The Legal 500

Sheena Doggett at A&L Goodbody heads the firm’s share schemes practice, which acts for clients including Deutsche Bank, The Kellogg Company and Imperial Tobacco. The pensions group, led by Eamon Brady, acts for Irish Life, NAMA and Irish Airlines Superannuation Schemes, and advised the latter on Aer Lingus’ controversial application for a €500m capital reduction.

Arthur Cox’s busy practice advises large employers and trustees on issues such as scheme funding, restructuring and legislative change. Clients include Merck Sharp & Dohme, Tesco and the Royal College of Surgeons. Declan Drislane is ‘technically outstanding with excellent interpersonal skills’, and Philip Smith has ‘a sharp brain’.

Eversheds is ‘very strong technically’ and ‘a very good firm to have on your side’. The firm advises some of the largest schemes in Ireland. Practice head Peter Fahy is widely respected and ‘gets to the crux of the issue quickly’, and litigator Fiona Ward is ‘excellent’.

LK Shields Solicitors continues to represent major employers and schemes, such as Waterstones and AIB Group. It also advises the trustees of the Merrill Lynch Employee Benefit plan, and acted for the Retired Aviation Staff Association in its successful bid to defeat Aer Lingus’ attempt to reduce share capital by €500m. Fiona Thornton has ‘a wealth of experience’.

Matheson is ‘fantastic on the detail and at protecting its client’. The firm recently acted for a global multinational on the reorganisation of its schemes. Brian Buggy is highly regarded, and his ‘knowledge of pensions in Ireland is superb’.

McCann FitzGerald advises a number of large pension schemes, such as AIB, Guinness Group, the Electricity Supply Board, and Esso Ireland. Maureen Dolan is a leading practitioner.

William Fry provides the ‘highest quality of service’ under pensions head Michael Wolfe, who is praised for his independence of mind and ability to resolve divisions between trustees. Maura Roe heads the employee benefits practice, which provides high service levels. The firm recently handled complex restructuring issues for a defined benefit (DB) scheme for staff of The Irish Times. Liam Connellan joined the team from Eugene F. Collins.

Eugene F. Collins advised Marks and Spencer plc on amendments to its DB scheme and advised Investec Ireland on a number of issues, including the unwinding of executive management incentives and amendments to its defined contribution (DC) scheme. Pensions associate Liam Connellan has joined William Fry as partner but ‘terrific’ share schemes partner Nicola McGrath remains.

Mason Hayes & Curran provides contentious and non-contentious advice to large international companies and scheme trustees, such as Nestlé UK, which it is advising on the migration of its Irish DB plan to a cross-border IORP. Practice head Peggy Hughes is ‘invaluable in the pensions arena’.

Beauchamps Solicitors’ head of employment and benefits Dermot Casserly mainly advises employers on their benefits obligations, including acting for international companies during the establishment of operations in Ireland.

ByrneWallace is ‘good at knowing exactly what a client wants and giving insightful opinions’. Gary Byrne is representing trade union Unite in the ECJ concerning the Waterford Crystal pension schemes following the company’s insolvency.

McDowell Purcell’s James McConville continues to advise the trustees of Clondalkin Group executive pension scheme on the scheme’s winding up.

WhitneyMoore’s highly rated employment partner John Lynch also has pensions law expertise and advised Motor Distributors Ltd on changes from a DB scheme to DC arrangements.