Ronan McLoughlin and Lisa Broderick report on DACB Dublin’s recent growth, with a busy last year and new hires, as well as the opportunities and issues expected for Irish law firms in the future
Staying active
Glasses half full
Geoff Moore, managing partner of Ireland’s Arthur Cox, is looking at life with his glass very much half full, and he is not alone. ‘Notwithstanding the awfulness going on around the world – two full-blown wars, geopolitical tensions, election uncertainty, and more – the underlying domestic economy in Ireland is actually performing very strongly,’ says Moore. ‘Things have remained robust.’
Ireland: No luck required
Legal Business’ last deep delve into the Irish legal market revealed a country on the rebound. Since the country’s exit from a bailout package cobbled together by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the island of Ireland had proven itself robust.
By 2019 that recovery looked even more assured: GDP grew a strong 5.5%, making it six consecutive years as Europe’s fastest-growing economy. For comparison, Hungary was closest last year to matching its pace with a growth of 4.9%. Sure, the persistent gnaw of uncertainty could be felt as Brexit loomed ever larger, but the feeling was after years of forewarning, Irish business was as prepared as it could be in the face of a tumultuous but manageable 2020. Continue reading “Ireland: No luck required”
Sponsored briefing: Lawyers in Dublin – How to find a good solicitor in Dublin
Picking the right solicitor for you can be a daunting experience, particularly when there are so many to choose from, with most claiming to be experts or specialists in a certain field of law. Your legal issue is important to you and you will want to ensure you get it right the first time. Just like purchasing a car, you will not buy it from the first auto shop you come across. You will want to shop around and ascertain that the level of service is unparalleled, the price is right and the after-sales team will be able to take care of your ongoing needs. In the legal world, you will want a solicitor that can do the same.
Most people pick their solicitor just for convenience, or just have a habit of going back to them after a previous issue. This can be compared to a doctor; they will deal with most of your medical complaints and symptoms in general practice, but if your matter calls for a specialist opinion, they will then refer you to a specialist. Sometimes, this means that you may have to travel in order to get the best opinions and results, and that is no exception in law. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Lawyers in Dublin – How to find a good solicitor in Dublin”
Sponsored briefing: Claims and compensation review | Personal injury claims solicitors in Dublin
If you need a solicitor to represent your interests in court, or just require one for a personal consultation on a negotiation that is ongoing, it is best to hire a good personal injury solicitor instead of an ordinary one. This allows you to build adequate confidence to ensure a comfortable legal process on your personal injury case.
Nowadays, there are numerous solicitors with adequate knowledge to successfully handle a personal injury claim, but you should take time to pick one with the proper experience and skills to stand for your interests in the case. Regardless of the years of experience, avoid choosing a lawyer who works with an insurance firm as it is only normal for them to put the interest of the insurance firm first before yours. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Claims and compensation review | Personal injury claims solicitors in Dublin”
Ireland: A case to make
Centuries of imperiousness towards the Irish could be one of England’s greatest historical mistakes, and when Legal Business set about asking Irish independents whether Dublin is a viable alternative to London for disputes work following Brexit, it felt as though this underestimation was very much alive today. However, the Irish legal elite remains defiant in the face of any English condescension.
‘Absolutely it’s viable,’ says Dillon Eustace’s managing partner Mark Thorne when asked if the Irish Bar’s initiative to promote Dublin as a global disputes centre was realistic. ‘You’re asking if the big independent firms have the talent to achieve that, and the answer is yes, absolutely.’ Continue reading “Ireland: A case to make”
‘Real opportunity in Ireland’: Lewis Silkin becomes fourth firm to open in Dublin post-Brexit vote
City firm Lewis Silkin is to follow in the footsteps of Simmons & Simmons, Covington & Burling and Pinsent Masons by launching a Dublin office.
The new outpost, which will focus on Lewis Silkin’s core strength of employment law, is set to open on 3 April. To staff the new office it has hired employment specialist Siobhra Rush , who will join from local firm Leman Solicitors. On launch, Rush will be supported by London-based partner Sean Dempsey, with fellow City associates Catherine Hayes and David Hopper offering reinforcements when needed. Continue reading “‘Real opportunity in Ireland’: Lewis Silkin becomes fourth firm to open in Dublin post-Brexit vote”
‘Good people are expensive’: Simmons to launch in Dublin through local hire
As speculation continues in the Irish market as to which international law firm will be the next to come knocking on the door of local partners, Simmons & Simmons has confirmed plans to launch in Dublin with a lateral hire from Mason Hayes & Curran (MHC).
Simmons, which had long been rumoured to be considering a launch in the city, has hired MHC’s head of investment funds and financial regulation Fionán Breathnach. The firm will focus on asset management initially, a core practice area for Simmons, with plans to expand further into the financial institutions sector with more local hires. Continue reading “‘Good people are expensive’: Simmons to launch in Dublin through local hire”
Emerald Ambitions
Barry Devereux, managing partner of Irish leader McCann FitzGerald, is not letting the bad Irish weather dampen his spirits. ‘The Irish market is buoyant and there are a lot of things going on. The economy is growing, markets are good and debt is relatively inexpensive. The climate is good for deal-making. Brexit is the reality, but it will undoubtedly provide opportunities across the financial services market in Dublin. It has given a fillip to the market in terms of the interest in real estate, and people looking for accommodation and office space. Dublin is doing very well.’
Dublin’s legal market continues to boom. The impact of Brexit undoubtedly dented the transactional market in the last six months of 2016, but the shock has, for the most part, subsided and many practice areas are busy. Real estate has enjoyed a particular resurgence after the painful post-bailout year, while corporate and finance lawyers are always in high demand. But the Irish market is also enjoying a boom in more niche areas, including data protection and intellectual property, particularly with the incoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and legal works in the fields of fintech, regulatory investigations and online gaming. Continue reading “Emerald Ambitions”
Ireland launch: Pinsents finally reveals plans to open in Dublin
Pinsent Masons has finally announced plans to launch in Dublin in what will be the firm’s fourth international office opening in the last 18 months.
Continue reading “Ireland launch: Pinsents finally reveals plans to open in Dublin”