Brexit

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

A unionist who believes the Northern Ireland Protocol has "weakened the Union" has launched a judicial review seeking a declaration that the operation of the protocol is unconstitutional and unlawful. Belfast man Clifford Peeples instructed a solicitor last week and issued judicial review proceeding

A victims' rights campaigner is taking the European Commission to court over its short-lived threat to invoke Article 16 during the EU vaccine crisis. Solicitor Ciaran O'Hare of Belfast firm McIvor Farrell Solicitors has been instructed to bring a judicial review to the General Court of the European

The European Commission is expected to decide this week that data protection standards are high enough in the UK to allow personal data transfers between the UK and the EU to continue. The adequacy assessment has huge significance for businesses operating across the UK and the EU. It has attracted e

Eugene F Collins partner Paul Dempsey and solicitor Niamh O'Brien highlight the options available when serving legal proceedings on a party based in the UK. The United Kingdom’s official departure from the European Union has had a significant effect on cross border civil and commercial litigat

The presidents of the UK's three law societies will set out their ongoing response to Brexit at an event early next month. The briefing has been organised by the UK Law Societies' Joint Brussels Office and will explore the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and what this means for UK qualified so

A border citizen in Northern Ireland has appealed to the Court of Appeal against a decision to refuse leave for a full hearing by way of judicial review before the High Court in Belfast. The applicant is appealing a decision by the senior judicial review judge not to adjudicate on whether the Prime

Employment rights enshrined in EU law are set to be scrapped in the UK following Brexit, according to reports. Business leaders have been "sounded out" on plans to do away with the likes of the EU Working Time Directive, FT said this morning.

A new category of membership has been created for the UK to preserve its standing in the Council of European Bars and Law Societies (CCBE) after the end of the Brexit transition period. Fears that the UK delegation would be relegated to a lower status have been allayed with the announcement of 'affi

McCann FitzGerald partners Karyn Harty and Catherine Derrig reflect on Ireland's unique opportunity as the only English-speaking common law country in the EU. Ireland is well placed to capitalise on the uncertainty caused by Brexit to become a destination of choice for complex international litigati

Pinsent Masons partners Ann Henry and Jim Cormack QC address how UK-Ireland trade disputes will work following the end of the transition period and how vital this is for many companies. Brexit as an event will cause disputes related to trade between the UK and Ireland, and the Brexit process will ma