On 1 September, the UK bars and law societies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Belgian bars which sets out the modalities for post-Brexit cooperation between the professional bodies from both jurisdictions.

The six UK signatories to the agreement are the law societies of Scotland, England and Wales and Northern Ireland, the Bar Councils of England and Wales and Northern Ireland and the Faculty of Advocates.

The five Belgian signatories to the agreement are the Brussels bar (Dutch-speaking section), the Brussels bar (French-speaking section), the Dutch-speaking Federal bar and the French and German-speaking Federal bars.

The MoU sets out a framework to encourage collaboration between the legal sector in the UK and in Belgium. While formal negotiations on future trade and services relationships with the EU cannot take place until after exit day, the bars from both jurisdictions can engage in a constructive dialogue in the meantime.