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ARTICLE · 01 JULY 2016

Brexit—What We Know

Arnold & Porter
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On 23 June 2016, the electorate of the United Kingdom voted to secede from the European Union in an "in - out" referendum.

United KingdomGovernment, Public Sector
Stuart Axford
Stuart Axford
Ingrid Kalisch
Ingrid Kalisch
George M. Williams Jr.
George M. Williams Jr.
Henry G. Morriello
Henry G. Morriello
Skanthan Vivekananda
Skanthan Vivekananda
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Background

On 23 June 2016, the electorate of the United Kingdom voted to secede from the European Union in an "in - out" referendum. Assuming that the UK government follows this direction, the UK would become the first major Member State to leave the EU (or one of its predecessor forms).[1] The situation can rightly, therefore, be categorised as without precedent and much that has been and will be said and written about the legal implications of "Brexit" in the near future will be mere speculation and conjecture. This note attempts to outline, in the memorable words of Donald Rumsfeld, the "known knowns" and the "known unknowns," leaving the complete speculation of the "unknown unknowns" to others.

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