice versa. The UK is one of Ireland’s largest trading partners with Irish exports to Britain tota

The UK government has reportedly told the European Commission that it has unilaterally breached the Northern Ireland Protocol because of circumstances beyond its control. In a 20-page letter in response to EU legal proceedings, the UK has suggested that it will rely on force majeure to explain its i

The Court of Appeal in Belfast has reserved judgment on whether a judicial review alleging Prime Minister Boris Johnson acted in bad faith by signing the Brexit deal should be heard. An anonymous litigant is appealing a decision by the senior judicial review judge not to adjudicate on whether the Pr

A legal challenge brought by unionist politician Jim Allister against the Northern Ireland Protocol will be heard by the High Court in Belfast next month. Mr Allister, leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) party, has instructed lawyers to challenge the Protocol on the basis that it breaches

The Law Society of Ireland has announced it has reached a reciprocal qualifying agreement with the Solicitors Regulation Authority in England and Wales. A slightly more complex agreement, involving a reciprocal exam, has also been reached with the Law Society of Scotland.

Lawyers have launched a class action lawsuit against the UK government over the economic impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Ballymena-based haulage company Blair International and DUP MP Ian Paisley have been named as the initial claimants in the claim form lodged with the High Court in London