In anticipation of, and in the wake of, the UK decision to leave the EU, a number of UK lawyers specializing in EU and competition law have been securing additional Bar qualification in Ireland, according to a June 28 Bloomberg article titled “Brexit Leads UK Lawyers to Seek Solace in Irish Bar.” Many state their concerns over the effect of Brexit on the ability of UK-qualified lawyers to practice EU law or defend clients in EU courts.
Brussels antitrust partner Matthew Hall is quoted in the article as saying that Irish qualification may not be enough. Many lawyers are seeking to change their nationality or obtain a second nationality as well. Hall is a dual UK/Belgian national who originally qualified as a lawyer in the UK, but also has obtained the Irish Bar qualification.
The full text of the Bloomberg article is available to subscribers online.
To learn more about Brexit and its impact on the UK, the U.S. and worldwide, see McGuireWoods’ legal alerts of June 24, “Brexit: The UK Has Chosen to Leave the EU. What Next?” and June 21, “To Brexit or Not to Brexit? That Is the Question. But What Are the Consequences?”