The Bar Council welcomes the announcement of a new Free Trade Agreement between the UK and Switzerland, including provisions on legal services and business mobility.
The agreement will make permanent arrangements allowing UK services professionals to travel to Switzerland visa free for short-term business visits of up to 90 days a year. It will also protect the ability of UK lawyers to advise on English, Welsh and international law in Switzerland, and includes provisions to support transfers and secondments between UK and Swiss offices.
The Bar Council contributed to the negotiations, providing the government with views on the priorities of the Bar of England and Wales, including market access and business mobility for legal professionals.
Commenting, Kirsty Brimelow KC, Chair of the Bar Council, said:
“Switzerland is an important market for the UK legal profession, and we welcome the recognition of legal services provided by barristers as major contributor to the UK economy. It is a key driver of growth.
“The FTA provides much needed certainty around business travel and the provision of legal services and so will support both barristers and clients working across the two jurisdictions. We look forward to reviewing the full text of the agreement and continuing to engage with the government as it moves towards signature and implementation.”