Post-Brexit rumours

In the weeks and months that followed the Brexit referendum vote, with its result that sent shockwaves throughout the EU and the world, commercial law firms in Dublin were awash with rumours that London-based firms were transferring enormous numbers of solicitors onto the Roll in Ireland. This, some believed, was a prelude to transferring large proportions of their business to Dublin to maintain a foothold in the European Union.

Office buildings were being leased and entire firms would be acquired, it was believed. The credulity and febrile imaginations of at least some reached a stage that it would not have been a great surprise to have seen a horseman reprising Paul Revere by riding up and down the banks of the Liffey proclaiming “The British are coming!”

Enrolling, not invading

As time passed, however, it became increasingly clear that no invasion of Ireland by British law firms was underway. While very large numbers of England and Wales solicitors had indeed taken out a second qualification by applying to join the Roll of Solicitors in Ireland, they were not doing this for the purpose of establishing practices here.

Ken Murphy is Director General of the Law Society. Writing in the Gazette, he offers a first-hand account of developments, including the somewhat overstated ‘British invasion’.

• Read the full article in the December 2017 Gazette

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