The Legal 500

A&L Goodbody wins plaudits for ‘knowing the issues’ and ‘understanding the competitive nature of the market place’. Clients also praise the firm’s distinguished bench of associates and extensive experience, saying ‘there is excellent strength at all levels’. Sheena Doggett recently won the mandate to advise Scottish and Southern Energy on its €1.8bn acquisition of Airtricity – the largest M&A transaction in Ireland to date. In addition, Heineken, Allied Irish Banks and Irish Continental Group provided some significant instructions this year. Paul Carroll, John Given and Eithne FitzGerald are also leading names in this ‘practical and focused team’.

The team at Arthur Cox ‘is of the highest calibre’ say clients who also praise its ability to ‘cover all the bases’ and ‘provide a competitive advantage’. Team head Colm Duggan is ‘always prompt, knowledgeable and understandable’ and overseas a group that has ‘strength in depth with the necessary industry acumen to provide a first-class service’. In a major highlight, the firm was awarded the mandate to advise the Irish Government on the landmark €500bn State Guarantee Scheme for the Irish banking system. Other representative clients include Aer Lingus, Diageo Ireland and Iberdrola. Pádraig O’Ríordáin is ‘impressive’ and Ciarán Bolger is a ‘lawyer you want on your side’.

Matheson Ormsby Prentice is ‘dynamic and commercially focused’ and importantly ‘ready availability and responsiveness is a constant feature of service’. Clients highlight Tim Scanlon as ‘one of the most highly regarded corporate figures in the market’, while Patrick Spicer is also recommended. The departure of Edward Miller to Maples and Calder is a loss but the firm continues to pack a powerful punch. Amongst its most recent transactions the firm advised IAWS on its €2.5bn merger with Switzerland’s Hiestrand Holding to create ARYZTA.

McCann FitzGerald is ‘innovative’ and ‘commercially astute’ according to clients who praise group head David Lydon for ‘providing solutions rather than indecipherable options’. Highlights include advising Perot System Investments on the acquisition of Original Solutions by share purchase and also advised Collins Stewart on the acquisition of International Securities Trading Corporation (ISTC). The firm is also standing counsel to Boston Scientific, C&C Group and Tyco International.

William Fry has an ‘excellent core of experienced seniors and partners’ including ‘superb negotiator’ Owen O’Connell, the ‘very experienced’ Bryan Bourke and the ‘outstanding’ Stephen Keogh. Corporate highlights over the past twelve months include advising Horizon Technology Group on its €101m sale to Avnet and acting for Emap on its €200m disposal to Communicorp Group. In 2008 the team also welcomed new partners Adam Synnott from Slaughter and May and Shane Kelleher from Amnesty International.

LK Shields Solicitors has a strong record in M&A matters. The firm advised Communicorp Group on its acquisition of Emap’s Irish radio assets and also acted for Rosderra Irish Meats Group, the vehicle used in the MBO of the meats division of Glanbia. Clients praise the team for being ‘responsive to our needs’.

Mason Hayes+Curran provides an ‘extremely professional service’ under the leadership of the ‘efficient’ David O’Donnell. The firm advised the shareholders of Perlico Communications on its sale to Vodafone and also acted for Kerry Group on its acquisition of Breeo Foods. Paul Egan is also recommended.

BCM Hanby Wallace has a sterling record for corporate work within the life sciences sector due to the respect afforded to Colin Sainsbury, a former pharmaceutical in-house counsel, who is ‘sought after for his in-depth industry knowledge and experience’. This ‘very experienced team’ advised Hemcon Medical Technologies on the acquisition of Alltracel Pharmaceuticals and also advised Nektar Therapeutics on the MBO of Aerogen.

Dillon Eustace ‘represents good value for money, is straight talking and doesn’t waste your time’. The firm recently acted for fire protection company, Moyne Roberts (UK), on the purchase of Apex Fire. Other clients include Société Générale Asset Management Banque and Lease Corporation.

Under the leadership of David Hackett, Eugene F. Collins advised EWL Electric on the purchase of the entire issued share capital of Eastern Electrical and also acted for Stirling Energy Systems on a €100m investment by NTR.

Eversheds O’Donnell Sweeney continues to impress on the corporate side, and the addition of partner Abigail St. John Kennedy from Dillon Eustace should ensure the firm maintains its recent form. David O’Beirne’s team recently acted for Shared Access on a substantial acquisition. Morvest, Zamano and Macquarie Bank are also clients.

Maples and Calder bolstered its corporate offering in 2008 through the hire of Edward Miller from Matheson Ormsby Prentice . The team continues to grow in profile and clients say ‘we switched to Maples when we saw the quality of team that was being built there following the arrival of Andrew Doyle’. The firm recently advised Alchemy Partners on its €90m acquisition of Noonan Services. Team head Jennifer Caldwell is commended as a ‘safe pair of hands’.

Beauchamps Solicitors advised wave energy company, Wavebob, on its collaboration with Swedish utility company Vattenfall AB. The firm also provides ongoing advice to the Pepsi Bottling Group, Getty Images and Clarion Hotels.

Ivor Fitzpatrick & Company was recently dealt a blow with the departure of team head Andreas McConnell to Philip Lee . Recent transactions include advising a corporate venture on a €70m subscription agreement and related financing.

Lawyers at Landwell Solicitors are ‘responsive’ and advise on the full spectrum of MBOs, M&A, IPOs and joint ventures. Edward Evans is highly active.

Ronan Daly Jermyn has a strong domestic practice that acts for leading Irish companies such as Health System (the largest private healthcare provider), Musgrave Group and Kerry Group. Clients appreciate the firm’s ‘user-friendly’ approach.

At WhitneyMoore , Thérèse Rochford is recommended for being ‘knowledgeable, experienced and effective’. The firm has experience across the full range of corporate matters and recent highlights include advising AVR Safeway on its sale to Veolia.

DFMG Solicitors is particularly active in the property sector on the corporate side. Brendan O’Donovan is recommended.

McEvoy Partners recently advised on the €30m sale of Suir Engineering. Name partner Bernard McEvoy is a highly regarded figure in the market for corporate work.

O’Flynn Exhams is particularly well known for its work within the energy sector. Frank O’Flynn and Fiona O’Connell recently advised Centrica on its proposed acquisition of Marathon Oil Corporation’s stake in the Corrib Gas Field. The firm is praised for being ‘partner led’ and ‘seeped in industry knowledge’.

Reddy Charlton McKnight acted for the GAA on the drafting and negotiation of the sponsorship agreements for the sports organisation’s new multi-party sponsorship model. Paul Keane heads the team.

Brian O’Donnell & Partners is the Irish arm of US firm Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. . The firm is praised for giving advice that is ‘business practical rather than typically conservative’ and corporate clients include Kimball International.

Doherty Ryan & Associates boasts a niche strength in compliance matters but also advises on M&A transactions and MBO financings. The firm recently handled the €20m reorganisation of an Irish corporate group.

David Phelan’s team at Hayes Solicitors provides ongoing advice to Primark on its corporate and commercial matters. It also recently acted for a car dealership on the sale of its business.

Holmes O’Malley Sexton has experience in M&A, commercial contractions and MBOs.

Lavelle Coleman has a strong foreign direct investment practice that specialises in advising high-profile corporations on their establishment in Ireland.

At Gore & Grimes Anthony Gore-Grimes is recommended for advice relating to M&A, joint ventures and e-commerce.

KLW is highly regarded due to the reputation of corporate specialist John Kehoe who is lauded as ‘very experienced’ and a ‘smart operator’.

Kilroys is known for its links with national importers of motor vehicles into Ireland and specialises in distribution agreements, franchising and related issues. Joanne Griffin is active in the field.