A&L Goodbody LLP has a sizeable market share of large public and private M&A transactions, while it has also committed itself to the mid-market. Loan portfolio transactions are another forte. Pharmaceuticals, financial services and technology are amongst the firm’s primary sectors. Along with its corporate client base, it serves a multitude of Europe and US-based private equity funds and financial institutions. Richard Grey is head of M&A and has an outstanding record in high-value cross-border transactions. Charles Carroll, Keavy Ryan, Richard Marron, Ronan Lyons and Alan Casey are all well-known and experienced corporate and M&A practitioners. Darran Nangle, Stephen Quinlivan and Laura Kennedy all have blossoming reputations.

 

Arthur Cox has a substantial mix of Irish-listed company clients, along with a multitude of Irish businesses that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ. It has continued to advise on a sizeable market share of headline and high-value domestic and cross-border M&A transactions. It is also at the forefront of private equity deals. Maura McLaughlin, managing partner Geoff Moore and head of corporate and M&A Cian McCourt  are top practitioners with Michael Coyle, Maeve Moran and David Vos impressing amongst the younger partners. Kylie Dollard and Sinead Crowley have been promoted to partner and of counsel respectively.

Mason Hayes & Curran LLP has continue to make its mark in high-value cross-border M&A and private equity investments, while maintaining its presence in domestic and mid-cap transactions. The firm has close links to fast-growth global companies and has a fine record in the energy, technology, healthcare and life sciences, and built environment sectors. It remains noted for advising US and other global companies on their acquisitions and investments in Ireland. David O’Donnell is hugely experienced, while public M&A expert Justin McKenna and head of corporate Martin Kelleher are also highly-rated practitioners. Claire Lord leads the corporate governance and compliance team. William Dillon-Leetch and Conall Geraghty also impress.

Matheson LLP is at the forefront of cross-border transactions, particularly transatlantic deals; it advised Smurfit Kappa Group on its combination with US-based WestRock Company to form Smurfit Westrock. The firm continues to advise a high proportion of the Fortune 100 companies, many of the top global technology brands and a large number of the world’s leading asset managers. It remains noted for public M&A, private capital and financial institution deals. George Brady, Patrick Spicer, Brian McCloskey and David Fitzgibbon are at the pinnacle of the profession. Fergus Bolster, Madeline McDonnell and Susanne McMenamin are also key practitioners, along with Robert Barrett, Enda Garvey and the recently promoted Susan Carroll Chrysostomou.

McCann FitzGerald LLP has a prestigious record in corporate and M&A transactions, with the private equity, financial institutions, renewable energy and engineering sectors continuing to drive the practice forward. It remains at the forefront of both public and private M&A; the firm advised WestRock on its headline combination with Smurfit Kappa. David Lydon is a seasoned professional in the market, with head of corporate Stephen FitzSimons, private equity specialist Ben Gaffikin, Garreth O’Brien and financial institutions M&A expert Alan Fuller, also prominent in the market. Brendan Murphy , John Neeson, Gill Lohan  and Stephen Fuller are also key partners. Ciara O’Herlihy was promoted to partner in June 2024. David Byers has retired.

William Fry LLP has long been a force in corporate transactions, including private and public M&A. In recent times, it has advised on a number of the largest M&A and private equity deals in the market, including Amgen’s headline acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics. The firm has a history of transactions in the healthcare and life sciences, TMT, energy and renewables, financial services and insurance, and real estate sectors. It has also advised on a series of transactions in the data centre sector. Department head Stephen Keogh and public takeovers leader Myra Garrett are top practitioners, along with energy transactions expert Máire O’Neill and technology and life sciences specialist Andrew McIntyre . Mark Talbot is rated for public M&A, while Brian Butterwick has extensive international connections and Mark Quealy  brings further expertise in life sciences, private equity and venture capital.

Addleshaw Goddard has sustained its impressive client base, adding further names to its list, particularly private equity funds and private equity-backed companies. It now advises a range of private equity and venture capital clients, noted especially for mid-cap and growth capital deals. The firm is also active in the retail and consumer, leisure, energy, pharmaceutical and insurance sectors. Deborah Kelly heads the Dublin corporate team and has a focus on energy, life sciences and hospitality. Leonora Malone and John Olden are hugely experienced. Doreen Mescal, a specialist in venture capital and early stage investments, and John Darmody, were promoted to the partnership in May 2024. Nicola McGrath has left the firm and Gavin Doherty has retired.

Beauchamps LLP is committed to mid-market deals. It frequently advises Enterprise Ireland on strategic investments and represents a multitude of start-ups and early-stage companies. The firm is also active in domestic and cross-border M&A transactions along with a raft of corporate reorganisations. Shaun O’Shea  heads the team and has close connections to Irish corporates and private equity-backed companies. Máire Cunningham  is immensely experienced in advising Enterprise Ireland along with a variety of venture capital funds. Damian Maloney is noted for corporate transactions and commercial work, including franchising.

Formed by the merger of Byrne Wallace LLP and LK Shields Solicitors LLP, Byrne Wallace Shields now boasts an expanded corporate and M&A team which has further cemented its position in key sectors such as technology, financial services, and healthcare and life sciences. Along with M&A transactions, the firm is noted for private equity and venture capital transactions, now with a significant client base and deal pipeline in these fields. Richard Curran leads the team and is active in the private equity and venture capital segments, along with Emmet Scully and Jennifer McGuire. The department is also well known for life sciences transactions with partners Colin Sainsbury and Catherine Dowling specialising in this sector. The immensely experienced Victor Timon is building the firm’s presence in technology transactions and investments, while Ross Little and Laura Greene have added to the department’s senior bench, since joining in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Feargal Brennan and Eamonn Carey are other prominent members of the team.

Dentons Ireland LLP has made a considerable impact on the market, in part thanks to the presence of two senior figures in Dublin managing partner Eavan Saunders and head of corporate Shane O’Donnell. The two are at the forefront of cross-border M&A, private equity transactions and venture capital investments, and have been joined in Dublin by Garrett Hayes, a former partner at McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP in London. Since launching a Dublin office in 2020, the firm has already advised on a series of headline transactions, including a number of deals for the Irish Infrastructure Fund.

Eversheds Sutherland remains noted for mid-market and cross-border M&A transactions. The corporate team’s bench strength was expanded with the promotion of Mary Kiely and Maria O’Brien to the partnership in 2023, followed by Jonathan Ennis in 2024. The technology, software, life sciences, financial services, healthcare, energy and infrastructure, food and retail sectors are core to the practice, along with private equity and venture capital transactions. The firm is also active in equity and debt investments by Ireland-based family offices. The vastly experienced Gerard Ryan heads the corporate department, which includes Gavin O’Flaherty, Enda Newton and Enda Cullivan.

Maples Group is prominent in transactions by private equity and institutional investors, notably across the growth capital, buyouts and secondary sales range; it has worked on some of the largest private equity deals of recent years involving Irish assets and is a burgeoning force in venture capital investments. The strong Dublin team is adept at leveraging the firm’s global expertise and resources in cross-border and multi-jurisdictional deals. Colm Rafferty is a leading practitioner in the market, with Morgan Pierse and Jordan O’Brien also emerging talents in the market. William Darmody has left the firm.

Philip Lee LLP‘s team has an impressive mix of M&A, private equity and venture capital work. The sizeable team features a number of experienced partners, along with increasingly prominent names and a solid platform of associates. The firm is best known for mid-cap M&A and private equity transactions, though is equally recognised for early to growth stage venture capital fundraisings; it is also moving into the large-cap deal space. Life sciences, technology, financial services, energy and cleantech, and transport are key sectors; the firm has worked on a series of renewable energy deals. Andreas McConnell has an impressive background in M&A and private equity, with Bernard McEvoy and Eoghan Doyle having leadership roles on many of the firm’s deals, the latter specialising in technology and renewable energy transactions.

Pinsent Masons LLP has achieved significant growth over the past two years, particularly in high-value cross-border deals. The Dublin office is particularly noted for renewable energy, pharmaceutical and life sciences deals, and it has an established record in private equity and private equity-backed transactions. Paul White has joined from William Fry LLP bringing additional cross-border deal experience and a wealth of international clients, having previously been based in California and London. Dorian Rees was promoted to the partnership in 2024, while Sarah Hope was elevated to legal director. In addition, tax partner Robert Dever joined the office from Eversheds Sutherland to deepen the firm’s capabilities in cross-border deals. Gerry Beausang has an outstanding record in private equity and M&A transactions, while Neil Keenan is further recognised for private equity and life sciences deals.

RDJ LLP specialises in mid-market M&A and private equity transactions. It has a particularly strong record in technology, renewables and healthcare, with additional specialisation in pharmaceuticals, medtech and cybersecurity. With its offices in Cork, Galway and Dublin, the firm frequently advises on cross-border transactions involving US-based companies and other European businesses. It has a flourishing practice in venture capital, including seed funding through to later stage financing rounds. Cork partner Gillian Keating heads the corporate and M&A team, which includes technology and life sciences specialist Diarmaid Gavin and Dublin-based Bryan McCarthy. Galway’s JP Gilmartin is noted for medtech, healthcare and technology.

Dillon Eustace continues to specialise in mid-market deals for corporate and private equity clients; this includes both domestic and cross-border transactions. The firm has an illustrious background in the financial services sector, along with media, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and life sciences, and telecoms. Adrian Benson is head of the corporate and M&A team, bringing extensive experience in M&A, private equity and venture capital. Philip Lea is another key partner, leading many of the team’s deals.

EY Law Ireland continued its expansion in 2024 with the hire of senior corporate and M&A specialists, Aidan Lawlor and Conor O’Dwyer, from McCann FitzGerald LLP. The enlarged team has landed a series of headline instructions, including numerous cross-border and multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions, along with a growing pipeline of private equity deals. The team is also noted for corporate reorganisations. Adam Synnott heads the corporate, M&A and structuring team in Ireland.

Flynn O'Driscoll is very much part of the Ireland M&A and private equity fabric, advising start-ups through to growth companies, large businesses and financial sponsors. In recent times, the firm has advised on a series of significant transactions, including deals for Waterland Private Equity, advising AirNostrum on its joint venture with CityJet, and representing ETL Global in two significant acquisitions in Ireland. Founding partner Alan O’Driscoll has a fine record in venture capital financings and M&A in the technology, healthcare, and food sectors. David Ryan splits his time between the Dublin and Galway offices, playing a key role in extending the firm’s practice in M&A and venture capital. Gavin Lawlor and Mark Roberts are also prominent partners.

Hayes Solicitors LLP has a background in mid-market M&A and private equity transactions with a particular emphasis on the healthcare, media, sports and technology sectors. It has also made a further impression in loan portfolio deals. The hugely experienced Ken Casey leads the team, bringing extensive knowledge of large-scale transactions, including those in the healthcare and financial services sectors. David Phelan is another seasoned practitioner with a history in the sports, media and entertainment sectors, including advice on transactions, commercial issues and contracts. David Mangan has added to the firm’s standing in public and private M&A transactions since joining in 2023.

Ogier has maintained its significant presence in M&A, private equity transactions and venture capital investments. Technology, logistics, healthcare and life sciences, hospitality and construction are key sectors. The firm’s international presence makes it equally adept at domestic and cross-border transactions. Dominic Conlon heads the corporate team, which includes Edon Byrnes and Oisin McLoughlin, who has helped extend the practice since joining in 2023.

ReganWall, Business Law Firm is a M&A, private equity and venture capital focused firm in Cork, with an especially strong emphasis on deals involving technology companies and knowledge-based organisations. It also has experience in corporate reorganisations and restructurings, joint ventures and commercial partnerships. It has a background in domestic and cross-border deals, including those involving Europe and US-based acquirers and investors. Managing partner Adrian Wall is an experienced M&A practitioner, as is Kieran Regan.

Squire Patton Boggs Ireland established a strong corporate and M&A practice in 2023 with the hire of prominent partners Dennis Agnew (‘very responsive, very commercial’) and George Kennedy (‘hugely experienced, readily available and very helpful‘); both have a background in large and mid-cap transactions, including cross-border deals. The new team is especially well positioned for cross-border M&A and private equity transactions, particularly those between the UK and Ireland. Much of the practice centres on M&A involving private equity-backed companies, along with private equity investments and buyouts.

Taylor Wessing has made a considerable impact on the market since launching its Dublin office in 2021. It has successfully targeted M&A transactions in the life sciences, healthcare, and technology sectors, and has emerged as a powerful player in cross-border deals, especially those between the UK and Ireland. Adam Griffiths is leading the Dublin office's efforts in private equity, growth equity and venture capital transactions. Paddy Quinlan provides further senior expertise in public and private M&A, private equity and venture capital.

Whitney Moore has a deep focus on the natural resources and technology sectors. The corporate team has extensive experience in M&A and equity fundraisings. It has a history of trans-Atlantic deals, along with Europe-Ireland transactions. Brendan Ringrose specialises in oil and gas, mining, media, IT and retail, with a background in takeovers of Irish publicly listed companies. Cillian Balfe heads the corporate department and is experienced in cross-border deals and private company M&A. Therese Rochford is also noted for public company takeovers, particularly in the natural resources and tech sectors.

OBH Partners has an established record in M&A, joint ventures, corporate restructurings and equity investments. The corporate and commercial team has particular experience in the mining and exploration sector, with a collection of international clients. The firm also has close connections to the brewing and distilling industry, and has a strong focus on start-ups and growth companies. Orlaith O’Brien is noted for transactions in the mining and exploration sector, with Susan Noone providing further senior expertise.

BHSM LLP‘s practice centres on start-ups, growth companies, through to more mature businesses. Along with its capabilities in healthcare technology, it has recently advised a series of clients on buy and build strategies, along with corporate restructuring processes. Joe McVeigh heads the corporate team and has a focus on the pharmaceutical, healthcare, information technology and finance sectors.

Bird & Bird launched a corporate practice in August 2023 with the hire of Brendan O’Brien from Walkers. He and the new team have made an immediate impact, particularly in technology M&A, private equity, growth capital and venture capital transactions. The department also works regularly on cross-border transactions, across multiple sectors, and often works alongside colleagues in other European offices.

DAC Beachcroft Dublin‘s corporate and commercial team has expanded its practice, seeing further growth in insurance transactions, a forte of the wider firm. The Dublin-based team also advises a wider range of domestic and international businesses, especially Europe-based organisations on their investments and acquisitions in Ireland. Sharon McCaffrey leads the team.

Fieldfisher has a growing practice in M&A, joint ventures, private equity and venture capital transactions, and shareholder arrangements. It is particularly focused on retail, renewable energy, technology and FMCG. Feilim O’Caoimh  is an experienced corporate and commercial specialist with Elaine Traynor bringing additional expertise in renewable energy transactions.

Holmes O'Malley Sexton‘s offices in Dublin, Limerick and Cork have brought it a spread of clients across multiple industries, including renewable energy, manufacturing and education. The corporate and commercial team routinely advises on a steady pipeline of acquisitions and disposals, especially domestic deals. Stephen Walker heads the department.

Lavelle Partners LLP‘s corporate and commercial team has a primary focus on start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Healthcare, industrials and manufacturing, and technology are key sectors. The firm has recently worked on a series of pharmacy acquisitions and remains active in the nursing home sector. It also frequently works on funding rounds for tech start-ups. Gríana O’Kelly heads the department, which includes Katie Oakes.

O'Flynn Exhams, the Cork-based firm, has an impressive mix of international and domestic clients, including those in the insurance, technology hotels and media sectors. It is particularly known for representing family businesses and for procurement advice to public bodies. Richard Neville is head of the corporate department, which includes Conor Lupton and Fiona O’Connell (‘very proactive, hands on approach‘).

Reddy Charlton LLP has a strong client base of primarily domestic businesses, covering a broad range of industries, including sports, financial institutions, charities, public sector organisations and private clients. The team frequently advises on M&A transactions, joint ventures, commercial contracts, corporate reorganisations, management buyouts and funding rounds. The experienced Elaine McGrath leads the team. Niamh Gibney has left the firm.

Walkers specialises in corporate transactions in the Irish financial services sector. The established team in Dublin is able to draw on the resources and expertise of the firm globally, frequently advising on cross-border and multi-jurisdictional deals. The Dublin office also often teams up with the London offices of international firms to advise on large-scale transactions. Emerging talent Eoin Ryan leads the team.