Committees

Academics and legal experts discuss civil justice cooperation post Brexit

25 November 2016

The EU Justice Sub-Committee takes evidence from key academics, practitioners and former senior judges. The evidence session will mark the launch of their new inquiry: Brexit: civil justice cooperation and the CJEU.

Witnesses

Tuesday 6 December in Committee Room 3, Palace of Westminster

At 10.45am

  • Dr E Merrett, Reader in International Commercial Law, Cambridge University
  • Professor Fentiman, Professor of Private International Law, University of Cambridge
  • Professor Steve Peers, Professor of European Union Law and Human Rights Law School of Law, University of Essex

At 11.30am

  • Mr David Williams QC, 4 Paper Buildings
  • Ms Jacqueline Renton, 4 Paper Buildings
  • Professor Rebecca Bailey-Harris, 1 Hare Court

Topics for discussion

The EU Justice Sub-Committee, under the chairmanship of Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws, will begin taking evidence in its latest inquiry into Brexit: Civil Justice Cooperation and the CJEU. Two sessions will be held. The first at 10:45am will be with Dr Louise Merrett of Cambridge University, Professor Steve Peers of Essex University, and Professor Richard Fentiman from Cambridge University.

The second session at 11.30am will hear from leading family law practitioners: Professor Rebecca Bailey-Harris from 1 Hare Court, and from 4 Paper Buildings, David Williams QC and Jacqueline Renton.

Amongst other matters, the Committee looks forward to discussing with the witnesses:

  • What are the implications for civil and family law based litigation in the UK once the UK leaves the CJEU's jurisdiction? How will the UK cooperate in these fields with other EU Member States when we leave the EU?
  • What are the implications for the UK's legal market if the UK no longer participates in EU legislation addressing conflict of laws?
  • How could the Brussels Regulations' regime be maintained once the UK leaves the EU? Could the system be maintained via the any UK-EU withdrawal treaty? If so how? 
  • If this legislation was maintained post-Brexit, given that the Regulations derive from EU legislation and are interpreted by the Court of Justice how should UK courts interpret them?

Further information

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