McCann FitzGerald LLP advises on a broad spectrum of regulatory and compliance matters, including authorisations, outsourcings, corporate governance work, and cybersecurity issues. The team is led by Josh Hogan, who specialises in financial services regulation, while Douglas McMahon is a key figure in the fintech space, advising both traditional pillar banks and emerging start-ups. Clare Gillett has particular expertise in handling MiFID applications for investment firms with a fintech focus, and Holly Draper-Spillane supports clients on anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance, including drafting risk assessments, policies, and procedures.
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Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Josh Hogan stands out as a key partner whose availability and deep sector knowledge have been invaluable to our business. His engaging approach ensures every interaction is both productive and insightful, while his reliability in truly understanding our requirements consistently leads to practical solutions. Josh’s ability to pinpoint issues that may otherwise go unnoticed, coupled with his delivery of focused, actionable advice, has proved essential for our large-scale, time-sensitive projects. John Boyle is undoubtedly a rising star and one to watch within the team. His breadth of knowledge on complex subjects is matched by his impressive ability to distill intricate matters into clear, digestible advice. John’s calm and practical manner endears him to colleagues across our business, who consistently find him engaging, insightful, and acutely attuned to their requirements. He has a proven talent for producing advice that not only addresses precisely what the business needs, but does so in a fast and efficient way, making him a firm favourite with all our business areas.
- McCann Fitzgerald’s Financial Services Team are our trusted advisors for financial services regulation matters. Their availability is unmatched—they respond quickly and deliver support exactly when it’s needed, no matter how complex the issue. The team’s commitment shines through in every interaction, providing assurance that our interests are always a priority. Their depth of knowledge in the financial sector is impressive, but what truly distinguishes them is their ability to anticipate and address the specific needs of our business. Advice from McCann Fitzgerald is always commercial, practical, and shaped by a clear understanding of our industry and objectives. Crucially, their guidance is always clear and accessible. Our business values how recommendations are communicated in a straightforward, readable manner, avoiding jargon and focusing on what matters. This combination of expertise, commitment, and clarity makes McCann Fitzgerald an invaluable partner.
- ‘The team are a pleasure to deal with, has specialists in all of the areas that we need, and has great lawyers. We have found the lawyers much more down to earth than other lawyers we have dealt with. They were able to collaborate with my law firm very effectively.’
- ‘James Fitzgerald explains matters clearly and has a clear grasp of what the Central Bank of Ireland expect from firms which they regulate.’
- ‘Responsiveness and practicality - balancing legal advice with a commercial perspective, with a good sense for the level of detail required when providing such advice.’
Key clients
- Bankinter S.A.
- Paycom Europe Limited
- FNZ (Europe) DAC
- Pomelo Technology US Inc. / LemFi
- Premafina Ireland Limited
- Fidelity Investments
- Euroclear
- Hashkey Europe Ltd
- Cover Genius Europe B.V.
- Intuit Ireland
- Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c.
Work highlights
Advising Paycom Software Inc. on the establishment of an Irish entity, Paycom (Europe) Limited, to service the Irish and wider European markets, and its application for authorisation as a payment institution.
Advising Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c and its subsidiary EBS d.a.c. in their continued implementation of changes to facilitate increased access to instant payment services for customers including their application to become a participant in the verification of payee scheme.
Advising FNZ (Europe) DAC on its application to the Central Bank for an extension of its MiFID authorisation to provide the service of execution of orders.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Practice head
Josh Hogan
Other key lawyers
Douglas McMahon; Clare Gillett; Holly Draper-Spillane; James Fitzgerald