The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, A&L Goodbody is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody continues to lead the market, giving ‘practical and commercial’ advice to the majority of leading Irish banks on the NAMA crisis. Clients regard Ciaran Rogers as ‘best-in-class in the Irish finance market’. Practice head Catherine Duffy advised on one of the few securitisations recently: GECAS’ $336m securitisation of a portfolio of engines. Adrian Burke is leading the team’s advice on the ongoing Quinn Group restructuring, and Peter Murray recently represented EBS during its acquisition by AIB and in obtaining its banking licence.

Within Capital markets, A&L Goodbody is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody, one of Dublin’s largest capital markets teams, mixes issuer and underwriter work. Team head Ciaran Rogers ‘combines excellent technical abilities with a sophisticated appreciation of commercial drivers’. The team gave Irish law advice to a consortium of banks including Credit Suisse, UBS and CitiGroup on Bank of Ireland’s €5.2bn capital raising.

Within Construction, A&L Goodbody is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody’s ‘excellent’, ‘top-notch’ contentious construction practice is one of the Dublin market leaders with Kevin Feeney at the helm. Eamonn Conlon has ‘wide-ranging knowledge of all aspects of construction-related matters’. Despite tough market conditions, the team has also attracted various non-contentious matters including advising Bennett Construction and O’Hare & McGovern on a joint venture to act as contractors to the preferred bidder on the Third Level PPP Bundle 1.

Within Corporate and commercial, A&L Goodbody is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody’s deep corporate practice is ‘of the very highest quality’. The ‘impressive’ David Widger heads this ‘top-drawer’ team, which has seen a substantial amount of financial services related work including advising EBS Building Society on its merger with Allied Irish Banks, a matter that was led by the highly rated John Given and Peter Murray. The team also led on Irish aspects of the $960m merger between Elan Drug Technologies and Alkermes. Mark Ward is ‘a top-tier M&A and public company lawyer’, and Eithne FitzGerald is also recommended.

Within Dispute resolution, A&L Goodbody is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody exhibits ‘dedication and professionalism that is top class’, and fields one of the market’s largest teams. It is advising the Quinn Group on all aspects of its restructuring and BUPA in its multimillion-euro claim for compensation arising from the Irish government’s attempt to levy the Irish health insurance industry. Joe Kelly is particularly recommended for his ‘deep experience and insight’. Liam Kennedy heads the team, in which Eoin MacNeill and Kenan Furlong are identified as stars.

Within EU and competition , A&L Goodbody is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody’s ‘first-class’ practice dispenses ‘practical, commercial advice’. This dedicated three-partner team is headed by Vincent Power, who is applauded for his analytical ability and ‘strong understanding of commercial imperatives’. The team represented Bank of Ireland and EBS Building Society before the European Commission regarding their respective restructuring plans. Anna-Marie Curran is also recommended.

Within Employment, A&L Goodbody is a second tier firm,

ByrneWallace has a longstanding and eminent reputation in employment law, and it represents state bodies, quasi-state bodies and Irish plcs. The highly rated Michael Kennedy heads the team, which advises the Law Society of Ireland on all employment matters. Intel and AIB are also key clients. Michelle Ni Longain is also recommended. Duncan Inverarity joined A&L Goodbody in 2011.

Within Insolvency and corporate restructuring, A&L Goodbody is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody provides ‘very practical and commercial legal advice’. The team continues to lead on the Quinn Group restructuring and is advising the examiner of the McInerney Group. David Baxter is ‘first class’ and ‘thinks outside the box’, and Mark Traynor is also highly recommended.

Within Insurance, A&L Goodbody is a first tier firm,

The ‘excellent’, seven-partner team at A&L Goodbody advised Legal & General on establishing a UK-focused life assurance operation in Dublin. The ‘creative, pragmatic and knowledgeable’ James Grennan heads the practice, which advised Scottish Mutual on recovering proceeds of fraudulent insurance claims.

Within Intellectual property, A&L Goodbody is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody’s ‘strong and broad team’ provides an ‘exceptional level of service’. The team advised the Industrial Development Authority on a project to reform Ireland’s IP laws, and is defending KRKA against a patent infringement claim by AstraZeneca. John Cahir and John Whelan are recommended, and Mark Rasdale is the third partner, having joined from Matheson Ormsby Prentice in late 2010.

Within Investment funds, A&L Goodbody is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody is a market leader for investment funds. It advised Sarasin & Partners on the establishment of a UCITS management company and the redomiciliation of nine unit trusts from Guernsey to Ireland. Other clients include Avoca Capital and Deutsche Bank. Practice head Brian McDermott is highly rated, and Michael Barr is recognised as a key player in the field.

Within Legal market overview,

Other than the offshore firms and new entrants, senior moves have been rare. Standout moves included A&L Goodbody’s recruitment of employment law expert Duncan Inverarity from ByrneWallace and healthcare expert Aisling Gannon taking a team from Beauchamps Solicitors to Eversheds.

Within Maritime and shipping, A&L Goodbody is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody has a fine reputation for its practice, which advises shipping companies and ports on public procurement, state aid, competition, compliance, abuse of dominance and mergers and acquisitions. Catherine Duffy leads the team.

Within Pensions and employee benefits, A&L Goodbody is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody’s ‘consistently outstanding’ practice includes pensions expert Eamon Brady, whose ‘superior level singles him out as unique among his peers’, and Sheena Doggett, who leads on share schemes, including advising Genzyme and Trintech on scheme revisions due to M&A.

Within Planning and environment, A&L Goodbody is a second tier firm,

A&L Goodbody advised Pfizer on environmental aspects of the prospective sale of the Inchera facility and acted for The Irish Waste Management Association. Practice head Alison Fanagan is highly regarded.

Within Projects, energy and natural resources , A&L Goodbody is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody is applauded for its all-round strength and depth in the area, and Kevin Feeney and Ross Moore are particularly recommended. The team advised South Eastern Education and Library Board and Lagan College on the first PFI project to be financed by way of a pension product. The team continues to advise CIE as contractor for the DART Underground rail project.

Within Public sector, A&L Goodbody is a second tier firm,

A&L Goodbody advises various government bodies including the Department of Finance on standard contracts for all public works and handling a number of contentious proceedings for the HSE. The team advised NAMA on the restructuring of a large property development portfolio owned by David Daly.

Within Real estate, A&L Goodbody is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody is ‘very responsive to its clients’ needs and provides high-quality advice’. The firm advised Avestus on the sale of a Four Seasons Hotel and London and Regional on the purchase and leaseback of eircom’s premises at Citywest. The widely touted Mairead Sherlock leads the practice and is one of the standout partners, with Stephen O’Riordan also recommended.

Within TMT , A&L Goodbody is a second tier firm,

A&L Goodbody continued to build its team in 2011 with the addition of five associates to support key partners. Practice head John Whelan gives ‘excellent and pragmatic advice to get the desired result’, and John Cahir is outstanding. The firm advised Telefónica O2 on a ten-year deal to create Ireland’s first mobile network sharing arrangement. AIB and Certus are also clients.

Within Tax, A&L Goodbody is a first tier firm,

Peter Maher heads A&L Goodbody’s ‘business-focused and pragmatic’ tax team, which also includes the highly rated Paul Fahy. It advised Elan on tax aspects of the $960m merger of Elan Drug Technologies with Alkermes, and Waha Capital on its acquisition of a 20% stake in Aercap and restructuring of its existing 50% joint venture.