Brexit, law firms and political links

In the wake of the decision in June 2016 by the UK to leave the EU law firms created dedicated ‘Brexit’ teams to handle increased clients demand.

According to specialist legal recruiters, FRS, which is helping law firms build their Brexit teams, 'the most successful teams are being built with trade partners from law firms in both London and Brussels; and lawyers currently working within Governmental entities.'

Former government lawyers can earn significantly more in the private sector. And law firms get people with not just the relevant legal skills, but 'a unique understanding of the administrative and political processes across Westminster, Whitehall and Brussels.'

'Clients are already looking for advice on how to navigate new legislation and trade arrangements,' says FRS. Law firms are jostling to become the ‘go-to’ firm for Brexit advice, it adds.

Law firms and Brexit-related, political hires
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• Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer hired Jonathan Hill, former European Commissioner for Financial Services as a Brexit adviser in March 2017. In September 2016, it also hired Anthony Parry, former legal adviser to the Treasury.
• Covington & Burling LLP hired former cabinet minister Francis Maude as a senior adviser in its government affairs practice in September 2016.
• Dechert hired Andrew Hood, the former legal adviser to then prime minister David Cameron, to its Brexit advisory team in February 2017.
• DLA Piper hired as its Brexit director Paul Hardy who was most recently EU Legal Adviser to the House of Lords.
• Pinsent Masons hired former Labour cabinet minister Douglas Alexander as a Brexit adviser in March 2016.