Ireland > Corporate and commercial
Corporate and commercial
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The 23-partner team at A&L Goodbody provides a ‘practical, solutions-focused approach’ and displays ‘ excellent individual performances’, say clients. Paul White heads an experienced department that includes managing partner Paul Carroll, Eithne FitzGerald who ‘ leads from the front and is focused on top line issues’, and head of M&A, John Given. Stand-out transactions include acting for Ryanair in its acquisition of a 25.2% share of Aer Lingus, and its public offer for 100% of the company, as well as advising AIB on the €150m disposal of a 50% stake in AIB/BNY Securities (Ireland).
Arthur Cox’s impressive corporate pedigree continues to be illustrated in its formidable deal list. In 2007, the firm was involved in several headline-grabbing cases, including: acting for Aer Lingus on its €1.2bn IPO and SES Astra and Eutelsat on a significant joint venture for the provision of satellite infrastructure. Colm Duggan’s team includes Ciarán Bolger, Colin Byrne and Bryan O’Gorman.
Although Matheson Ormsby Prentice saw the departure of highly rated corporate specialist Andrew Doyle to Maples and Calder, it nevertheless continued to keep busy advising on a wide range of Irish M&A work, equity capital markets and venture capital-backed deals. A major highlight was the team’s representation of Babcock & Brown Capital on its €2.36m acquisition of eircom Group and the eircom employee share ownership trust. Patrick Spicer and Tim Scanlon are also recommended.
Clients highlight McCann FitzGerald’s M&A team as ‘ practical, innovative and commercially astute’. Unsurprisingly, it acts for a raft of major multinationals, such as Pfizer, Tyco and Intel Corporation. Notable instructions include advising Doughty Hanson and Goldman Sachs on the €315m investment in Setanta Sport Holdings and advising Fortis on its €112m joint venture with An Post. Paul Heffernan oversees the general corporate group, while Barry Devereux heads the corporate finance side and David Lydon is active in restructuring.
Corporate finance work and private equity matters are significant drivers of William Fry’s corporate capability. Waterford Wedgwood notably provided the firm with an instruction relating to its €100m preference share open offer. On the private equity side, ACT Venture Capital and Delta Partners are significant clients. Group head Owen O’Connell leads a strong team that boasts ‘ sound technical capability’ and includes ‘ true all-rounder’ Bryan Bourke, and ‘ the smartest guy in the room’, Brendan Heneghan.
Boasting separate corporate, commercial and financial services departments, Mason Hayes+Curran’s commitment to its strong blue-chip client base keeps it ahead of the chasing pack. It recently advised the Department for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Department of Finance on the proposed joint venture between An Post and Fortis Bank. Tony Burke and John Kettle are the names to note for commercial work.
BCM Hanby Wallace is strong in corporate structuring, shareholders agreements and corporate governance. Clients particularly single out the performances of Colin Sainsbury and Sean Wallace.
Dillon Eustace had a busy twelve months and highlights include acting as Irish counsel on a €350m corporate reorganisation for a global risk management group. Lorcan Tiernan heads up the group with able assistance from Adrian Benson and Abigail Kennedy.
In 2007 Eugene F. Collins advised the vendors in the sale of Microchem Laboratories and also advised Zed Candy on its purchase of Oatfield Confectionery from Donegal Creameries.
Clients unequivocally regard LK Shields Solicitors as ‘ understanding and supportive’. The team recently advised Claret Capital on its investment in Blue Ocean Wireless. Chairman Laurence K Shields is ‘ the man you want on your side’, while Gerald Halpenny is ‘ efficient and commercial’. In a major coup for the firm, 2007 saw the hire of highly rated business partner John Olden from A&L Goodbody.
O'Donnell Sweeney Eversheds advised the shareholders of Two Way Freight & Logistics Group on its sale to Aramex International. Head of corporate, David O’Beirne is recognised as ‘ an excellent lawyer with the gift for simplifying the most complicated deals’.
Under the leadership of Shaun O’Shea, Beauchamps Solicitors advises clients such as Enterprise Ireland, AIB, United Drug and AOL on a variety of corporate matters.
Ivor Fitzpatrick & Company’s corporate client base embraces companies from the finance, entertainment and technology sectors. Andreas McConnell is a key contact.
At Kilroys Joanne Griffin is recommended for corporate advice to clients ranging from state bodies through to SMEs. Recent experience includes advising McDonagh Group on the sale of Albatros Fertilisers’ business and assets to Group Roullier.
According to clients, Landwell Solicitors’ ‘ response times are always impressive, facilitated by the availability of the team’. In 2007, the firm advised Cross Atlantic Capital Partners on private equity investments in Ireland-based technology and biotech companies. Edward Evans is recommended.
Maples and Calder can draw upon its substantial international network to offer capacity in corporate finance matters alongside general corporate and commercial work. Joint managing partner Jennifer Caldwell is the primary contact.
Cork-based Ronan Daly Jermyn regularly acts for Musgrave Group, Thomas Crosbie Media and GSK on advisory work. Adrian Wall and Garvan Corkery are experienced practitioners.
Therese Rochford’s group at WhitneyMoore advises on the full gamut of M&A matters, including venture capital issues and corporate governance. It counts Greenstar, Trinergy and Microsol as clients.
Newly merged firm DFMG Solicitors is home to a quality commercial department praised for its ‘ personal touch.’ It advises QMS Software on licensing matters as well as general corporate work.
Gore & Grimes has a solid commercial and company practice led by Anthony Gore Grimes that specialises in shareholder transactions and M&A.
At niche business law firm KLW, John Kehoe enjoys a sterling reputation for corporate work. Although clients are predominantly drawn from overseas, the firm is expanding its share of domestic Irish companies.
Bernard McEvoy, managing partner at McEvoy Partners, ‘ knows his stuff’. Over the past twelve months, the firm has advised on several weighty deals including advising O J Kilkenny & Co on the sale of its UK entertainment practice.
PJ O'Driscoll & Sons’ Justin Fennel is highlighted by clients as ‘ a very experienced commercial lawyer’. The firm provides advice on a wide range of corporate activities from company formations through to mergers and MBOs.
Key areas at Reddy Charlton McKnight include joint ventures, M&A and share sale agreements. Managing partner Paul Keane is the principal contact.
Brian O'Donnell & Partners recently advised Delta NV on the Irish aspects of its purchase of Indaver.
Although Doherty Ryan & Associates operates more on the compliance side, it also has experience advising corporations on M&A transactions and inward investment.
Holmes O'Malley Sexton maintains a solid track record in advising start-ups through to major corporations on share sales, joint ventures and MBOs.
Corporate work is a strong driver of O'Flynn Exhams’ business. It handles M&A matters, joint ventures, flotations and corporate financing.
Orpen Franks enjoys a top reputation locally for M&A work and inward investment transactions.
Vincent & Beatty’s practice is active in corporate restructurings, demergers, joint ventures and other general corporate matters.
Law developments in Ireland
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The 2005 Pensions Regulations
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The Law in relation to Forfeiture
Landlords often experience difficulties with a tenant during the term of a lease. Such difficulties can arise as a result of breach of a covenant or condition in a lease, such as failure to pay rent or to keep the property in good repair. The most appropriate remedy in this situation is forfeiture. ‘Forfeiture’ literally means the deprivation of a person of his or her property as a penalty for some act or omission. This update outlines the current position in Ireland in relation to forfeiture from the perspective of both landlord and tenant, paying particular attention to the grounds for forfeiture, the enforcement of forfeiture and the reliefs available. -
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Prescription is the method by which the law gives legal recognition to the existence of an easement which has been enjoyed over a long period as if it had been created initially by a formal grant. An easement is an incorporeal hereditament which is essentially a minor interest in land. The ownership of an easement is a mere right which confers certain rights over the land in question, but never any exclusive right to possession. An easement allows a land owner, by virtue of its ownership of its land, to exercise rights over adjacent lands. These include rights of way, light and water. The common law recognises an easement as enforceable by or against successors in title to the parties who originally created it.