Law firms in Australia and the U.K. are welcoming the ratification of a free-trade agreement between the two nations that will ultimately help remove barriers that impede the ability of lawyers from one country to work in the other, and will enable firms to more easily operate in both countries.

The agreement establishes a Legal Services Regulatory Dialogue, which is tasked with working out the practicalities of mutual recognition of lawyers. It includes representatives from the legal professions of both nations.