The UK's top law firms are registering solicitors in Ireland to protect them from the implications of Brexit.
The right to appear in EU courts is only afforded to lawyers qualified in an EU state. While the general population contemplates a glorious Far-Age in which City offices are replaced with dozens of garden bridges and patriots finally get to work in Pret and pick strawberries, firms have been busy registering their EU specialists in the ROI.
Even before the vote took place, 186 solicitors from the UK were admitted to practice in Ireland in 2016, compared to fewer than 50 in the first six months of 2015. It is, said Director General of the Law Society Ken Murphy, “by far the largest number of transfers of solicitors to Ireland from the UK in any given year, and we're only halfway through”.
Herbert Smith Freehills confirmed that it began registering lawyers months ago as a response to the possibility of Brexit. Fewer than ten are on the Republic of Ireland's roll of solicitors, but following the referendum result a spokeswoman confirmed to RollOnFriday that the number "could rise".
Allen & Overy also said that it has ensured that "a number" of its lawyers were dual-qualified, with "a small number" now applying to the Law Society of Ireland to add their names. A spokeswoman for Hogan Lovells said that in the wake of the referendum, the firm is also seeking to re-qualify specialist English qualified EU lawyers and litigators to protect their rights of audience and professional privilege as "a precautionary measure".
English-qualified lawyers don't have to pass the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test to join the Irish roll. Instead it's just a form, a one-off cost of approximately €2,000 and an annual charge of €300 (£237) (hang on...£268) (hang on...£345).
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The right to appear in EU courts is only afforded to lawyers qualified in an EU state. While the general population contemplates a glorious Far-Age in which City offices are replaced with dozens of garden bridges and patriots finally get to work in Pret and pick strawberries, firms have been busy registering their EU specialists in the ROI.
Even before the vote took place, 186 solicitors from the UK were admitted to practice in Ireland in 2016, compared to fewer than 50 in the first six months of 2015. It is, said Director General of the Law Society Ken Murphy, “by far the largest number of transfers of solicitors to Ireland from the UK in any given year, and we're only halfway through”.
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Herbert Smith Freehills confirmed that it began registering lawyers months ago as a response to the possibility of Brexit. Fewer than ten are on the Republic of Ireland's roll of solicitors, but following the referendum result a spokeswoman confirmed to RollOnFriday that the number "could rise".
Allen & Overy also said that it has ensured that "a number" of its lawyers were dual-qualified, with "a small number" now applying to the Law Society of Ireland to add their names. A spokeswoman for Hogan Lovells said that in the wake of the referendum, the firm is also seeking to re-qualify specialist English qualified EU lawyers and litigators to protect their rights of audience and professional privilege as "a precautionary measure".
English-qualified lawyers don't have to pass the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test to join the Irish roll. Instead it's just a form, a one-off cost of approximately €2,000 and an annual charge of €300 (£237) (hang on...£268) (hang on...£345).
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