Mutual recognition of professional qualifications - including legal ones - between Switzerland and the UK will continue indefinitely beyond 2024 under an agreement to be signed by the two governments today. The Law Society strongly welcomed the deal with the UK’s third largest legal services export market in Europe.

The agreement, reached separately from the ongoing free trade negotiations between the two countries, will be signed by Kemi Badenoch, business and trade secretary, and Guy Parmelin, Swiss federal councillor, in Bern today. Subject to secondary legislation in the UK, it will come into force in January 2025. Current interim arrangements on the recognition of professional qualifications are due to end in December 2024. 

Negotiations for the standalone deal began in February last year, the Gazette understands. Under the deal, where a profession is regulated in law, regulators in the respective countries must consider applications from members of their opposite numbers. If they consider that gaps in skills or experience prevent immediate recognition, they must set out 'reasonable and proportionate' steps to fill the gap. The Gazette understands that the federal Swiss Bar Association will liaise between UK regulators and the individual regulators of Switzerland's 26 cantons. 

The UK and Switzerland are among the world’s leading service economies, with their services sectors each representing over 70% of GDP. Switzerland is the UK’s 7th largest partner for services trade. 

Law Society president Lubna Shuja said: 'Switzerland is the third largest UK legal services export market in Europe, so this deal will benefit not only our members but also the wider economy. Legal services facilitate all international business transactions and provide crucial support to UK and multinational firms wanting to export.'

Badenoch said: 'Supporting our flourishing services sector to sell its world-class expertise abroad is key to helping grow exports and grow the economy. Following the start of free trade deal talks last month, this agreement will hopefully ensure UK companies compete for more contracts in Switzerland in the future, boosting UK services exports, and encouraging new Swiss investment into the UK.'