What do you see as the main points that differentiate KPMG Legal Services from your competitors?

KPMG Legal Services was established in 2014 and while KPMG Legal Services is new, our experience is not. We collaborate closely with our colleagues from Tax, Advisory and Audit to leverage wider KPMG expertise to provide business-oriented legal solutions that tackle complex client issues. We provide our clients with all-in-one solutions to help them solve their legal, accounting, tax and commercial issues at one time. Our legal team has joined us from leading Irish and international firms with extensive experience and credentials in their areas of practice. Our offering is underpinned by top quality lawyers and KPMG’s global footprint.

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

A key area that could be set for growth in the next 12 months is Employment/Immigration. With increasing globalisation around the world and the emergence from Covid, firms are seeing an increase in their mobile labour force, which puts an increased demand on our services in employment and immigration law. Firms need our advice on different taxation regulations for their employees who travel around the world, as well as advice on immigration regulations.

We expect to see continued growth in firms establishing a presence in Ireland as the only English speaking jurisdiction in the EU following the UK’s departure. Therefore, legal issues and advice surrounding market entry can be expected to grow in the next 12 months. Continued interest from foreign investors may drive up the demand for M&A services and corporate reorganization. The driver for this being the continued low corporate tax that Ireland offers, and the strong, dynamic labour force that Ireland continues to offer.

In the aftermath of COVID-19 we could also expect to face an increase in labour law issues such as unfair dismissal and vaccination requirements advice. Advice concerning GDPR is likely to remain strong surrounding these issues.

In addition to this, we expect to see strong demand for corporate and commercial services. Our experienced team of dedicated solicitors will continue to work closely with our clients in these areas as part of multi-disciplinary teams created from all of KPMG’s tax and advisory teams.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine will have profound and far-reaching effects. Increased energy costs due to economic sanctions against Russia will re-double the focus on the ESG agenda and the ability of business to operate in a environmentally sustainable way. Also, corporate compliance will come into ever sharper focus. Being able to demonstrate full corporate compliance and clearly demonstrate ultimate beneficial ownership will become an increasingly important part of being able to do business in many parts of the world.

What's the main change you've made in the firm that will benefit clients?

To provide the best service you have to have the best people. We have invested in attracting and nurturing the best lawyers and enabling them to serve clients effectively on a multidisciplinary basis. We have recently welcomed a number of new lawyers to the practice and will continue to do so. We are always seeking lawyers who can embrace the advantage that operating in a multi-disciplinary environment can bring, whilst operating under one of the world’s leading and most respected professional services brands.

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Technology has changed how we perform, how we work and, most importantly, how we meet our clients’ needs. Within KPMG Legal Services, we have a dedicated Legal Technology Team. Our resources and expertise in this area combined with the team's technology-focused approach is transforming how we serve our clients. As a relatively new entrant to the Legal market KPMG Legal is well placed to embrace technology to improve our services.

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

In the past year we have worked closely with an early stage, high potential, fast growing US owned multinational to help it create and expand a global corporate structure and footprint. This has involved the establishment of companies (and a related financing and commercial contracting framework) across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania to support the growth of its market leading infrastructure and technology business.

As part of a global multi-disciplinary professional services firm with an international legal service offering, we are uniquely equipped to help the client navigate diverse and often complex local rules and regulations to establish infrastructural and sales operations in multiple jurisdictions.

This has ensured that the client has achieved the optimal outcome for its business from a legal, tax, accounting and commercial perspective and can continue to grow its business based on robust corporate structure foundations. At KPMG we are uniquely capable of providing this integrated legal, tax and accounting solution.

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms - where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

Digitisation may bring automation potential and software-based tools that can answer certain legal questions for the client. However, our clients may want advice beyond the mere clarification of legal issues and continue to want human interaction and specified advice to their position as an individual client. With collaboration between the different departments in KPMG, the client can gain well-rounded detailed advice on a variety of issues.

KPMG legal department is still young and growing, and we will continue to grow in size, expertise, and in terms of clientele basis in the coming years, with a greater demand by clients on the services we offer as a legal and commercial firm. In three years’, time, KPMG will continue to be a leading firm in Ireland, offering complete solutions to our clients to keep their businesses operating and thriving in this fast-paced, ever-changing world. From collaboration with other departments such as tax and deal advisory, we provide a wider prospective and insight to our clients that only a multi-departmental firm like KPMG can achieve.