Originating from the Cayman Islands, Maples Group is an international firm with offices across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the Americas that provides legal and fiduciary services to clients. The firm has had a Dublin office since 2006.
Focusses / specialisms
The offshore firm has established a reputation for itself for work in a number of practice areas in Ireland.
In the banking and finance space the firm is experienced in representing non-bank lenders on transactions.
In the capital markets area the team is a leader for securitisation work, especially CLOs, and is often on the side of issuers.
In line with the firm’s focus globally firm, it has one of the most reputed funds practices in Ireland, experienced in structuring ICAVs and UCITs among other vehicles.
Aviation, technology and real estate are among the sectors in which the firm is experienced.
Key clients
Among its clients in banking are Bain Capital Credit and Allied Irish Banks.
Among its clients in capital markets are Falko, Sky Leasing, Avolon, TwentyFour Asset Management, CVC Credit Partners Investment Management and Goldman Sachs International.
Among its clients in corporate and M&A are Wayflyer, Taxamo, Mercuria UK, Cleanair SPV I, Lacerta Fund, Tech Mahindra, Oaktree Capital Management, Teamwork Holdings and Spotlight Oral Care.
In investment funds it assisted Neuberger Berman Investment Funds, Bain Capital Credit, Muzinich & Co., Northern Trust Fund Managers and MontLake UCITS Platform ICAV.
Among its clients in project development are Passage Healthcare, Siemens Consortium, Hines Real Estate Ireland, Rhatigan, Primary Care Construction JV, BAM Building Limited, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and JJ Rhatigan & Co.
Research period review: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
During the research period the firm was active in all areas of corporate law and project development.
In asset finance it advised clients mostly in aviation on transactions in all practice areas.
In banking and finance, it was active in advising borrowers and lenders on acquisition financing, and it provided advice on investment grade and sustainability linked financing and direct financing. Its project financing practice has a clear focus on advising the borrowing side on the direct financing of projects in various industries, including construction and materials, energy and aviation.
In capital markets it advised on debt and structured finance transactions. In debt capital markets it advised issuers on bond and note issue, including green bonds, while in structured finance it advised mostly issuers and clients in underwriter’s roles on secured notes issue, CLO notes, portfolio securitisation and securitization restructuring.
In corporate and M&A the firm mainly advised acquirers on acquisitions in several industries, most notably in pharmaceuticals and life sciences and technology and telecommunications.
In investment funds it advised investment managers and fund managers on fund formations, including UCITSs and QIAIF, and on regulatory issues.
In financial services regulatory it assisted clients on banking authorizations, banking business transfers and on various financial and corporate matters and issues.
In project development it advised mostly developers and contractors on projects and PPPs in a variety of industries, especially in construction and materials, and energy.
In restructuring and insolvency it advised mostly creditor, various administrators and liquidators on Chapter 11 proceedings, examinerships, liquidations, insolvency proceedings.
Recent staffing changes include the recruitment of Lorna Smith, partner from Matheson in financial services regulatory and funds and investment management, Morgan Pierse, partner in M&A joined from Arthur Cox. Edward Miller, corporate and M&A partner retired. Deirdre MacCarthy, a corporate and M&A partner moved to Wayflyer, and Enda O'Keeffe, a partner in construction and projects moved to A&L Goodbody.
Deal highlights: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Avolon $5.7 billion asset-backed securities issue
Bain Capital Credit $1 billion financing
CVC Credit Partners €447.5 million CLO notes
Falko $530 milion securitization
Mercuria Energy Group €30 million acquisition of Exergyn
Oncology and Nephrology hospital project in Jamaica
SKY Leasing $600 million acquisition financing
Sky Leasing $663 million securitization issue
Tech Mahindra €21 million acquisition of Perigord Life Science Solutions
TwentyFour Asset Management £417 acquisition finance
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Asset finance
"Very knowledgeable and commercial; excellent at ensuring transactions continue smoothly."
"Unrivalled expertise and professionalism."
"Responsive, they know the market. Good to work with"
"The firm provides expert, efficient and user-friendly advice. "
Capital markets : Structured finance and securitisation
"Responsiveness; solutions driven; highly personable. "
"Very responsive and keen to grow their presence in the Irish securitisation market. Great safe pair of hands for Irish work."
"Very switched on and keen team focused on the client experience."
Financial services regulatory
"The firm have been very proactive in meeting the evolving requirements of the client (a US asset manager) while, at the same time, keeping the board informed and ensuring that the highest standards of corporate governance are observed at all times."
"Clear and helpful advice given."
"Very strong technical skills coupled with very strong client management skills and a global outlook/experience."
Investment funds : Hedge funds
"Excellent quality legal advice and hands-on matter management. Pragmatic, sensible solutions."
Investment funds : Registered funds
"They have a very expert asset management and funds team covering all types of UCITs & AIFs and a great regulatory advisory business. They have good associates, attorneys and partners that are team players and good to work with. They are not only expert and competent they are very personable and good to do deals with."
"The firm is commercial and responsive with good industry knowledge and networks. "
"Knowledgeable about technical aspects of Irish law, very good commercial acumen and commercially focused advice."
"They are leaders in the space and good to work with."
"They are extremely responsive, in all departments. Partners are hands-on and very good attention to detail."
"1) Proactive in updating us on regulatory matters, tailored to our funds. 2) Experts in providing advice on complex topics. 3) Practical approach."
"The lawyers are all commercially minded and give practical legal advice. They know our business well and are able to advise us accordingly and keep us updated on relevant regulatory changes."
Investment funds : Retail funds
"Detailed command of the law. Excellent insight into the approach of the regulator."
"Ahead of the curve, responsive and good depth."
"Full service from legal, registration, listing to facilities agent from one single source. Stable teams with not many changes over the years. Proactivity in referring to changes and regulatory updates. Good response times."
"Strength and depth of organisation. Strong technical knowledge across all levels of staffing (associates, senior associates, partners). Ability to launch fund structures on time and on budget. Competitive pricing."
M&A
"Strong domain experience in venture fund raising. Commercial. Responsive."
"Great market understanding, with smart, experienced and determined lawyers."
"Client-focused, practical and commercial."
"The firm provide commercially minded advice on all aspects of the M&A transaction. They take time to understand the commercial agreement and help structure the transaction to best achieve the desired outcome. They identify the key elements of the transaction and work closely with all parties to ensure these aspects are addressed in the legal documentation. They have strong expertise across all sectors, which allows them to quickly address any issues that arise on the transaction, i.e. competition, property, employment, W&I insurance, etc. "
"Provided commercial advice on the key areas."
PPP/PFI
"Attention to detail and always available."
Private equity
"Knowledge of Irish company law and processes."
Project development : Infrastructure
"Very knowledgeable, experienced and professional in advising and supporting us on related matters."
"Excellent, professional service."
Donna Ager
"Dedicated her career to asset finance with specialism in aviation. She is fantastically qualified, knowledgeable with a renowned industry reputation. "
"Considerable experience. Pragmatic advice. Responsive. Great to work with."
"Excellent legal and jurisdictional knowledge. "
Brian Clarke
"Very professional, experienced and easy to deal with."
Ronan Cremin
"Excellent problem-solver; understands our business; available and personable."
Adam Donohoe
"Great product expertise, great communicator, gives you as a client confidence in his taken position, very supportive and collaborative and very responsive and he leads a great team."
Mary Dunne
"Expertise on matters referred and complete attention to detail and always available when needed."
"Very knowledgeable, professional and efficient."
Frances Hamilton
"Very strong intellectually. Excellent command of the details of the law. A good listener. Excellent client skills."
"She has a breadth of knowledge and is commercially minded. She knows our business very well. "
Callaghan Kennedy
"Very responsive and commercial. Keen to ensure client deliverables are met. Safe pair of hands."
"Excellent pragmatic lawyer, always available and understands the issues."
James Kinsley
"Responsive, high-quality service."
Stephen Mclaughlin
"Responsive; solutions driven; highly personable. "
Deirdre Mcllvenna
"Very knowledgeable in the hedge funds space. Empathetic to the specific needs of our business and our fund structures and strategies. Always calm under pressure and a pleasure to work with generally."
James Meehan
"He is an excellent lawyer. He is knowledgeable, responsive and wants the very best outcome for his clients. Having worked with him for more than six years, I trust that he will put our interests first and cares about getting the best result for us. He is a rising star at the firm and in the asset management industry."
"Devoted to his clients, highly responsive and fantastic memory of the history on our files. Practical, hard-working and intelligent, you want him on your team."
"He is excellent. He is extremely knowledgeable and understands our business."
Adam O'Donoghue
"He is very knowledgeable and extremely responsive. He is adaptive to the client's needs. He delivers on strict timelines and drives his team to do so also."
Eimear O'Dwyer
"Excellent legal knowledge applied pragmatically and great interpersonal skills."
"Excellent technical knowledge, pragmatic and excellent communication skills."
"Eimear has extensive technical knowledge in complex areas of UCITS legislation and Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive and over multiple years has demonstrated an ability to launch funds on time and on budget. She has a very strong client-centric approach while displaying strong leadership of her team of associates. Finally I would point to her understanding of the regulatory environment and awareness of how upcoming regulatory changes will impact our business. "
Niamh O'Shea
"Technical knowledge, personable, commercial acumen."
"Good solution provider. Good availability."
Patrick Quinlan
"He is an outstanding M&A lawyer. He combines excellent technical capability with strong practical commercial acumen."
"Good commercial lawyer, focusing on the key issues."
Colm Rafferty
"Extremely experienced in working with venture-backed companies in the tech space. Pragmatic, commercial, responsive."
"A very experienced M&A lawyer with an in-depth knowledge of the Irish tech scene."
"He has taken the time to fully understand our company's style and legal requirements and proactively takes the initiative in deal negotiations to deliver on these requirements. He is a very commercially minded lawyer that can quickly understand unique and unorthodox M&A arrangements and identify the key transaction and legal arrangements that need to be addressed. He is very personable and can quickly build a working rapport with all advisers on both sides of the transaction, which helps facilitates quick turnaround in time-pressured situations. "
Lorna Smith
"Knowledgeable, responsive and practical."
Alex Walsh
"Responsive and efficient, quick to understand requirements."
