On 4 February 2022, the European Affairs Committee (the Committee) announced the launch of an inquiry into the UK-EU financial services relationship. The Committee expects to report its findings by May 2022.

The corresponding press release from the Committee highlights that there are few provisions in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement concerning trade in financial services between the UK and EU.

The European Commission (the Commission) has recommended that the EU rejects the UK's application to accede to the Lugano Convention. The Lugano Convention is substantially the same as the Brussels I Regulation, but applies between the EU and three members of EFTA, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. It is open for accession by anyone, subject to the consent of all existing signatories.

This briefing by Clifford Chance considers the Commission's recommendation.

The LMA published a note entitled "Documentary implications of the end of the Brexit transition period for LMA facility Documentation" (Brexit Note) which consolidates and updates the earlier Brexit notes published in September 2016 and April 2019, as well as two EU legislative references destination tables. The Brexit Note and destination tables are intended to provide participants in the syndicated loan market with prior notice of the changes that will be made by the LMA to its English law facility documentation to take account of the end of the Brexit transition period.