Lawyers are looking to re-register in Ireland so they can continue to practise law in the EU.
Tina Williams, Chair of Fox Williams, says: “Once we leave the EU formally, UK law firms will need to re-establish their right to operate offices and UK lawyers to practise EU law in EU countries.
“Hence the rush by lawyers to become registered on the roll of solicitors in Ireland. We expect to be very busy restructuring law firms and advising lawyers who do not want to be confined to practising solely in England and Wales.
“In the future this could cause London as a hub for professional practices to lose ground to Dublin.”
Lawyers aside, processing a points-based system for the three million EU nationals currently living in the UK would be “a massive burden for the state”, according to Fox Williams partner Sacha Schoenfeld.
“Does it really make sense to subject those currently living and working here to the rigours of a points based system? Three million applications is a huge number for the Home Office to process and a massive burden for the State," she says.
"Mistakes will be made, resulting in appeals and further cost, as well as further upheaval. To reduce the number of migrants cuts may need to be made to workers with skills and qualifications that are needed currently by UK businesses.
"Sectors like technology, IT, health, hospitality, manufacturing and agriculture will be hardest hit.”
