International conventions are formal agreements between states or international organisations that set common legal standards or obligations on particular subjects, such as human rights, trade, transport, environmental protection or criminal justice. In UK and Irish legal practice, the term is used descriptively, rather than being tied to a single statutory definition, and broadly corresponds to multilateral treaties adopted under the auspices of bodies such as the United Nations or the Council of Europe.International conventions do not generally have direct effect in domestic law in England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Ireland unless and until implemented by legislation or recognised through case law. Their practical importance lies in: guiding statutory interpretation; forming the basis of incorporated rights (for example, the European Convention on Human Rights in the UK Human Rights Act 1998 and the Irish Constitution and legislation); and shaping public law duties and international law advice.Usage is broadly consistent across the UK jurisdictions and Ireland, though the constitutional mechanisms for ratification and incorporation differ, affecting whether and how an international convention can be directly relied upon in domestic courts.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations that resolves legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions on questions of international law. In practice, UK and Irish lawyers encounter the ICJ mainly in public international law matters, such as state responsibility, treaty interpretation, use of force, self-determination and jurisdictional immunity.The ICJ’s jurisdiction is consensual: states, not individuals or companies, appear before it, usually by accepting its jurisdiction in a treaty, a special agreement (compromis) or a declaration under the ICJ Statute. Its decisions are binding only on the parties to the case, but its reasoning is highly influential and frequently cited by domestic courts in England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland as persuasive authority on customary international law and treaty law.The Court applies the ICJ Statute (an annex to the UN Charter), treaties, customary international law, general principles of law and, as subsidiary means, judicial decisions and scholarly writings. The term “International Court of Justice” is used consistently across UK and Irish legal practice and is defined in the UN Charter and ICJ Statute rather than domestic legislation.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a permanent international court in The Hague that prosecutes individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. In legal practice, UK and Irish lawyers encounter the ICC mainly in matters involving international criminal law, extradition or surrender, mutual legal assistance, immunities and state cooperation.The ICC is created by the Rome Statute 1998. The UK implements its obligations primarily through the International Criminal Court Act 2001 (England & Wales and Northern Ireland) and the International Criminal Court (Scotland) Act 2001. Ireland gives effect to the Rome Statute through the International Criminal Court Act 2006 and related constitutional amendments.The ICC operates on the principle of complementarity: it acts only where national courts are unwilling or unable genuinely to investigate or prosecute. It has no retrospective jurisdiction before 1 July 2002 and only over crimes committed on the territory of, or by nationals of, states parties (or where the UN Security Council refers a situation). Across the UK jurisdictions and Ireland, usage of the term is consistent and aligned with the Rome Statute framework.

This Flowchart takes you through the various legal mechanisms for transferring personal data to a country outside the UK, eg: • an adequacy regulation • appropriate safeguards like standard data protection clauses or binding corporate rules (BCRs), and • a derogation Such transfers are prohibited by the UK GDPR unless you have one of these mechanisms in place. The mechanisms are designed to ensure data subjects are protected when their personal data leaves the UK. The mechanisms follow a hierarchy and this Flowchart will help you determine which is most appropriate for your organisation and processing activity. This Flowchart reflects the UK GDPR. See also Practice Note: How to manage international personal data transfers. Note 1—adequacy regulation You may transfer personal data to a country (or territory or sector in a country) or international organisation that has the benefit of a UK adequacy regulation. UK adequacy regulations set out which countries etc the UK government has assessed as having an acceptable data protection regime. Transfers made under an adequacy regulation do not need any specific authorisation

The purpose of this questionnaire is to facilitate our assessment of the level of protection applying to the data we [intend to ]transfer to your organisation. We have completed section 1. We request that you check the information in section 1 and complete sections 2 to 5. 1 Details of data transfer This section has been completed by the data exporter but should be checked by the data recipient and amended as required. Data exporter [State which organisation is the data exporter—this could be an entity within a group structure] Data recipient [Identify the data recipient] What is the status of the data recipient in relation to the proposed transfer? ☐ Controller☐ Processor What type of organisation is the data recipient? ☐ Public sector organisation☐ Private sector organisation☐ Other [provide further information] Will the recipient share the data with any other parties, eg sub-processors? ☐ Yes☐ NoIf yes, please complete a questionnaire for all parties to the transfer Where is the data being transferred to? [Insert] Data or classes of data to be transferred [Insert] Does this include special category personal data? ☐ Yes—[state what type of special category personal data will be transferred]☐ No Volume of personal data that will be transferred [Insert] Will

This Practice Note sets out the procedure for filing international design applications under the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs of July 2, 1999 (the Geneva Act). This system is referred to as the ‘Hague system’. It gives guidance on the rules and procedure for filing an international design application under the Hague system, including the way in which international designs are processed by the UK at a national level. It also covers the impact of Brexit on international designs designating the EU and considers the advantages and disadvantages of the Hague system compared with making separate national applications for registered design protection. Prior to 1 January 2025, the Hague Act concerning the international registration of industrial designs (1960) (the Hague Act 1960) was also in force under the Hague Agreement, but the Assembly of the Hague Union announced in November 2024 that the Hague system would be solely centred on the Geneva Act from 1 January 2025, with the application of the Hague Act 1960 being

Arbitration analysis: This News Analysis considers 33 arbitration-related decisions from Q1 and Q2 2026. It finds a strongly international English arbitration caseload, with around 76% of cases having an international dimension and around one in five being Russia-related. Sections 67 and 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996 were the main challenge provisions, but successful challenges remained limited.

Environment analysis: The International Environmental Protection Report, published by Defra on 29 April 2025, provides a summary of what the Secretary of State considers to be significant developments in international environmental protection legislation from April 2022 to March 2024. This is the first time that the Government has published such a report. Written by Richard Broadbent, director, in the Environmental Law team and Annabel Walker, senior associate, in the Environmental Law Team at Freeths.

This Practice Note links to content on the proper execution of deeds and simple contracts when acting through a power of attorney and for overseas companies, including guidance on execution formalities in different jurisdictions, notaries, Precedent clauses, and Q&As. Execution formalities Overseas companies For guidance on the proper execution of documents by overseas companies in accordance with the Overseas Companies (Execution of Documents and Registration of Charges) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/1917, see Practice Note: Execution

Family analysis: In the continuation of a series of News Analysis considering family law provisions in other jurisdictions, Alexandra Tribe, managing partner at Expatriate Law, outlines the key principles in the United Arab Emirates in relation to jurisdiction, divorce, financial provision, private children and non-court dispute resolution, as well as recent and forthcoming law reform.

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are a set of globally recognised accounting standards used to prepare and present the financial statements of companies, particularly listed and other “public interest” entities. In legal practice, IFRS are central to financial reporting, disclosure, due diligence, securities offerings, loan covenants, M&A, restructuring and insolvency analysis. In the UK, the requirement for certain companies to use IFRS in consolidated accounts is set out in the Companies Act 2006 and related secondary legislation, with endorsement and adoption now made at UK level post‑Brexit. In Ireland, similar obligations arise under the Companies Act 2014 and directly applicable EU law, with IFRS adopted through the EU endorsement mechanism. Across England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, the term is used consistently to refer to standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), including extant International Accounting Standards (IAS). For lawyers, key issues include whether a client reports under IFRS or local GAAP, how particular IFRS treatments affect distributable profits, covenant compliance, tax outcomes, regulatory capital, and the interpretation of “true and fair view” in corporate and securities law.

This DEED of agreement is made on [insert date] Parties 1 [insert name of party] [of OR a company incorporated in [England and Wales] under number [insert registered number] whose registered office is at] [insert address] (Franchisor); and 2 [insert name of party] [of OR a company incorporated in [England and Wales] under number [insert registered number] whose registered office is at] [insert address] (Developer) (each of the Franchisor and the Developer being a party and together the Franchisor and the Developer are the parties). Background: (A) The Franchisor has developed the Method and the Business. (B) The Franchisor [has applied to register OR is the registered proprietor of OR owns OR has the right to sub-license] the Trade Marks. (C) The Franchisor wishes to expand its franchise network internationally and is therefore willing to appoint the Developer to run the Development Business in the Territory. (D) The Developer wishes, and is able, to accept such appointment. The parties agree: 1 Definitions and interpretation 1.1 In this Agreement: [Adverse Change of Law • means the adoption, promulgation, modification or reinterpretation of any legal requirement by any Relevant Authority after the Effective Date which action materially