The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Ireland > Capital markets

A&L Goodbody's debt capital markets (DCM) team is particularly noted for its strength in residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) transactions and debt capital issuances by US companies following corporate inversions to Ireland. The team also handles transactions in the aviation sector and advises private equity and hedge funds on alternative structures. Ciarán Rogers  and Peter Walker lead on DCM work; Gearoid Stanley is noted for his expertise in asset-backed and high-yield bond financing and financial derivatives; and new partner Sinéad O’Connor has been active in Irish RMBS. On the equity capital markets (ECM) side, the team has been highly active advising on IPOs on the Euronext Dublin market of the Irish Stock Exchange (and London dual listings) and assisting Irish companies with listings on international exchanges. Paul White heads the ECM practice, while Matthew Cole and Charlie Carroll have extensive experience in domestic IPOs.

Arthur Cox has extensive experience in securitisations, collateralised loan obligation (CLO) transactions, derivatives and commercial real estate loan repackagings. Cormac Kissane is noted for his advice to dealers on Irish government bonds; Glenn Butt leads the firm's Russian DCM practice; and Aiden Small specialises in structured finance and alternative investments. On the ECM side, the team is highly active in advising on IPOs, secondary issues of shares on the Irish and international markets, and capital raising transactions. Maura McLaughlin has extensive experience advising listed companies on using their shares as consideration for landmark transactions; the 'incredibly talented' Cian McCourt specialises in transactions in the pharmaceutical, financial services and technology sectors; Stephen Ranalow has 'excellent experience'; and Michael Coyle and Conor McCarthy have advised on high-profile domestic ECM transactions.

Matheson's DCM team is noted for its international client base, including leading banks, asset managers and financial institutions. The team advises on securitisations (including auto loan securitisations); note, bond and euro medium-term note (EMTN) issuing programmes; and CLO transactions, among other matters. Turlough Galvin's expertise includes tax, securitisation and structured finance, while Christian Donagh specialises in advising on raising debt capital, newly promoted partner Richard Kelly has expertise in derivatives, and senior associate Andrew Gill has experience advising on asset-backed commercial paper programmes. The firm is also active in domestic ECM work, advising on significant IPOs of Irish companies, public takeovers, restructurings of public companies, and US listings and fundraisings for multinationals with Irish holding companies. Fergus Bolster has particular experience in the technology, pharmaceutical, energy and media sectors; George Brady regularly advises on listings on the Irish and international stock exchanges; and Madeline McDonnell specialises in public company M&A. New York-based Alan Keating  is also noted.

McCann FitzGerald covers the full range of DCM transactions, including public bond issues, bank capital raisings, securitisation transactions, repackagings, and structured products. Roy Parker is highly regarded for his expertise in issuances of Irish covered bonds; Fergus Gillen has extensive experience advising on funding platforms; Adrian Farrell is particularly strong in cross-border DCM and structured finance matters; Judith Lawless specialises in derivatives; and Éamon Ó Cuív's experience includes advising on the launch of Ireland's first sovereign green bond. The ECM team has been active advising on IPOs, redomiciliations, restructurings, listings on Irish and international stock exchanges, and privatisations. Aidan Lawlor leads the team, which also includes David Byers, who has significant experience advising on takeovers of Irish-quoted companies, the 'excellent' Conor O’Dwyer and Stephen FitzSimons, and 'very strong up-and-coming partner' Gill Lohan.

Walkers advises on the full range of DCM matters, with particular expertise in CLO transactions. The team is also highly active in the European commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) space and the significant risk transfer (SRT) securitisation market, as well as regularly advising on securitisation transactions originating in Ireland and governed by Irish law. Practice head Garry Ferguson is noted for his experience in insurance-linked securities (ILS); Noeleen Ruddy has expertise in asset and mortgage-backed securities and CLO transactions; and Andrew Traynor's strengths include auto loan securitisations. Ian McNamee, who regularly advises on matters involving Irish SPVs, and Paddy Rath, who has experience in the CLO, CMBS and private equity space, were promoted to partner in July 2019.

William Fry's ECM team has experience advising on significant domestic and international IPOs, secondary issuances, and takeovers. The team counts high-profile Irish and overseas companies, banks and brokers among its clients, as well as a number of venture capital funds based in Ireland. Myra Garrett, who is noted for her expertise in advising technology companies on fundraising, exit strategy and sales, leads the team, which also includes the 'very commercial and highly professional' Mark Talbot. On the DCM side, the team has been active in corporate and property-backed note and bond issuances and repackagings. Practice head David Maughan has expertise in distressed asset funding, particularly for aircraft, while Elaine Hanly's extensive experience includes securitisations and derivatives, and Mary Ward's recent experience includes advising on a major debt repackaging programme.

Dillon Eustace is active in DCM work, and is noted for its work for significant Irish debt issuers as well as international financial institutions, funds and investment firms. The team is regularly involved in multi-jurisdictional matters, and has advised on ABS transactions, complex hybrid structures and the listing of corporate and high-yield bonds. Managing partner Mark Thorne leads the practice; Conor Keaveny is noted for his expertise in Russian matters; Keith Robinson has experience in notable Irish securitisation transactions; and John-Hugh Colleran has been active in cross-border deals.

Eversheds Sutherland counts a number of listed Irish companies among its clients, in addition to financial institutions and semi-state bodies. Thanks to the firm's global network of offices, the team regularly handles matters with an international element, such as listings on the London Stock Exchange. Areas where the team has been active include flotations and associated fundraisings; shares, bonds and mortgage-backed notes issuances; and reverse takeovers. The 'very experienced' Lee Murphy, who has advised on significant domestic IPOs, leads the practice.

Maples Group's DCM team is noted for its strength in the European CLO space, as well as in warehouse lending and securitisations. The team also advises on NPL RMBS transactions, repackaging programmes, and - with support from the firm's strong investment funds practice - the creation of specialist Irish SPV issuer platforms. Practice co-head Stephen McLoughlin counts domestic and international company issuers, banks and asset managers among his clients, while Callaghan Kennedy has particular expertise in structured products, repackagings and fund-linked structures. On the ECM side, the team regularly advises on matters with an international element, drawing on the firm's global network of offices, and has experience of IPOs, fundraisings, takeovers and bids for Irish public companies. The 'extremely responsive and solution-oriented' Patrick Quinlan  jointly heads the practice with McLoughlin.

Mason Hayes & Curran LLP's 'very responsive and flexible' ECM team acts for a number of Irish-quoted companies, and has longstanding experience advising on listings on the Irish and London stock exchanges, including listings following corporate inversions, takeovers, and secondary fundraisings. 'Capable markets lawyer' Justin McKenna leads the team; Paul Egan regularly advises public, private and state-owned companies on securities law; and David Mangan has been active advising on public offers. Daragh O’Shea rejoined the firm from an in-house role overseas to build the DCM practice.

Byrne Wallace is noted for its niche expertise in the energy and life sciences sector, where the ECM team advises on fundraisings (and secondary transactions), flotations, public offers and capital reductions. Gerry Beausang has extensive experience acting for listed clients in the energy sector (particularly oil and gas companies). Joseph Gavin leads the DCM team, advising on debt restructuring, listed loan notes programmes and bond transactions. Head of tax Anthony Smyth is noted as 'a recognised leader in international tax structuring for loan note issuers'.

LK Shields Solicitors' 'responsive and quality-driven' DCM team has developed a particular expertise in structures relating to repackaged loans, life settlements and green bonds. The team also advises on securitisation structures for a range of asset classes, including loan receivables and ABS transactions. Adrian Mulryan returned to the firm from an in-house role to lead the practice, and has extensive experience in cross-border matters; David Williams is noted for his expertise in bespoke securitisation structures; and Trevor Dolan advises on the establishment and listing of debt issuance programmes on the Irish Stock Exchange.