Dr. Kieran Laird

Partner, Gowling WLG

Kieran is an ex-academic with a particular interest in areas where law and politics intersect. He is a partner in Gowling WLG's Public Law & Regulation team and Head of Constitutional Affairs for the firm's Brexit Unit.

Kieran provides advice on the applicability of, and developments in, the statutory and regulatory frameworks governing a number of regulated sectors including energy, qualifications, transport, health, communications, and political lobbying. Kieran advises a range of clients including sector regulators, consumer councils, government departments, other public bodies, major corporates, and small and medium sized enterprises with regard to their respective regulated industries, equalities and human rights duties, EU law and other public law matters.

Contributed to

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Brexit—introduction to the Withdrawal Agreement

Practice Notes

This Practice Note provides an overview of the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated between the UK and the EU, which sets out the legal terms of the UK's withdrawal from the political institutions of the European Union. It outlines the legal and political context of the Brexit deal, summarises the key provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement and associated Political Declaration, examines the transitional arrangements and the process for implementation. It also highlights several public law issues to which the Withdrawal Agreement gives rise.

Public Law

Brexit—key legislation explained

Practice Notes

This Practice Note provides an overview of the key legislation introduced to give effect to Brexit in UK domestic law. Focussing on the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020 and the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023, this Practice Note examines the key objectives and functions of this Brexit legislation and also highlights a number of public law issues to which Brexit legislation gives rise.

Public Law

Introduction to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023

Practice Notes

This Practice Note provides an overview of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (REUL(RR)A 2023), which amended the regime established by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, changing the domestic status and treatment of retained EU law (REUL) and relabelled it ‘assimilated law’. It explains the effect of REUL(RR)A 2023, the changes it has made, how it is interpreted, and the role of the courts in relation to assimilated law. It also examines how REUL(RR)A 2023 interacts with the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the UK and the EU.

Public Law

Retained EU law and assimilated law

Practice Notes

This Practice Note provides an introduction to retained EU law. Retained EU law was a new category of UK domestic law introduced in connection with Brexit, and applied from the end of the implementation period until the end of 2023. This Practice Note provides an overview of the key definitions and concepts relating to retained EU law as it applied from 2021–23, with reference to the relevant provisions of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and summarises subsequent reform of retained EU law and its re-labelling as assimilated law.

Public Law