Brexit poses “significant opportunities” to the Irish legal profession, according to The Bar of Ireland.

In a submission to a Seanad committee, Paul McGarry SC, chair of the Bar Council, said Irish lawyers could sell more services abroad after the UK leaves the EU.

The submission points out that Ireland will be the only English-speaking common law jurisdiction integrated into EU legal structures, and observes:

“Brexit has created considerable uncertainty among UK legal services providers concerning their ability post-Brexit to service their clients as before given that they will no longer be in the European legal order.”

However, the submission also warns of the difficulties in civil law for international businesses that operate in Ireland and the UK.