header-logo header-logo

06 January 2021 / Michael Zander KC
Issue: 7915 / Categories: Opinion , Brexit , Constitutional law
printer mail-detail

Brexit got done

35128
Michael Zander on the final rushed stages

On Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December, in separate televised staged events, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced that a deal had been achieved. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement runs to 1,246 pages consisting of 410 pages of text and 836 pages of annexes and protocols.

On Tuesday 29 December, the Agreement was approved by ambassadors of the 27 Member States and the Member States each gave their written assent. The Agreement was signed on Wednesday 30 December, first in Brussels by Mme von der Leyen and President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and after it had been flown over, later that day by Boris Johnson in London.

The required ratification by the European Parliament and the European Council has to take place before it formally comes into full effect but the agreement can be provisionally applied from 1 January until entry into force, though (unless it is extended) not beyond 28 February. The

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

HFW—Simon Petch

HFW—Simon Petch

Global shipping practice expands with experienced ship finance partner hire

Freeths—Richard Lockhart

Freeths—Richard Lockhart

Infrastructure specialist joins as partner in Glasgow office

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
back-to-top-scroll