A&L Goodbody LLP has a fine record in handling equity and debt capital markets transactions. Key areas of instruction include high-value debt transactions and structured finance matters, and the department has seen an increase in matters involving private equity and hedge fund-linked structuring. The firm is also at the forefront of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) transactions. Peter Walker heads up the debt capital markets (DCM) and structured finance group, in which Ciarán Rogers, Adrian Burke and Jack Sheehy stand out as key practitioners, and is home to emerging talents Sinead O’Connor and Michelle Daly. The equity capital markets (ECM) group is led by Paul White, and is often instructed in work involving initial public offerings (IPOs) and Irish businesses listing and raising capital on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Charles Carroll is a key name for equity matters, and Jennie Quirke is ‘very diligent and responsive‘. Eoin Shiel has joined the equity capital markets group.

Arthur Cox's broad practice takes in debt capital markets, structured finance and securitisation work; CLOs are another established area of expertise for the firm. Cormac Kissane, Aiden Small and Glenn Butt are leading figures in debt matters, while Phil Cody focuses on derivatives work and Peter Murphy is 'a real star' in the space. On the equity side, the firm is well known for its strength in advising on IPOs and listed company restructurings, and has been handling an increased number of de-SPAC transactions. Maura McLaughlin, Cian McCourt, Stephen Ranalow and David Vos are key partners in the equity space, and of counsel Sinéad Crowley 'inspires confidence and manages transactions with impressive skill'.

Matheson LLP is a leading firm in the DCM, structured finance and securitisation arena, with an excellent track record in advising on several headline matters in the debt capital markets space. Turlough Galvin is a key figure in DCM work; other key names include William Foot and CLO expert Christian Donagh, who also handles structured finance, securitisation and repackaging programmes. Micheál Buckley is also singled out for his expertise in the DCM arena. On the ECM side, the department continues to handle a steady workflow of transactions, and is particularly well known for its expertise in de-SPAC transactions. George Brady, David Jones, Fergus Bolster, and David Fitzgibbon are key partners in equity matters. Eoin Shiel and Niamh Sheerin have left the firm. Since publication, Richard Kelly left the firm.

McCann FitzGerald LLP has a highly developed DCM practice, which is widely respected for its strength in handling covered bonds, green bonds, social bonds, securitisations, and OTC and exchange traded derivatives; the ‘highly impressive‘ Judith Lawless has established expertise in derivatives matters. Fergus Gillen, Adrian Farrell and Hugh Beattie have excellent reputations in DCM, securitisation and structured products, and Éamon Ó Cuív, who has returned to Dublin from the London office, garners praise for his ‘meticulous attention to detail‘. Sarah Pickering is a rising star in the debt capital markets space. ECM mandates remain prominent in the group’s workload, and David Byers and Stephen FitzSimons are key figures in equity deals. Gill Lohan is singled out for her expertise in IPOs. Aidan Lawlor and Conor O’Dwyer left the firm in 2024.

Walkers has a highly rated practice in CMBS and CLOs, and is also at the forefront of insurance linked securities (ILS) and catastrophe bonds. The department is also highly regarded for handling securitisations and significant risk transfer (SRT) issues. Andrew Traynor brings over 20 years of experience in structured finance and securitisation work, notably in risk transfer transactions and bank capital management matters. Ian McNamee is another key figure in securitisation work, and Noeleen Ruddy and Paddy Rath are singled out for their expertise in CLOs.

Maples Group's practice is 'market-leading in the structured finance and securitisation space in Ireland', and is equally strong in handling cross-border work in the capital markets space. The firm is widely recognised for its expertise in advising on CLOs, and the Dublin-based group is often instructed by US, UK, Irish and other EU managers on matters relating to CLO platforms. The department is also prolific in non-performing loan (NPL)-related issues, warehouse lending and repackaging programmes, and is well placed to advise global asset and specialist investment managers on creating specialist Irish SPV issuer platforms. Practice head Stephen McLoughlin brings extensive experience in handling CLOs, RMBS transactions, NPLs and repackaging programmes. Callaghan Kennedy has an excellent track record in assisting with asset-backed securitisations and CLOs.

Mason Hayes & Curran LLP continues to handle a steady workflow of DCM, structured finance and derivatives work. The department has seen an increase in structured finance matters, as well as in asset-backed securities and secured notes programmes. Daragh O’Shea, who heads up the DCM, structured finance and derivatives practice, 'stands out for his vast experience of debt finance generally and his methodical and proactive approach to problem-solving, and he brings commercial acumen and pragmatism in managing transactions and negotiations'. In the ECM space, led by the 'stand out capital markets partner' Justin McKenna, the group has a solid track record in handling equity deals and IPOs, notably advising Fulcrum Metals on its IPO on the AIM stock exchange. David Mangan left the firm in March 2023.

William Fry LLP continues to demonstrate its standing in ECM deals. The team often acts for issuers and underwriters in a range of matters, including advising on accelerated book-build placings and equity transactions. The firm is also home to a solid DCM and structured finance group, which has been kept busy advising on green bonds and social bonds. Mark Talbot and Myra Garrett are very highly regarded ECM specialists, and David Maughan is an established practitioner in the DCM arena.

At Dillon Eustace, the team continues to advise on note issuance programmes, often for financial services clients, as well as tax driven structured finance matters. Practice head Mark Thorne and Conor Keaveny are well known for their expertise in handling structured finance and securitisation mandates.

Eversheds Sutherland's team is best known for its strength in advising on ECM transactions, and also counts compliance issues and takeover matters as key drivers of work. The client base includes Goodbody Stockbrokers, a well known company in the Irish capital markets arena. Lee Murphy heads up the practice.

LK Shields Solicitors LLP continues to handle a steady workflow of note issuance programmes. The group has an established track record in assisting fund promoters with the structuring, establishing and listing of SPVs and funds for issuing debt. Practice head David Williams fields extensive expertise in securitisations, and David Naughton is well versed in advising on debt capital markets matters.