A&L Goodbody LLP has a giant banking and finance team with a breadth of expertise across corporate and syndicated lending, leveraged and acquisition finance, real estate finance, fund finance, project finance, structured finance and other areas. The department has achieved further growth in fund finance and private credit, along with debt restructurings, and remains at the forefront of loan portfolio sales. Peter Murray heads the general finance department, which includes senior figure and chair of the firm Séamus Ó Cróinín. Niamh McMahon is noted for corporate lending, and real estate and development finance. Maria McElhinney is another key figure, along with loan portfolio sales specialist Gillian McDonald .

Arthur Cox‘s sizeable team affords it strength across multiple areas, including real estate and development finance, fund finance, bilateral and syndicated lending, leveraged finance and project finance. The firm is also noted for bank restructuring and loan portfolio sales. It has continued to make a further impression in ESG, green and sustainability-linked lending. David Molloy heads the banking and finance team and has a fine record in real estate and development finance, along with leveraged and acquisition finance. The immensely experienced Orla O’Connor is chair of the firm and leader in transactional and regulatory matters. The highly rated Kevin Lynch continues to impress and Ciara Buckley is also recognised for real estate finance, along with Imelda Shiels for ESG and sustainability-linked financings. Grainne Hennessy and Ultan Shannon have retired.

Mason Hayes & Curran LLP remains especially prominent in loan portfolio sales and acquisitions, along with private credit, loan on loan deals, warehouse financing, corporate banking, real estate and development finance, and project finance. It now represents a large number of alternative lenders, along with the Irish pillar banks, international lenders and corporate borrowers. Neil Campbell heads the financial services department and is a leading name in loan portfolio sales and acquisitions. Micheál Grace is noted for loan portfolio transactions, structured finance, loan on loan transactions, private credit, real estate finance and distressed asset purchases. Karol Fox provides further senior experience in cross-border financings and development finance, while Cathy Grant is experienced in acquisition and leveraged finance.

Matheson LLP has maintained a sizeable team covering all major specialisms within the Irish banking and finance arena. It frequently advises on syndicated and bilateral facilities involving many of Ireland’s largest corporate borrowers and is a major player in leveraged finance. The firm represents the Irish pillar banks, international banks, a range of alternative lenders and a multitude of borrowers. Maireadh Dale is co-head of the finance and capital markets department and has continued to advise on large-scale acquisition and leveraged financings, development financings and debt restructurings. Patrick Molloy and David O’Mahony are also highly-rated practitioners, with Paul Carroll recognised for leveraged finance and loan portfolio sales. The team was further strengthened in 2024 with the addition of Muireann Hernon from Mason Hayes & Curran LLP.

McCann FitzGerald LLP is a leader in traditional banking and finance, and has earned accolades for its expertise in newer areas such as private credit and fund finance. It has further expertise in regulatory matters, including advising alternative lenders on their entry into the Irish market and the structuring of their products. It is also at the forefront of development finance and loan portfolio transactions, and has expanded its presence in ESG and sustainable finance along with social and affordable housing transactions. Stuart McCarron heads the debt finance group, which includes prominent names Eamon de Valera and Philip Murphy . Tom Dane and Niall McDowell are key partners for development finance. Anna Moran , Aidan Gleeson and Clare Gillett have been promoted to the partnership. Niall Powderly has retired.

William Fry LLP continues to be noted for corporate lending, acquisition and leveraged finance, real estate finance and receivables financings. Energy and infrastructure financings are another forte. The firm is close to Ireland’s top lenders, though is best known for its advice to corporate borrowers and private equity sponsors. Jason Hollis specialises in technology and life sciences financings, along with cross-border transactions. Padraic Kinsella is an experienced figure in acquisition finance, real estate finance and corporate lending. Lyn Brennan has now returned to Dublin after a stint in New York. Energy and infrastructure finance specialist Ciarán Herlihy and Cork-based Laura Houlihan are also key partners.

Addleshaw Goddard remains best known for real estate and social housing financings. It is further recognised for energy and infrastructure finance, along with financial services regulatory matters. The lender-driven practice has an extensive mix of financial institutional clients, including the Irish pillar banks and a range of alternative lenders. Ray Byrne heads the finance team and has a background in real estate financings social housing transactions, development finance, acquisition financing, sustainable finance and fund finance. Erc Walsh  has further expanded the team’s presence in real estate and development finance, along with asset-based lending.

Beauchamps LLP has a primary focus on real estate and housing finance, representing a range of banks, senior lenders, mezzanine lenders, hedge funds and developers. It also has a background in acquisition finance, settlements and work outs. The firm has worked intensively in the housing market over many years and is often engaged in Ireland’s largest schemes. Daniel Cashman heads the banking and finance department, bringing extensive expertise in corporate lending and real estate finance, along with loan portfolio transactions. Niall O’Brien specialises in the real estate and housing sector.

Following the merger of Byrne Wallace LLP and LK Shields Solicitors LLP, Byrne Wallace Shields LLP has an experienced group of banking and finance partners, backed by a large team of associates, with a background in advising the Irish pillar banks and non-regulated lenders (including state-backed lenders) along with alternative lenders, investment funds and family offices. The firm remains best known for real estate finance, social and affordable housing finance and alternative lending, though the expansion of the team is making it additionally credible in multiple banking and finance segments. Practice head Mark Kavanagh remains at the forefront of real estate and development finance, which is also a key area of expertise for Peter O’Reilly. Jenny Ahern and Simon Mahon are other prominent members of the team, along with senior structured finance and fund finance specialist Donal O’Donovan, Daniel Lawlor, who heads the financial services practice, and Karen Outram, who has been promoted to partner.

Dillon Eustace has a sizeable team covering all key sectors within the banking and finance arena, notably real estate finance, fund finance, acquisition finance, loan portfolio acquisitions and sales, and the securitisation of loan portfolios. It also has extensive expertise in financial services regulatory matters. The firm retains strong connections to domestic banks along with a raft of non-bank lenders. Conor Keaveny, Keith Robinson and John-Hugh Colleran, who is known for his fund finance expertise, are senior names within the team, backed by the increasingly prominent Conor Kiernan.

Eversheds Sutherland has retained strong connections to domestic and international banks, non-bank lenders, development finance institutions and a large number of corporate borrowers. It has an established record in residential property and social housing financings, leveraged and acquisition finance, project finance, corporate lending and asset finance. Piaras Power heads the department and is an experienced figure in acquisition finance, commercial real estate finance, along with residential and social housing financings. Darragh Blake is noted for real estate finance, along with ESG and sustainability-linked financings. Steve Rodgers has a background in multiple financing areas, including  project finance and loan portfolio transactions. Robert Potter-Cogan is an emerging talent.

Maples Group‘s Dublin banking and finance team is headed by an all-female team of partners, which have built the firm’s presence in domestic and cross-border real estate and development finance, acquisition and leveraged finance, receivables finance and project finance. It is also a leader in fund finance. The group has experienced further growth in debt restructurings and has landed an increasing number of instructions from the Irish pillar banks, international banks and alternative lenders. Moreover, it represents a multitude of corporate and financial investor borrowers. Sarah Francis , Alma O’Sullivan  and Vanessa Lawlor provide senior expertise.

Philip Lee LLP has a rounded banking and finance practice with particular strength in development finance, along with real estate finance, corporate lending, acquisition finance and project finance. The banking and finance team works closely with colleagues in the construction and projects teams. It has close connections to Ireland’s pillar banks and a wide range of alternative lenders. It is also building its relationships with corporate borrowers. The firm primarily operates in the mid-market space, in financings ranging from €5m to €25m. Louis Burke leads the banking and finance team, has a significant focus on development finance and advises a range of alternative lenders. Ruairí Mac Cumhaill  frequently advises Ireland’s pillar banks on corporate lending, acquisition finance and project finance matters. Simon O’Neill  and managing partner Jonathan Kelly are also key members of the team. Sean Forsyth also impresses.

RDJ LLP has a fast-developing banking and finance practice, taking an ever greater share of the mid-market, representing Irish banks and alternative lenders, along with a multitude of corporate borrowers. The firm has genuine credibility in acquisition and leveraged finance, real estate and development finance, loan portfolio sales, and debt restructurings. Cork based Brendan Cunningham, Tom Fox and Cian Fenton bring a huge amount of experience to the banking and finance sector with Dublin’s Brian Quinn adding further senior expertise in acquisition and leveraged finance, development finance and refinancing.

Walkers is best known for fund finance and structured finance, a strength of the firm globally. The primarily lender-side firm also has broad coverage of the acquisition finance, commercial lending, loan portfolio transactions, and real estate and development finance arenas, among others. In addition, the Dublin team advises a number of borrowers in the real estate segment, as well as funds and sponsors seeking leverage. Fund finance specialist Andrew Traynor and Noeleen Ruddy , who is noted for structured finance and non-performing loan sales, co-lead the finance and capital markets team. Ian McNamee provides further expertise in fund finance.

Dentons Ireland LLP has built a sizeable team featuring a number of experienced and highly-rated partners. It has earned recognition for its strength in acquisition and leveraged finance, corporate lending, real estate and leveraged finance, project finance, and structured finance and securitisation. It is also a growing force in aviation finance. It frequently advises large domestic and international banks, challenger banks and debt funds, along with sponsor-side clients. The banking and finance team, includes four partners that all have experience of working overseas and at Ireland’s largest firms. Peter O’Brien is a leading name in leveraged finance, with Siobhan Carlin noted for real estate and development finance. Matthew Cahill brings further structured finance and securitisation expertise to the team. Donal Keane, promoted to partner in 2023, specialises in asset finance.

Fieldfisher remains noted for real estate and development finance, including sizeable acquisition financings for commercial and student accommodation buildings. The firm is also active in financings for the technology and renewable energy sectors. It advises a range of Irish and European banks, international funds and developers. The firm frequently advises Home Building Finance Ireland on development financings, including affordable and social housing developments. Real estate finance specialist Breen Purcell and acquisition finance and project finance expert Feilim O’Caoimh are experienced practitioners. Paddy Smyth and Elaine Traynor provide further partner-level expertise.

Flynn O'Driscoll has developed a strong record in acquisition financings to public companies, mid-cap business and SMEs, along with real estate and development financings. It has close links to banks, direct lenders and corporate borrowers. Affordable and social housing, and student accommodation have been key sectors for the firm more recently. Michael Hanley (‘standout in his field‘) heads the banking and finance team and is an experienced figure in acquisition and leveraged finance, real estate and development finance, and corporate lending. Danny Heffernan provides further senior-level support.

Hayes Solicitors LLP has achieved further growth in its banking and finance practice, in part thanks to its focus on developing its alternative lender client base. It continues to be noted for real estate and development finance, acquisition finance and corporate lending. The firm also advises a range of borrowers across multiple industries, including healthcare, real estate and automotive. Tim Waghorn heads the banking and financial services team, having practised in the Ireland, London and international markets.

Holmes O'Malley Sexton fields a team from Limerick, Dublin and Cork that is skilled in advising on loans and refinancings, with particular strength in the financing of major residential and commercial developments. The firm acts for leading financial institutions and is also increasingly active on the borrower side of transactions. The ‘very experienced’ Lisa Killeen heads the practice.

Pinsent Masons LLP has an established position in the Irish banking and finance sector, advising a mixture of borrowers and lenders on acquisition facilities, corporate lending, project finance, and real estate and development finance. The department also has a background in distressed financings, loan portfolio transactions and refinancings. It frequently works alongside colleagues in the UK and across the the world. Ann Lalor leads the banking and finance team that includes experienced associate Lisa Matthews.

Taylor Wessing has made its mark on the Irish banking and finance market thanks to the presence of the experienced and prominent Libby Garvey. The new team, which was launched in 2023, has landed a series of major clients and challenging engagements, including mortgage loan book securitisations, large real estate financings, fund finance, loan portfolio transactions and payment services regulation matters. Although the Dublin team is currently small, it has the ability to tap into the resources and expertise of the wider firm in the UK and worldwide.