EU referendum: creative businesses in the UK should consider relocating to the EU in the wake of Brexit, according to a lawyer who advises design and fashion companies.
Moving would allow these businesses to get round trade barriers that could be erected if the UK fails to negotiate access to the single market, said Annabelle Gauberti, partner at law firm Crefovi (pictured).
"Creative companies headquartered in the UK, which export goods and products, such as fashion and design companies, should monitor the UK negotiations of the withdrawal agreement with the EU extremely closely," Gauberti wrote in a blog post on Saturday.
"... and, if need be, relocate their operations to the EU within the next two years, should new customs duties and taxation of goods and products become inevitable, due to a lack of successful negotiations with the EU," she added. Britain's exit from the EU could hit companies that export manufactured goods such a furniture and clothing hard, said Gauberti, the London-based founding partner of Paris law firm Crefovi.
"To conclude, we think that it is going to be difficult for creative businesses to do fruitful and high growth business in the UK and from the UK for at least the next two years," she wrote.
The UK's architects and designers were left reeling by the results of the referendum, with some ? including architect Alison Brooks ? claiming the result will impact their businesses
However businesses that export...