Ireland > Real estate > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

‘Service is excellent’ at A&L Goodbody, where the team advise domestic and international clients on some of Ireland’s most significant investment mandates; Stephen O’Riordan acted for HSBC and the Grosvenor Group on the sale of Liffey Valley shopping centre to BVK. Other key figures are practice head Mairead Sherlock, Niamh O’Sullivan and the ‘very thorough’ Gerald O’Toole.

Arthur Cox’s ‘prompt, efficient, and integrated’ team acts for a stellar client base that includes the likes of Kennedy Wilson, Green REIT and Facebook Ireland. Mark Barr acted for Irish Life Assurance on the forward purchase of the new Grant Thornton headquarters at City Quay in Dublin. ‘Very reliable’ practice head Kenneth Egan, Deirdre Barrett and Simon Hannigan are all highly recommended.

At Eversheds Sutherland, areas of expertise include landlord and tenant work, and residential development; in an example of the latter Joe Stanley assisted key client Cairn Homes with a development at Shackleton Park. In the investment subsector, Cian MacGinley acted for Catella Real Estate on the acquisition of 1 George’s Dock in Dublin. Managing partner Alan Murphy and senior associate Marie O’Riordan are additional contacts.

Matheson is a popular choice for financial institutions and international companies and recently advised BVK, UI and Hines on the acquisition of Liffey Valley shopping centre. Brian Doran heads the practice; other names to note are Sally Anne Stone, who has ‘a unique understanding of international occupiers’, the ‘very practical’ Leonie Dunne and Peter McKeever, who is ‘very competent in resolving complex property issues’ arising from insolvency.

McCann FitzGerald has ‘good experience with commercial freehold/long-leasehold transactions and the areas that can affect the liquidity of the asset’. The team handled a number of significant retail mandates for Hines, including Jim Murphy advising on the sale of Cherrywood business park. Practice head Shane Fahy is ‘a very effective communicator’ and Jennifer Halpin ‘looks for practical legal solutions’.

William Fry’s ‘results-driven’ practice is handling a strong mix of investment and development mandates, including Andrew Muckian advising a receiver on the re-development of Boland’s Quay, and the ‘calm, confident and steely’ Lisa McCarthy acting for Hines on the acquisition of the Central Bank Dame Street portfolio. Other names to note are practice head Edward Spain, ‘rising star’ Graham Quinn, and the ‘excellent’ Olga Vaughan.

Beauchamps was active on a broad range of mandates, including residential development work for the public sector and real estate loan acquisition for international investors. ‘First-class’ practice head Aidan Marsh is ‘a solution finder’, Maitiú O Dónaill has ‘an excellent understanding of landlord and tenant legislation’, and Gerry Gallen is also highly recommended.

ByrneWallace remained busy in its core areas of retail and residential and the team also handled mandates in sectors such as hospitality and industrial property; practice head Michael Walsh advised Exeter Property Group on the forward purchase of a built for purpose facility at Greenogue. Alison O’Sullivan is ‘meticulous’ and senior associate Michelle McVeigh is ‘extremely diligent’.

Dillon Eustace significantly bolstered its team by hiring new head of practice Kelly O’Hara from NAMA, and Martin Colman from Arthur Cox. The team is highly active on loan book sales and property portfolio sales in the distressed real estate space. Former practice head Paul Eustace is ‘calm and commanding’ and Louise Wright is ‘efficient and personable’.

Eugene F. Collins’ ‘highly responsive and efficient’ team noted an uptick in work in the hospitality sector, with the ‘excellent’ Kathi Ó Riain acting for Crowne Plaza Group on the acquisition of 12 hotels. Practice head Mark Walsh regularly acts for major retailers such as JD Sports Fashion, while Sean Twomey has ‘excellent knowledge in securing private finance for development projects’.

Maples and Calder’s ‘approachable’ team is ‘very commercial in its approach to difficult issues’. ‘Very competent’ practice head Diarmuid Mawe, who has extensive

experience advising institutional investors, acted for Marathon Asset Management on its acquisition of Belgard Retail Park in Tallaght. Craig Kenny and consultant Tom O’Connor are also noted.

Mason Hayes & Curran provides advice that is of ‘the highest standard’ to a diverse range of clients including banks, retailers, and multinational companies. Vanessa Byrne advised EdgeConneX Ireland on its acquisition, financing and development of a data centre in Dublin, while in the hotel space Michael Doran acted for Bam Property on the sale of a hotel site. Practice head Kevin Hoy has ‘vast experience’.

Ronan Daly Jermyn’s ‘large and easily contactable’ team is particularly strong in the hospitality sector, where it advises clients such as iNua Hospitality on significant hotel deals. In the office space, ‘likeable’ practice head John Dwyer, Margaret Ring, and Patrick Ahern, who provides ‘high-calibre’ advice, assisted O’Callaghan Properties on the development and letting of Navigation Square in Cork. All named partners are based in Cork, although the team is also present in Galway and Dublin.

Hayes Solicitors ‘diligent and experienced’ practice was enhanced by the hire of Rachel Niall from Arthur Cox. Practice head Jackie Buckley advises Primark on its property portfolio. Rachel Rodgers is now with Walkers.

LK Shields Solicitors’ ‘detail-oriented and technical’ team handled the real estate aspects of a number of corporate deals including John Campbell advising Infravia Capital Partners on the acquisition of Carechoice. The team also advised clients such as Deloitte on distressed real estate. Clair Cassidy heads the practice.

At McDowell Purcell, name partner Breen Purcell and Thomas O’Malley are ‘tenacious’ and ‘good at getting deals over the line’. The team’s recent work includes assisting St Agnes Medical with the acquisition of a sensitive site in south county Dublin in two phases from a religious order, and advising on property-based lending transactions.

At Philip Lee, the ‘very knowledgeable and commercially savvy’ John O’Donoghue was active on a number of remits in the media sector, including advising Element Pictures on the acquisition of the Solas Picture Palace in Galway. In the development space, the team is acting for the Port of Cork on the redevelopment of its port at Ringaskiddy.

Walkers is active in its core areas of landlord-side retail and real estate-backed loan portfolios. The team acted for MKN Group on the purchase of the Portobello portfolio. Of counsel Jody Toner, who ‘explains real estate in a detailed but understandable way’. Regina McCaghy left the firm. Rachel Rodgers was a new arrival in 2018 from Hayes Solicitors.

Whitney Moore has a strong following in the public and private sector; for key client the Housing Agency Claire McCormack and Michael Carney acted on the acquisition of a number of significant residential portfolios. Practice head Rory McDonald advised Five Guys Ireland on a high-profile letting at Dundrum Town Centre. David Webb departed for an in-house role.

Holmes O'Malley Sexton’s team was boosted by the promotion of Limerick-based Sandra Egan to the partnership, and the hire of Michael Carrigan, who joined the Dublin office from Eugene F. Collins. Egan, who heads the practice, was instructed by Dublin City Council on a number of matters including the acquisition of housing units.

JW O'Donovan Solicitors is highly active in the retail sector with practice head Jerome O’Sullivan and Ciara McDonnell advising on the purchase of a major shopping centre in Cork. Anne-Marie Linehan advised a receiver on the sale of 24 residential units.

At Kennedys, practice head Philip O’Connor, senior associate Carol Maguire and associate Jamie Kelly ‘form a formidable team on real estate assignments’. The group was active on various acquisitions and financings for the likes of Ipic Property Investments and Fingal County Council.

Lavelle Solicitors’ team handles portfolio acquisition, disposal of assets and first registration procedures for a number of financial institutions. Nicola Walsh is the key name following the departure of Paul McMahon to set up his own business.

OBH Partners advised Deka Immobilien Investment on various sizeable deals in the hospitality sector, including the purchase of Burlington Hotel in Dublin. Another key client is JCD Group, for which John Burke acted on the acquisition and development of a flagship office in Cork. June Hynes heads the team.

Reddy Charlton Solicitors handled a number of major landlord and tenant mandates including advising a financial services provider on a lease for new offices at Dublin’s IFSC. Practice head Tom Marren and Brendan Sharkey are ‘highly capable and practical’.