European firm Fieldfisher has expanded into Ireland following a merger with a local firm.
McDowell Purcell will merge with Fieldfisher on May 1, 2019.
McDowell's managing partner JP McDowell will lead Fieldfisher's Dublin office, which is expected to add around 30 new employees - in partners, lawyers and support staff - in the next year.
The two firms already had a relationship having previously collaborated on transactions. The merger will develop the technology, finance and life sciences' offering of the Irish firm.
The Dublin branch will bring Fieldfisher's overall office count to 25. The new office is the fourth the firm has opened since 2018; it has also established new offices in Spain, Luxembourg and Frankfurt in this time.