A&L Goodbody is a leading Irish firm with a strong reputation across the board. David Widger is the Managing Partner of the firm which is headquartered in Dublin, but also has offices in New York, Belfast, London and San Francisco. 

Highlights 

The company boasts is a top player in the Irish legal market. They have achieved tier 1 status for every practice area they submitted for and boast a strong legal team.   


During the research period, the firm successfully advised Endo on the financing aspects of its merger with Mallinckrodt. This marks a hugely transformative transaction combining two pharmaceutical groups emerging from Chapter 11 proceedings.

The firm also advised on the acquisition of Dalata Hotel Group by Pandox and Eiendomsspar through a scheme of arrangement. The transaction was notable as the first formal sale process conducted under the Irish Takeover Rules making it one of the most innovative Irish public M&A transactions of the year.  


Testimonials

"The firm understands the need for timely responses and flexibility in these types of transactions." - Asset finance


"The ALG team is academically and professionally excellent, however their responsive and proactive approach to real time issues sets them apart in the Irish market. As well as delivered market leading legal analysis, the team comes with practical business friendly solutions that really make the difference." - Financial service regulatory

"They bring instant calm and confidence no matter how contentious or complex the matter. Their expertise is second to none, they bring innovative solutions to the table and they are so skilled at making the complex simple. They are the best in their field when it comes to what they do." - Financial service regulatory

"Excellent advice that balances commercial outcomes and risks that is personally delivered in an efficient manner." - Insolvency

"There is a consistent level of quality of service and output across multiple services, they collaborate seamlessly." - Insolvency

"They were very knowledgeable about all aspects of local deal practice and were very responsive. The way they staffed the deal resulted in us always being able to get our questions answered, even at odd hours." - M&A

"They are experts in their field but they are also commercially minded. They are a great support to the inhouse legal team, and always make themselves available when needed." - Project development

"A&L Goodbody were capable of providing ALL of the expertise required in this multi disciplinary dispute. From lead Partners to junior lawyers always focussed on the end result." - Restructuring

"Keith is an extremely knowledgeable lawyer and is well connected in the Irish marketplace." - Keith Mulhern

"Deep subject matter expertise and industry experience." - Sinead O'Connor


"Great judgment, handles clients very well, manages team very well." - David Baxter

"Exceptionally experienced in his field. Has an ability to distil complex legal issues into digestible format and simplify options for ease in decision making. He is very strong at bring cross service teams together for a one firm offering." - David Baxter

"Really good technical lawyer who knows his sector well and very well experienced." - David Baxter

"Mark is consistently calm under pressure, actively listening to the client and what the business needs. Mark helps clients achieve the best possible outcomes in difficult situations." - Mark Devane

"Provides unparalleled depth and expertise on complex legal and regulatory issues, clearly explaining rationale but always finding pragmatic and commercial solution. He is also great fun to work with and brings humour and warmth to every interaction." - James Grennan

"Richard is a pleasure to deal with and is highly pragmatic, commercial and solutions-focused, with an outstanding ability to cut through complexity and provide clear, actionable advice." - Richard Marron

Key clients

Endo International Public Limited Company, EY, Interpath Advisory, Teneo Restructuring Ireland, RVL Pharmaceutical Public Limited Company, Exponent Private Equity, Kennedy Wilson, Allied Irish Banks, Carlyle Aviation Partners, Aero Capital Solutions, Castlelake Aviation, Perseus Aviation, Air Lease Corporation, Permanent TSB Group Holdings PLC, Iterum Therapeutics PLC, Oneview Healthcare, Coinbase, Permira, Wells Fargo, Grant Thornton Ireland 

 

Arthur Cox is one of Ireland’s largest and oldest law firms and is presently led by managing partner Geoff Moore. Founded more than 100 years ago in Dublin, where it is still based, the firm now employs 530 legal professionals across its headquarters and offices in Belfast, London, New York and San Francisco.  

Highlights 


Arthur Cox advised Ryanair Holdings on its EURO 1.1 billion unsecured credit facility with a syndicate of 17 lenders, acting as lead Irish counsel from term sheet through until close. This represented a significant landmark financing for one of Europe's largest airlines.

The firm also advised James Hardie on its USD8.75 billion acquisition of AZEK, representing a landmark cross border M&A transaction that included the issuance of new shares by an Irish plc and a NYSE listing.


Testimonials


"Dedication, professional, responsiveness, client focused approach." - Banking and finance

"The team is super-responsive, always. They are practical, efficient, and understand the transaction needs intuitively." - Banking and finance

"Very good team, kept our internal legal department updated and delivered on time." - Capital markets

"Arthur Cox stands out for the combination of deep technical expertise and commercial judgement. In debt capital markets, they are clearly very experienced across the full range of debt structures." - Capital markets

"In depth knowledge of our company and priorities, which is reflected in nuanced and commercially sensible advice. Also always looking around corners to mitigate risks we may not have thought of." - Capital markets

"Provide practical and knowledgeable counsel with attention to detail and service." - Capital markets

"Excellent client service, strong technical knowledge but with commercial and pragmatic approach." - Financial service regulatory

"Attention to detail, timeliness and commercial knowledge." - Financial service regulatory

"Finance team (Aisling Kelly) responsive over email and able to work through issues in a constructive manner. Tax advice also of a high quality." - Investment funds

"Arthur Cox has a very strong partner-level team, supported by very capable associates. The teams knowledge of AIFMD and Irish regulatory issues is top class, and is balanced by a pragmatic and commercial approach to advice." - Investment funds

"Arthur Cox have a broad scope of services and a deep knowledge of the market and areas of expertise." - M&A

"Superb firm with excellent lawyers experienced and very good at what they do!" - Restructuring

"Aidan is the leading specialist in all things fund and securitisation-related in Ireland for Arthur Cox. He is a really excellent professional, always available, very commercial in his advice and a trusted partner for our business." - Aiden Small

"Connor is very knowledgeable and gives practical and useful advice." - Connor Manning

"Attention to detail, problem solving and good communication." - Cormac Commins

"Dara is an expert in AIFMD and Irish regulatory matters; he balances technical legal points with pragmatic commercial advice." - Dara Harrington

"Kylie is an attentive and intelligent lawyer that provides practical and well thought out advice." - Kylie Dollard

"Engages with the commercial realities from the outset, incredible depth of legal knowledge and experience and inspires complete trust as an advisor on any topic." - Maura McLaughlin

"Excellent at understanding the requirements, able to bring a practical and pragmatic approach without over complicating the subject matter." -
Maura McLaughlin


"Phil Cody is excellent at combining deep technical expertise with practical, commercial advice. What stands out most is Phil’s ability to make complex issues clear and actionable. He is very responsive, pragmatic and detail-oriented, but also commercial in his approach. He does not simply identify legal issues; he helps find workable solutions and gives advice that can be used by the business in real time. He is also very strong on execution. He understands market practice, transaction timelines and the need to give clear guidance quickly." - Phil Cody

"Ruth has great knowledge and provides very practical and advice." - Ruth Lillis


Key clients 

Ryanair plc, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, AviLease, Aviator Capital, Amergin Asset Management, Ireland Limited, Goldman Sachs, Starwood, Bank of Ireland, Brookfield, Ares, Bank of Ireland, AIB, Lone Star, Blackstone, M&G, Energia, Celtic Roads, Power Capital, Valley Healthcare, LDA 

BHSM LLP incorporating OBH Partners is an Irish corporate law firm with an office in Dublin. The firm is led by managing partner Mark Homan and employs 9 partners and 40 lawyers. 

In banking and finance, the firm primarily assists borrowers with financing, refinancing, loans, and credit facilities. Clients came from a range of fields including investment management, real estate, retail and financial services.  In M&A, the firm assisted with a mix of domestic and cross-border acquisition transactions whilst in restructuring and insolvency; the firm has a focus on insolvency work. 

Highlight

A notable highlight of the firms activity during the research cycle includes successfully advising Prime Steak Restaurant 2012 in connection to the examinership in the Circuit Court.

Testimonials


"We have a close direct working relationship with the litigation partner. This enables communication to be streamlined, efficient and mutually understood. First drafts are always as discussed and the advice is always on point." - Banking

"BHSM has a deep knowledge or insolvency matters, they adopt a very practical approach to complex matters and provide the highest level of service when meeting deadlines." - Insolvency

"Knowledgeable and commercially focused." - Financial restructuring

"Professional & Approachable." - Insolvency

"BHSM LLP provide responsive, practical advice with strong expertise and a clear understanding of commercial objectives. Their collaborative approach and efficient delivery make them a reliable choice for this work." - Insolvency

"Strong considered advice combining expert technical knowledge and commercial nous." - Insolvency

Key clients 

Creative Retail Distribution Limited, Greenacre Residential Designated Activity Company, Milltown Properties (Wexford) Limited, Greenseed Limited, Forte Worldwide LLC, JSB Holdings Limited, Merrion Ultrasound, Prime Steak Restaurant 2012 Limited t/a Fade Street Social

In 2020, Dentons opened an office in Dublin. Today it has a team of 10 partners and 26 lawyers. The firm has strong experience in M&A and banking and finance, advising targets, sellers and acquirers on acquisitions in a variety of sectors.

Highlights

In banking and finance the firm advises both borrowers and lenders on a range of debt financing, securitisation and structured lending transactions. A notable recent highlight includes assisting Alvarez & Marsal on the successful issuance and listing of a EUR112 million green securitised bond. This bond listing represented the first secured publicly listed green bond offering in the Baltics and the first listed green bonds to have received the highest AAA credit rating in the region. The deal was named an Impact Deal of the Year at the IFLR Europe awards 2026. 

Testimonials

"The Dentons team lead by Matthew Cahill is a no-brainer choice when you want to execute complex cross-border transactions with demanding clients and high stakes." - Banking and finance

"Excellent understanding of legal issues and commercially pragmatic." - Capital markets: structured finance and securitisation

"Strong practical, commercial advice that is technically robust." - Financial restructuring

"Commercial , industry and solution driven approach." - M&A

"Great team, roles clearly defined and complimentary, successfully led us through the process." - M&A

"Matthew Cahill is a true trusted advisor who we can always rely on even in stressful situations." - Matthew Cahill

"Excellent pragmatic and commercial capital markets lawyer." - Matthew Cahill

"Practical, commercial, technically strong legal advice." - Gareth Steen

"Logical, practical advice." - Gareth Steen

"Exceptional commercial , interpersonal and technical knowledge - results driven - high communication and resolution focused approach - Industry leader in her field." - Evan Saunders

Founded in Dublin in 1992, Dillon Eustace is focussed on advising for investment funds and private equity clients and is led by managing partner Donnacha O'Connor. The firm has expanded internationally since the end of the last century, opening offices in Tokyo, New York, and the Cayman Islands.  


Highlights 


In banking and finance, the firm has active role on real estate financing matters such as its role as legal advisor to Varengold Bank in connection to an entry into a private securitisation transaction to facilitate senior debt. This marks the first transaction completed by Varengold Bank in Ireland.


In investment funds, the firm advised VanEck UCITS ETF on the innovative establishment of Europe's first UCITS ETF.
 

Testimonials 


"They are responsive, detailed, and reliable." - Financial service regulatory

"The partner in our relationship, Donnacha O'Connor is a standout attorney. He is responsive and his guidance is clear and commercial." - Financial service regulatory

"We value Dillon Eustace’s strong insolvency expertise and their practical, commercial approach. The team provides clear, well‑considered advice and is responsive and easy to work with, particularly in time‑sensitive situations. Overall, we have confidence in the quality and reliability of their service in this area." - Insolvency

"Proactive engagement. The partner and her team are very responsive and take initiative to keep us aware of any potential market news or regulation changes which could have an impact on the fund. Always available for calls or meetings and the time it takes to resolve queries is impressive." - Investment funds

"We have had a very positive experience working with Dillon Eustace on the establishment of two ELTIFs in Ireland. What stands out most is their combination of deep technical expertise in Irish and European fund regulation with a highly pragmatic and commercial approach. Their team has consistently provided clear, actionable advice throughout the structuring and authorization process, helping us navigate regulatory requirements efficiently while keeping our commercial objectives in focus." - Investment funds

"Dillon Eustace stand out for their combination of strong technical expertise and highly client-focused service. The team are personable, approachable, and responsive, which makes working with them both efficient and collaborative. They provide clear, practical advice on complex restructuring matters, particularly where there are cross-border and intellectual property considerations. Their ability to balance detailed legal analysis with commercial awareness is a key differentiator, and they consistently deliver high-quality outcomes in a pragmatic and solutions-driven manner." - Restructuring and insolvency

"Detailed knowledge of the financial regulatory environment." - Keith Waine

"Knowledgeable in the fund regulatory matters, and calm and persuasive negotiation with the CBI and our counterparty." - Brian Kelliher

"Consistently provides clear, practical advice and is responsive and reliable to deal with. Demonstrates strong technical knowledge while remaining focused on achieving workable outcomes." - Shane Harron

"Brian Kelliher combines strong technical expertise with a highly practical and client-focused approach. Throughout our work on the establishment of two ELTIFs in Ireland, he has consistently demonstrated an excellent understanding of both the regulatory framework and the commercial considerations involved in fund structuring." - Brian Kelliher

"Adrian Benson combines excellent technical expertise with a strong commercial mindset. He has a clear ability to distil complex legal issues into practical, actionable advice that aligns with the client’s broader strategic objectives. He is highly personable and approachable, which makes him particularly effective in building trusted relationships and working collaboratively with clients and advisors. Adrian is also very responsive and solutions-focused, consistently delivering high-quality outcomes while maintaining a strong emphasis on efficiency and clarity." - Adrian Benson

Key clients 


PIMCO, Legal & General, Pacer, Allied Irish Banks, Bank of Ireland, Balbec Capital, Oaktree

Flynn O’Driscoll was established over 20 years ago and currently has offices in Dublin, Galway and Shannon. The firm provides corporate and commercial legal services, with a focus on areas like M&A, private equity, banking and finance, real estate and asset finance.  

Highlights 


During the research cycle, the firm's M&A practice advised Ruepoint, a Dublin based media intelligence company, on their acquisition by American software company, Muck Rack. This work highlights the firms capability to advise on complex multijurisdictional M&A mandates.


Testimonials  

"Pragmatic and cost effective offering." - Asset finance

"Highly motivated, responsive and highly knowledgeable." - Banking and finance

"Highly efficient and very friendly." - Financial service regulatory

"Top-tier law firm service at a mid-tier price point. Their strength is their very commercial, pragmatic approach. Highly efficient and effective. Listen to their client and flexible to respond to our specific needs - not trying to impose their way of working on us. Combine good eye for detail with sense of the commercial bigger picture." - M&A

"Practical legal advise with strong technical ability." - Claire James

"Really efficient, responsive and helpful. Excellent service." - Lucy Loughnane

"Deep knowledge and experience means he can recognise repeating patterns and offer pragmatic solutions to problems." - Ryan Jordan

Mason Hayes & Curran is a Dublin-based firm with additional offices in London, San Francisco and New York.

 

Highlights 


The firm acted as Irish counsel to Carlyle on its acquisition of Vantive Health, Baxter International's renal care business, as part of one of the largest leveraged finance transactions in the market during 2025. The cross border deal involved the acquisition of US and international entities and formed a key part of Carlyle's strategy to expand its medtech portfolio.

Another highlight includes acting for Export Development Canada (EDC) and CJF Aviation DAC, the largest aircraft lessors to CityJet, in one of Ireland's most significant restructurings of 2025. The case was notable for addressing newly introduced provisions under Ireland’s preventive restructuring regime, including the application of the best-interest-of-creditors test.

Testimonials 


"The team was always responsive and nice to work with, they have independently coordinated the workstream on the Irish episode (between Irish entities involved), this was very helpful. It is not only the legal expertise that matters, but also proactive approach and ownership of the delegated workstream." - Asset finance

"Mason Hayes & Curran have a strong understanding of how the Bank's securities processes operate, in-depth knowledge of the Bank's loan documentation. The Bank particularly values how accessible and responsive the partners are." - Banking and finance

"MHC has excellent cross-Departmental and multi-Disciplinary skills meaning that all relevant expertise is broad together in an efficient, cost-effective manner that facilitates prompt progress. MHC is to be commended on its collegiality." - Banking and finance

"Very professional, very quick responding, helpful finding solutions to unexpected problems." - Capital markets

"Quick response with business and industry specific advice. Trusted business advisers." - Insolvency

"Strong expertise, large team, vast capabilities and experience." - Insolvency

"MHC combine expert technical knowledge with commercial nous and are very approachable and available." - Insolvency

"MHC demonstrated a high level of competence throughout our transaction and had a deep understanding of our business and how best to position it for sale." - M&A

"Extremely professional, knowledgeable and a pleasure to deal with." - M&A

"David is consistently highly responsive, ensuring that queries and requests are addressed promptly and efficiently, workstream well coordinated among the team members." - David McGovern

"Irene delivers exceptional service, and her depth of expertise is hugely impressive. In transaction preparation and execution, she strongly supports the project leadership. She thinks around corners, providing sound, proactive advice. Her knowledge of the Bank's processes and documentation set her apart as she hits the ground running every time and helps drive transaction momentum." - Irene Nic Charthaigh

"Daragh is one of the best professionals I have had the pleasure of working with. He combines outstanding technical expertise with a highly practical and solution-oriented approach, consistently finding effective ways to navigate complex issues. Beyond his professional capabilities, he is approachable, responsive, and a genuine pleasure to work with. His ability to build strong relationships while delivering first-class legal advice is truly exceptional." - Daragh Jamie

"Excellent commercial awareness, strong litigator, good cross boarder experience." - James Morrin

"Judith has huge experience and knowledge of corporate insolvency, is a very effective communicator and is very approachable." - Juduth Riordan

"She is methodical, professional and demonstrates a really strong understanding of M&A which offered us reassurance from the outset that we were in capable hands. She offered timely advice throughout the process, always working to protect our interests, and worked extensive hours in order to maintain momentum with US teams in a different time zone. Cara is sharp, but personable and I can't recommend her highly enough. She left no stone unturned in securing us the best deal, on the best possible terms for us as her client." - Cara Cooke


Key clients

The Carlyle Group, AIB Group, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Fund, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, First Quantum Minerals, Coinbase Ireland

Established in 1825, Matheson is one of Ireland's oldest and most prestigious law firms. In August 2026, the firm appointed a new managing partner in Shane Hogan, who replaced Michael Jackson. The firm has two offices in Ireland - its main base in Dublin and an office in Cork, an office in London and three in the US in New York, Palo Alto and San Francisco. Matheson excels across banking and finance transactional and regulatory, and conventional and structured debt instruments, M&A, project development and finance and restructuring and insolvency. The firm sits in Tier 1 in all but one table.

Highlights

During the research cycle, the firm was involved in the landmark acquisition by Pandox AB of Dalata Hotel Group. Matheson provided comprehensive legal advice on all Irish aspects of the acquisition and represents one of the leading market hospitality acquisitions in the Irish market.

In investment funds, the firm assisted HSBC in the launch of new ETF share classes for its existing HSBC Sterling Liquidity and HSBC Euro Liquidity Funds. This represents a significant development in the investment funds space in Europe, marking the first time an asset manager in Europe launch an ETF share classes within existing EU-regulated money market funds.

 Testimonials

"They deliver a quality on time service consistently." - Asset finance

"Knowledge, industry expertise, responsiveness." - Asset finance

"The partners are experienced and expert in a wide range of areas (including finance, capital markets, financial regulation, corporate etc). It means one partner can lead the matter without having a cast of thousands on every call." - Banking and finance

"Responsive, technically strong, efficient, knowledgeable." - Banking and finance

"Very experienced team, lots of partner involvement. Excellent expertise in their field, particularly in the Real Estate space. Very commercial, willing to be pragmatic to get transactions agreed. Good relationships with other law firms and other transaction parties." - Banking and finance

"On the mixed use refinancing, the team handled a complex lender take‑out and refinancing efficiently, with clear advice on Irish security, enforcement mechanics, and redemption sequencing, and strong coordination with outgoing lender counsel. Their guidance on CPs, collateral warranties, and deliverables was practical and focused on lender risk rather than academic legal analysis." - Banking and finance

"Matheson offers best in class legal advice that is timely and commercial. They are industry experts who also provide excellent client service." - Financial service regulatory

"In depth knowledge of the local market in terms of meeting regulatory requirements whilst maintaining a commercial and pragmatic lens." - Financial service regulatory

"Matheson provide practical input and insights based on prior real world experience." - Financial service regulatory

"Lawyers were responsive and adapted to the requests on the firm. The advice was delivered against tight timeframes and the workshops provided were very helpful." - Financial service regulatory

"The team is extremely responsive and absolutely has the appropriate level of expertise to guide clients through their decision making processes throughout the implementation process, as well as for on-going matters." - Investment funds

"Client knowledge, solutions orientated and deep regulatory expertise." - Investment funds


"Highly professional team, very responsive, and did a fantastic job getting the deal over the line with a tricky counterpart." - M&A

"Knowledgeable and diverse team, who are expert in M&A and Service agreements for Irish companies." - M&A

"Practical and knowledgeable feedback from contract concept through to final negotiations with the contractors. They are solution focused providing a quick and responsive service." - Project development

"In depth knowledge of the market. Provides excellent advice and expert drafting of complex material." - Restructuring

Lawyer Testimonials

"Excellent regulatory knowledge, great on a complex query!" - Barry O’Connor

"Very well articulated solutions / alternatives addressing a full ranges of issues." - Barry O’Connor

"Excellent communication skills, able to grasp and explain complex issues immediately. Great at drafting documents." - Brendan Colgan

"Real Estate expertise. Provides an outstanding level of service. Very personable, coupled with technical expertise." - Cillian O'Boyle

"Manages the team and the relationship. Summarises the key points and provides overview guidance on the way forward." - Connor Blennerhassett

"Conor is very organised and pragmatic in the way he approaches transactions. He stays calm under pressure, keeps matters moving efficiently and focuses on practical solutions rather than overcomplicating issues. He is also very supportive and considerate in how he works with the wider team and clients, while remaining commercially switched on and highly responsive throughout the process." - Connor Blennerhassett

"Conor is an excellent listener and communicator, and provides an accurate response every time." - Connor Blennerhassett

"Excellent and coordinating / facilitating satisfactory agreement on key commercial points in advance of drafting documents which enables much faster agreement with all parties in large syndications." - David O'Mahony

"Grainne is a true professional with an extensive knowledge of the Insurance industry in Ireland. Grainne is solution focused with a real commercial lense and gives great insights into industry wide challenges and regulatory change." - Grainne Callinan

"Karen has very strong technical expertise with a comprehensive understanding of the commercial and regulatory environment. Advice is always clear, practical, and tailored to our needs." - Karen Reynolds

"Stuart is so responsive and is always willing to jump in where requested." - Stuart Kennedy


Key clients 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, Pandox, Allied Irish Banks, Fidelity International, Cellnex Telecom, Bank of Ireland

The origins of McCann FitzGerald date back to 1947 in Dublin, but the firm has expanded internationally and now also has branches in Brussels, London and New York from which it advises on Irish law.  


Highlights 


The team remained active on some of the most significant financing and restructuring mandates in the market. Notable work included advising Ardagh Glass Group's secured creditors on the company's recapitalisation, involving complex cross border negotiations and innovative solutions.

The firm advised on Citi's expansion of its Citi Token Services platform to its Citibank Europe plc, bringing blockchain enabled liquidity and cash management capabilities within the European regulatory framework.

Testimonials

"Excellent team. Practical, supportive, available and experts in their field." - Asset finance

"McCann FitzGerald's reliability is second to none. The team's expertise (both junior and senior members alike) ensures the bank is well informed of any risks that may arise during due diligence and they provide useful and reliable guidance in relation to how to best proceed." - Banking and finance

"McCann FitzGerald stand out for the consistent quality of their advice, strong hands‑on partner involvement throughout the process, and a very commercial, solutions‑focused mindset. They combine technical depth with a clear understanding of deal dynamics and risk, and their advice is pragmatic, timely and aligned with our commercial objectives rather than purely legal points." - Banking and finance

"Attention to detail, knowledge of industry and responsiveness." - Capital markets

"Insurance practitioners offer very commercial and pragmatic advice. They think clearly and quickly and are unafraid to help with adjacent areas. Negotiation support is strong and they are always available." - Financial service regulatory

"Claire Gillet in the Financial Services Regulatory Team is responsive, practical, commercial and easy to deal with. She is an expert in her field and has an abundance of market experience." - Financial service regulatory

"Strong expertise, value for money, broad and diverse team, wide range of service." - Insolvency

"We have a very good relationship with McCanns. All members of the team are approachable, friendly and also have an additional "edge" in respect of a commercial view and their great experience in the Irish market." - Investment funds

"McCann's professional and pragmatic approach makes them stand out." - Investment funds

"Great breadth of knowledge and understanding of the legal and regulatory environment in which we operate. Timely and detailed responses which are commercial as well as legal." - Investment funds

"McCann's were adaptable as the project changed. They would keep the Firm advised on spend to ensure that we could monitor the budget. They were excellent in their advice on approaching the regulator in what was in some respects an unusual application." - Investment funds

"The McCann Fitzgerald team is responsive, knowledgeable and, importantly, practical in their guidance and helped us navigate complex Irish takeover rules." - M&A

"Commercially focused and very practical advice." - M&A

"Deep sector expertise and experience." - Project development

"Prompt, competent, always reliable and available. Knowledge in all areas as far as I can see." - Project development

"Great knowledge and super efficient." - Richard Gill

"She is calm, excellent negotiator with other side. On top of all details." - Laura Deignan

"Tom is great at analysing a scenario and quickly highlighting any causes of concern the bank should be aware of and how he would recommend to proceed from a legal perspective." - Tom Dane

"Eamon is particularly strong at combining technical precision with practical, commercial advice. He is highly responsive, clear in his thinking, and very effective at cutting through complex issues to focus on what really matters for the transaction. His calm, solutions‑oriented approach and ability to anticipate issues early make him a trusted adviser and a pleasure to work with on complex, time‑sensitive matters." - Eamon DeValera

"Knowledge, attention to detail and responsiveness." - Fergus Gillen

"Responsive and detailed orientated." - Jack O'Reilly

"Catherine is an expert in her field, she is extremely responsive, commercial and considered in her advice. She is fully reliable and has excellent market knowledge." - Catherine Derrig

"Having had the privilege of working with Anna on multiple projects over the past twenty years, I found Anna to be is an excellent lawyer who consistently demonstrates exceptional legal knowledge, sound judgement, and the highest standards of professional integrity with a pragmatic approach to solving issues as they arise. She has an impressive ability to analyse complex legal issues and communicate clear, effective advice to her clients." - Anna Moran

"Extremely knowledgeable about the funds industry. She met with the regulator on the Firm's approach and was able to agree an approach that made sense to both the Firm and the regulator." - Anna Moran

"He is very client focused. He understands the demands of clients and delivers advice in a digestible manner. He adheres to deadlines and is extremely responsive." - Brendan Murphy

"Joyce is unequivocal when she speaks ensuring there is no doubt in her messaging. The work she produces is to an exceptional standard and always delivered promptly, clearly and thoroughly." - Joyce Cunningham

Key clients

Warburg Pincus, Alkermes, Equitix, Kingspan Group, AIB Mortgage Bank, Kingspan Group, KPMG, EY, Trinseo

Ogier is a 1,100-strong global offshore law firm that has served clients for over 150 years. The firm operates in Ireland and boasts a wide network of offices across the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dubai, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Jersey and Luxembourg.

Highlights 


Ogier Ireland is focused on banking, M&A, investment funds, capital markets debt and structured finance. The team has been active advising on a range of matters including fund structuring, public and private M&A and a wide range of financings.  

A notable highlight of the firms work includes acting for a lender on a USD140 million capital call facility provided to Fidelity Evergreen Private Credit Master Fund, advising on all Irish law aspects of the financing. The transaction highlights the firm's expertise in fund finance and complex cross border capital facilities.

The firm also advised Akhenaton on the issuance of USD 250 million secured notes due 2030 through Renaissance Emerging Funding DAC, with the notes listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange.
 

Testimonials


"Responsive, pragmatic, intelligent." - Capital markets

"Oisin was clear and straight forward when providing his advice to us in respect of regulatory change or when we were looking to make changes. He was always open to suggesting a range of options explaining the pros and cons of each." - Investment funds

"Very responsive; can provide, and adjust, complicated structuring and regulatory advice on their feet in a very straightforward and plain manner; absolute pleasure to deal with." - Investment funds

"Very connected to the market, fast and informed." - Investment funds

"David Nolan has been a trusted strategic partner to ING in our global simplification programme, helping us streamline and modernise internal policies, procedures, and work instructions. He combines exceptional legal expertise with a pragmatic understanding of complex regulatory and operational challenges, consistently providing advice that is both technically robust and commercially practical. David has played a pivotal role in shaping our approach, challenging conventional thinking where appropriate, and helping us deliver meaningful simplification while maintaining strong governance and regulatory compliance. His responsiveness, strategic insight, and ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable solutions have made him an invaluable adviser to our organisation." - David Nollan

"He is excellent at managing the relationship with ING deploying his firm's expertise at our service." - Dave Nollan

"Dave provides clear advice, in a timely manner. He responds to changing and challenging situations with ease." - Dave Nollan

"Mr. McClenaghan is excellent in all aspects at what he does. More lawyers should be as responsive and excellent communicators as he is while being down-to-earth and easily accessible." - Oisin McClenaghan

"Mr. Perry has excellent understanding of the Irish tax law and system. He was able to very quickly provide us with answers as to potential tax issues posed by a number of potential structures we considered for the purposes of our project. Like the rest of our Ogier contacts, he is a pleasure to work with." - John Perry

"Owen is highly responsive, commercially minded, and delivers clear, pragmatic advice when it comes to Jersey structures. He manages complex matters efficiently and is a trusted partner who consistently focuses on achieving practical outcomes for clients." - Owen Woolgar


Key clients 


Capital One, National Association, Brian M. Durkan Construction Group, JPMorgan, Gannon Home, Newkey Kilmartin, Coinbase, Brightside

Cayman Islands based offshore firm, Walkers, has had an office in Dublin since 2010 and its global managing partner is Ingrid Pierce. The firm’s international network includes 10 offices across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East.   


Highlights


A notable highlight of the firms activity during the research period includes assisting on the USD 600 million asset backed securities refinancing of the Gilead aircraft leasing platform, a joint venture between PIMCO and AerCap. The transaction refinanced a portfolio of 18 aircraft leased across eight jurisdictions, highlighting the firm cross border expertise in aviation finance and structured finance.

In M&A, the firm played an active role assisting CommScope on the local Irish law aspects of Amphenol Corporation's acquisition of CommScope's Connectivity and Cable Solutions business. This transaction is illustrative of the firms capability to advise on complex international cross border deals on a regular basis.
   

Testimonials  


"Walkers’ involvement was particularly helpful, as they worked quickly and with great precision. At the same time, they were very well informed about the current legal situation and market practices, which greatly benefited the transaction." - Banking and finance

"Their quick turnaround , knowledge and efficient staff." - Banking and finance

"Walkers is extremely efficient, they are quick to respond with complex and accurate advice. Ian McNamee worked on a complex transaction with us and helped the transaction close on a very short timeline." - Banking and finance

"Demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the trustee role, including potential risks and advised accordingly." - Capital markets

"Market leading, responsive, clear advice." - Financial service regulatory

"Extremely deep knowledge of the key aspects of Irish regulation informs advice that is informed with an ease and fluency that is unique in the Irish market." - Financial service regulatory

"Concise, accurate and appropriate." - Investment funds

"They have a broad range of experienced solicitors who can advise on banking, asset finance and property acquisition matters and can offer a quick response to urgent transactions." - Private equity

"Accessibility, clear advice, expert professional outputs." - Restructuring and insolvency

"Very responsive and user-friendly." - Killian McSharry

"Padhraic was highly knowledgeable, proactive throughout the transaction and excellent at communicating. He quickly grasped the tax situation and provided valuable insights on how to improve the contractual documentation. Where necessary, he corrected the tax advice received by the other party and always devised a sound solution that could be implemented during the transaction." - Padhraic Mulpeter

"He is very responsive and knowledgeable. We can easily go to him for any advice we need." - Ian McNamee

"Ian is collegial and extremely responsive. He is easy to work with while hitting all the marks on client service and substantive expertise." - Ian McNamee

"Ian is commercial, transparent and responsive. His guidance on helping to launch our European BSL CLO business has been very helpful. He routinely checks in with his client and provides thorough updates on pricing for the relationship." - Ian Noeleen

"Great availability with extensive technical knowledge informing high quality advice that is delivered in a very accessible manner." - Niall Esler

"Aongus McCarthy was commercial and provided expert advice relevant to our risk tolerance. He is a trusted advisor to our firm." - Aongus McCarthy

"Nick is a competent, widely respected lawyer that has not just served as the lead for his firm but has Chair the Council of Irish Funds nudging the industry to a higher place. His clients, industry colleagues and his Walkers team mates have common appreciation for his talent and contribution." - Nicholas Knox

"Seána is a good communicator, easy to work with and pays good attention to detail in the preparation of all necessary documents for a transaction." - Seána Donaghy


Key clients  

Deutsche Bank, Castlelake, PIMCO, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, UBS, Banco Santander, Goldman Sachs, Realm Finance   

Founded in 1847, William Fry is a leading Irish firm headquartered in Dublin. The firm opened an office in Cork recently and has an alliance with Northern Ireland firm Tughans. It also has branches in London, New York, Silicon Valley and San Francisco through which it advises foreign clients on Irish law.  

Highlights 

The firm has a particularly strong practice in banking and finance, equity capital markets, M&A, project development and restructuring and insolvency, achieving tier 1 in all these areas. They are also very active in structured finance and securitization capital markets and investment funds practices as well.   

The firm acted as lead adviser to the Irish Department of Finance on the final stages of the State's exit from AIB, advising on a series of innovative share disposals, directed buybacks and accelerated bookbuild offerings resulting in the bank's return to full private ownership. This mandate is among the most significant public sector capital markets transactions in Ireland in recent years.

Another highlight includes advising the European Investment Bank of the financing of Touax Rail's acquisition of 900 railcars across multiple European jurisdictions. This mandate highlights the firms capability to advise on complex multijurisdictional financing transactions supporting sustainable transport infrastructure.

Testimonials

"Efficient, clear communication and advise and focused on resolving all queries raised." - Banking and finance

"Friendly, thorough, practical approach. Extremely responsive with short turn-around times." - Banking and finance

"WF offer technical excellence combined with commercial awareness - I love using them as Irish counsle because they will always give us the right answer but tempered by an appreciation (in varying different circumstances) of the commercial requirements of the specific client for that matter. They are highly responsive and easy to work with and, critically, they will anticipate issues early and seek instructions before that particular matter hits a crunch point. Overall - high quality and reliable Irish legal counsel." - Banking and finance

"William Fry's longstanding relationship with the client and the team's responsiveness and practical knowledge are extremely helpful." - Capital markets

"The team at William Fry are consistently highly responsive and demonstrate a clear understanding of the time-sensitive nature of our queries. They bring not only deep regulatory expertise, but also a strong grasp of industry best practice and regulator expectations within our specific sector. The advice we receive is never generic; it is carefully tailored and applied in the context of our business, reflecting their detailed understanding of our regulatory history and strong visibility of our previous interactions with the regulator." - Financial service regulatory

"William Fry stood out for their deep technical expertise in Irish funds regulation combined with a highly practical, solutions‑focused approach. The team demonstrated a strong understanding of the Central Bank of Ireland’s regulatory expectations for ICAVs and third‑party management company structures, which was particularly valuable given the cross‑border nature of the client and the complexity of an insurance and pension group promoter. What we especially valued was their ability to provide clear and commercially grounded advice and their ability to drive matters forward efficiently. Their experience negotiating investment management, administrator and depositary arrangements was evident, and they worked collaboratively with us as third‑party management company, taking a hands‑on role in project managing the process to ensure a smooth, timely and compliant launch." - Investment funds

"Sectorial expertise and team depth - from Partners to associates to solicitors - all displayed expertise in the area of construction law; excellent communication and awareness of client requirements." - Project development

"Brilliant hands on practical experience, when talking to one of Fry`s solicitors, ones know that you will received the best legal advise that is practical." - Project development

"Excellent attention to detail, rigorous processes for dealing with complex issues, huge commitment to achieving the best client outcome and very considered and helpful relationships with key members of the WF team." - Project development

"Responsiveness, strength in depth and expertise of team." - Restructuring

"Outstanding customer service ethic, huge attention to detail and focus on ensuring that we as the client fully understand the legal implications of the topics under discussion. BR works incredibly hard on our behalf and i would have full trust in her integrity and judgement." - Bryanna Ryan

"He is excellent at communicating the key issues in a facility agreement." - Ciaran Herlihy

"I'm impressed by his deep understanding of the relevant law - he always seems able to apply it accurately and commercially in the complex situations." - Ciaran Herlihy

"Ciarán was our main point of contact throughout the transaction and he was excellent. He is commercially minded and pragmatic, and has a real ability to cut through complexity and focus on what matters. He was hands-on in coordinating the various workstreams on the Irish side and with the other local counsel assisting on this matter. He took genuine ownership of the process and always made himself available when we needed him. What stood out most was how helpful and responsive he was, even when we were working under significant time pressure. He is also very friendly and easy to work with, which made the collaboration straightforward and enjoyable throughout." - Ciaran Herlihy

"Broad knowledge of market and proactive on regulatory changes." - Clodagh Ruigrot

"Clodagh Ruigrok is an excellent lawyer who combines sharp technical expertise with a highly responsive and pragmatic approach. She consistently delivers clear, commercially practical advice that is grounded in a strong understanding of both regulatory requirements and client objectives. Her approachable manner and willingness to engage collaboratively make her a trusted adviser, particularly on complex matters where clear judgment and efficient execution are essential." - Clodagh Ruigrot


"Fergus is commercially minded, solutions orientated lawyer. Very responsive and technically very strong." - Fergus Doorly

"Provides strategic input and big picture thinking, has a well informed external radar and brings that expertise to decision making." - Liam McCabe

"Louise combines very strong technical expertise in financial services regulation with a clear understanding of the practical challenges faced by regulated firms. She is particularly effective at translating complex regulatory requirements into clear, pragmatic advice that can be implemented operationally." - Louise McNabola

"Shane is a thoroughly proficient regulatory expert in fintech, payment and digital assets, spanning PSD2/3`, MiCAR and MiFID. He is widely respected in the industry and has one of the highest success rates in achieving regulatory authorisations." - Shane Kelleher

"She is very pleasant and friendly to deal with. She is human! She listens, takes in what is being explained, she asks the key questions and then she advises in a very clear way." - Louise McNabola

"Louise is exceptionally responsive, knowledgeable, and consistently tailors her advice and approach to the specific needs of our firm. She is particularly mindful when communicating messages that may be challenging for the business to hear, and always aligns with me as her primary point of contact in advance to ensure expectations are managed appropriately and that advice is delivered in a pragmatic and considered manner." - Louise McNabola