France allows UK lawyers to keep practicing post-Brexit

UK solicitors based in Paris can now continue advising on English and International law in the wake of Brexit, confirmed by the French authorities.

After several months of negotiation, the National Council of French Bar Associations (Conseil National des Barreaux) and the French government have concluded on the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. This has been approved by members of the European Parliament last week enabling UK lawyers to register as 'foreign legal consultants'.

Lawyers registered as foreign legal consultants in France may practice under home title and advise their clients on home-country law and public international law, excluding the EU law.

In order to register, solicitors must now apply for authorisation with the CNB. Those applying for permanent practice must then register with a local French bar association, while applications for temporary practice must be renewed with the council every year.

Before Brexit, UK lawyers had virtually unrestricted market access to any jurisdiction in the EU, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland. They are now subject to 27 different regulatory regimes in the EU, plus one each for the other countries in the European Economic Area and Switzerland.

For more information, please visit https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/france-allows-uk-lawyers-to-keep-practising-post-brexit-/5108350.article