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Overseas practice meaning

What does Overseas practice mean?
Overseas practice describes the delivery of legal services from an office outside the lawyer’s or firm’s home jurisdiction. In England and Wales it typically means practice from an office outside England and Wales; in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland it means practice from an office outside those jurisdictions respectively. The term is descriptive rather than one defined by statute or case law, but is widely used in professional regulation, insurance and practice management. Key legal features include: the need to comply with both home and host‑state regulation; limits on reserved legal activities; local practising rights and entity authorisation; client money and trust accounting rules; anti‑money laundering and sanctions compliance; data protection and confidentiality; conflict management; and the scope of professional indemnity insurance. The concept is relevant to SRA authorisation and reporting and to comparable requirements of the Law Society of Scotland, the Law Society of Northern Ireland and the Law Society of Ireland. Historic note: earlier SRA materials referred to Registered European Lawyers (RELs) and treated certain cross‑border arrangements (including offices in Scotland or Northern Ireland) differently. The REL regime in England and Wales closed on 31 December 2020; such carve‑outs are now largely superseded.
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View the related Checklists about Overseas practice

CHECKLISTS
International franchising for UK-based franchisors: legal and operational checklist for overseas expansion

This Checklist outlines the practical considerations for a franchisor when launching an international franchise. A franchisor may wish to grow its network abroad to tap new territories and emerging markets, usually by entering into an international franchise agreement or an international development agreement. Nevertheless, the agreement and the structuring of the international arrangement can also present challenges and complications. This Checklist identifies some of the practical issues that a franchisor planning to expand overseas might encounter. Issues The franchise agreement will state that the franchisee must run the business in line with the franchisor’s operations manual. However, the business method described in that manual may not have been piloted or proven in the overseas territory. It will have been devised on assumptions tailored to the local market. A franchisee may therefore struggle to implement the method in the overseas territory if reliant on those assumptions. A franchisee is often contractually obliged to use the marketing material supplied by the franchisor under the agreement...

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CHECKLISTS
Seller’s solicitor checklist for selling a registered freehold residential property—vacant possession or subject to tenancies (England and Wales): from initial instructions to post-completion

Use this checklist when representing the seller in the disposal of a registered freehold residential property, whether offered with vacant possession or burdened by a lease or multiple leases. It is not comprehensive and will not address every eventuality in every transaction. You should always consider if there are additional matters that require attention. It does not purport to be a complete guide for every case. Preliminary matters Have you taken instructions from the client? Robust due diligence and effective transaction management depend on a clear grasp of the seller’s objectives and the proposed sale terms. Obtain full instructions, and clarify any elements of your brief that are unclear or out of the ordinary. Consider whether further specialist input is required; for example, planning advice where completion is conditional upon planning permission being secured. The table below sets out some of the principal points on which instructions should be obtained at the outset. This list is not comprehensive, and you may need to request information about additional...

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CHECKLISTS
Transfer of Tenancy Applications on Relationship Breakdown under the Family Law Act 1996 Schedule 7: FPR Part 19 Procedure (England and Wales)

Procedural Guide—transfer of tenancy on relationship breakdown (FLA 1996, Sch 7) This Procedural Guide outlines the steps for applying to transfer a tenancy following a relationship breakdown under Schedule 7 to the Family Law Act 1996 (FLA 1996). Orders can be sought by spouses, civil partners, former spouses, former civil partners and former cohabitants, provided the tenancy is a relevant tenancy and the statutory requirements are fulfilled. For fuller practical direction, see Practice Notes: Tenancies and relationship breakdown—substantive provisions and Tenancies and relationship breakdown—procedure. This Procedural Guide covers applications under FLA 1996, Sch 7 only. Certain tenancies may instead be transferred: by a property adjustment order under section 24 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and the Civil Partnership Act 2004 equivalent (CPA 2004, Sch 5 Pt 2); in proceedings for financial provision after an overseas divorce, etc; or by a transfer of property order under Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989. See: Transfer via a property adjustment order—spouses...

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View the related Flowcharts about Overseas practice

FLOWCHARTS
Territorial scope of statutory employment rights—flowchart: employees working overseas or for foreign employers; Lawson v Serco and Bleuse (EU‑derived rights)

Interim payment process in the NEC4 Engineering and Construction contract—flowchart HGCRA 1996 applies — option Y(UK)2 selected...

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FLOWCHARTS
Corporate risk management lifecycle flowchart: identify, assess and manage risks with linked practice notes and precedents (risk appetite, questionnaires, audits, registers)

Flowchart This flowchart sets out the way in which UK non-residence or residence is established—firstly by applying the automatic overseas test, and secondly by considering the automatic UK test. Please also see the Statutory residence test and residence flowchart (sufficient ties), as well as the Statutory residence test ‘home’ flowchart...

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FLOWCHARTS
UK Statutory Residence Test: Automatic Overseas and Automatic UK Tests Decision Flowchart

The flowchart below outlines the progress of a Bill from consultation to Royal Assent. The chart beneath maps a Bill’s complete journey from consultation through to Royal Assent...

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View the related News about Overseas practice

NEWS
UK corporate law weekly: HMRC capital-raising stamp duty/SDRT exemption; Companies House fees amendments; TPT transition plan resources; Procter v Procter; FCA research payment options (11 April 2024)

In this issue: Tax Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Environmental, social and governance Partnerships Financial services regulation Daily and weekly news alerts Dates for your diary Trackers Useful information Tax HMRC confirms availability of capital-raising exemption from 1.5% stamp duty and SDRT charge. HMRC has updated its Stamp Taxes on Shares Manual (STSM053100) to state that the relief from the 1.5% stamp duty and SDRT for capital-raising covers share issues made for non-cash consideration, with no consideration, or where consideration is paid directly to a different party. See: LNB News 10/04/2024 25. Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Registrar of Companies and Register of Overseas Entities (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, SI 2024/454. These Regulations revise the dates on which transitional provisions for changes to Registrar of Companies’ fees apply, correct typographical errors, and remove obsolete references to regulations within the Register of Overseas Entities (Delivery, Protection and Trust Services) Regulations 2022, SI 2022/870. They...

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NEWS
US DOJ use of FCPA and Anti-Terrorism Act against cartels/TCOs: overlapping corporate liability, FTO designations and high-risk scenarios

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Trump administration has signalled it will deploy every instrument at its disposal—including the FCPA and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA)—to go after such targets. What, then, should compliance professionals understand about where FCPA and ATA risks intersect? At face value, the FCPA and ATA seem to address separate exposures: the FCPA tackles bribery of overseas officials, whereas the ATA centres on, among other matters, supplying material support to, or aiding and abetting, foreign terrorist organisations (FTOs). In reality, though, these hazards can collide—especially in markets with significant FTO presence—producing concurrent exposure. Background On 20 January 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order No 14157, directing, among other measures, that specified international cartels and other transnational criminal organisations (TCOs) be classified as FTOs. Since February 2025, the US State Department has designated 11 organisations—primarily in Latin America—as FTOs. These listings carry meaningful consequences: the ATA imposes broad civil and criminal liability for furnishing material support to FTOs, and permits asset forfeiture...

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NEWS
Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) allows UK app developers’ collective claim over Apple App Store commissions to proceed, rejecting jurisdictional and fragmentation arguments

Tribunal chair Andrew Lenon KC stated the claimants have a credible chance of showing that Apple’s alleged excessive commissions charged to UK-based app developers for transactions completed on non‑UK storefronts constituted conduct carried out in the UK. In January 2024, Apple sought to have the tribunal strike out the action, which is brought on behalf of more than 1,500 UK‑based app developers over purportedly unfair App Store fees. The company contended that the majority of developers lack a UK claim because most distribution charges arose from purchases made in other countries, relating to the placement and sale of apps. The tech giant’s legal team further submitted that the lawsuit, spearheaded by Norwich Business School professor Sean Ennis, attempts to impose English competition law on charges incurred overseas and on commerce taking place outside the UK...

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View the related Practice Notes about Overseas practice

PRACTICE NOTES
UK money market funds: regime essentials, authorisation, UCITS/AIFM interactions, investment and liquidity rules, CNAV/LVNAV/VNAV, and post‑Brexit reform proposals including TMPR and the Overseas Funds Regime

This Practice Note examines core aspects of the UK framework for money market funds (MMFs) that stems from Regulation (EU) 2017/1131 (the EU MMF Regulation). It also looks at suggested changes to the framework, with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), HM Treasury and the Bank of England (BoE) working jointly to bolster its resilience and align it with post‑Brexit regulatory objectives. For background on the EU MMF Regulation, see Practice Note: EU MMF Regulation—essentials. What is an MMF? Money market funds (MMFs) are investment funds that invest in short‑term debt instruments and so play a significant role in the short‑term financing of the economy. In particular, MMFs are open‑ended, liquid investment funds that invest in fixed income through short‑term debt, for example money market instruments issued by banks, governments or companies (including treasury bills, commercial paper and certificates of deposit) which pay interest. They therefore form an important connection between demand for, and the supply of, short‑term debt. Further information on the eligible assets of an MMF is...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Property income: the UK income tax charge—scope, computation, timing, property business definition, territorial rules and Finance Act 2026 property rates and ordering

Forthcoming change: Sections 6–7 of the Finance Act 2026 provide that, with effect from 6 April 2027, an individual’s property income will be subject to income tax at the property basic rate of 22%, the property higher rate of 42%, and the property additional rate of 47% for a given tax year. A person’s property income is treated as the highest portion of their income, save where they also have savings and/or dividend income. Where savings and/or dividend income arises, the property income is taken to be the portion of the person’s income that falls immediately before the savings and/or dividend income. FA 2026, Schedule 1, makes consequential amendments to ITA 2007. For these purposes, property income means income that is: chargeable under Chapter 3 of Part 3 of ITTOIA 2005 (profits of a UK property business or an overseas property business) chargeable under Chapter 7 of that Part chargeable under Chapter 8 of that Part chargeable under Chapter 9...

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PRACTICE NOTES
WEEE Producer Compliance Schemes: approval, registration, financing and targets, balancing system, compliance fee, online marketplaces, vapes and e-cigarettes category, reporting, insolvency and enforcement under the 2013 Regulations

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/3113), as amended, implement Directive 2012/19/EU (recast WEEE Directive) and replace the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/3289). Rooted in the principle of ‘extended producer responsibility’, they place obligations on producers to manage the environmental impacts of their products, particularly at the ‘end of their life’ when they become waste. Producer compliance schemes Under WEEE 2013, reg 14, any producer placing five tonnes or more of EEE on the UK market in a year must join a Producer Compliance Scheme (PCS). A PCS supports compliance and arranges for collected WEEE to be sent to an Approved Authorised Treatment Facility (AATF) or an Approved Exporter (AE) for treatment in the UK or overseas. For further details on producers’ duties, see Practice Note: WEEE—producer obligations. Applications for approval A PCS must be approved by the Environment Agency (EA) for applicants based in England, and by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) for applicants based in Wales...

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View the related Precedents about Overseas practice

PRECEDENTS
Will precedent (England and Wales): nil-rate band discretionary trust legacy; spouse’s FLIT over residue; children as remaindermen; wide trustee powers and administrative schedules

FORTHCOMING CHANGE: Potential changes to Wills Act 1837 The Law Commission’s review of wills culminated in a final report on 16 May 2025. Volume II contains a Draft Bill proposing replacement of the Wills Act 1837. For details of these proposals, including the published draft legislation, see Practice Note: Hot topic—modernising Wills and Modernising wills: Final Report Volume II: Draft Bill for a new Wills Act. STOP PRESS: Abolition of non-dom regime and introduction of residence-based IHT regime The Finance Act 2025 (FA 2025), which received Royal Assent on 20 March 2025, implements the abolition of the remittance basis and introduces a residence-based regime from 6 April 2025. FA 2025 makes residence, rather than domicile, the main determinant of liability to inheritance tax. changes to the rules defining excluded property status; removal of protected settlements status for offshore trusts; and modifications to overseas workday relief. For further information, see Practice Notes: The abolition of the remittance basis of taxation...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent will for unmarried individual without children (England and Wales): executors, chattels, legacies, residue options, administrative/STEP powers, s33 Wills Act disapplied, 10% charity gift for 36% IHT rate.

FORTHCOMING CHANGE: Potential changes to Wills Act 1837 On 16 May 2025, the Law Commission’s review of Wills published its final report, formally setting out its conclusions, with Volume II containing a draft Bill intended to supersede the Wills Act 1837. For details of these proposals, including the published draft legislation, consult Practice Note: Hot topic—modernising Wills and Modernising wills: Final Report Volume II: draft Bill for a new Wills Act. STOP PRESS: Ending the non-dom regime and moving to a residence-based IHT regime. The Finance Act 2025 (FA 2025), which obtained Royal Assent on 20 March 2025, enacts legislation for the removal of the remittance basis of taxation and substitutes a residence-based system commencing on 6 April 2025. It also displaces domicile as the principal determinant of inheritance tax (IHT) liability for individuals. Further measures cover revisions to the rules for excluded property status, the removal of protected settlements status for offshore trusts, and alterations to overseas workday relief as applicable. For more on these reforms, see...

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PRECEDENTS
UK GDPR/DPA 2018 data protection risk assessment—long-form organisational template and practitioner checklist, covering processing, sharing, overseas transfers, accuracy, retention, destruction, audits and privacy risk register

1 Background information Assessment covering [ specify if the assessment applies to the entire organisation or a particular department ] Assessor [ insert name ] Assessment date [ insert date ] 2 Which personal data do you obtain and/or keep? Reflect on the personal data you receive and/or store, and identify any inherent risks. 2.1 Review Category of personal data Type of data How is it acquired? How is it stored?...

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View the related Q&As about Overseas practice

Q&As
Must E&W civil partners married pre-2013 in New York convert before divorce?

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (M(SSC)A 2013) confirms that marriages between same-sex partners are lawful and effective. Under s 9 of M(SSC)A 2013, civil partners in England and Wales can convert their partnership into a marriage, should they wish to do so. That conversion terminates the civil partnership, with the resulting marriage treated as having existed from the date the partnership was created. Before M(SSC)A 2013 came into force, same-sex marriages formed overseas were recognised in England as civil partnerships, falling within the category of ‘overseas relationships’ under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, rather than as marriages...

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Q&As
Representative of an Overseas Business: Is a Holding Company a Genuine Commercial Enterprise for Entry Clearance?

Practice Note: Applying under the Representative of an Overseas Business category Please see Practice Note: Applying under the Representative of an Overseas Business category, which sets out the eligibility criteria and process (including application form and fee details) for submitting an initial application or seeking an extension under the UK immigration route for Representatives of an Overseas Business. The note explains the eligibility criteria for Sole Representatives of an Overseas Business...

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Q&As
Defendant liability: overseas visitor NHS bill and CRU charges

HSC(CHS)A 2003, Part 3 For personal injury compensation claims where the incident occurred on or after 29 January 2007, Part 3 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (HSC(CHS)A 2003) applies. The HSC(CHS)A 2003 extends to any matter involving foreign nationals and foreign compensators, in circumstances where NHS treatment and/or ambulance services were delivered to the injured person following their return to England, Scotland or Wales. Part 3 of the HSC(CHS)A 2003 permits recovery of the costs of treating an injured person in all situations where that individual has successfully pursued a personal injury claim against a third party. Under HSC(CHS)A 2003, s 150(3), a ‘compensation payment’ is a payment, including one in money’s worth, made on behalf of a person who is, or is alleged to be, liable in respect of the injury. HSC(CHS)A 2003, s 150(3) further provides that relevant NHS charges are not included...

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