Founded in 1847,
William Fry is a leading Irish firm headquartered in Dublin. The firm opened an office in Cork recently and has an alliance with Northern Ireland firm
Tughans. It also has branches in London, New York, Silicon
Valley and San Francisco through which it advises foreign clients on Irish law.
The firm
has a particularly strong practice in banking and finance, equity capital markets, M&A, project development and restructuring and
insolvency, achieving tier 1 in all these areas. They are also
very active in structured finance and
securitisation capital markets and investment funds practices as well.
In banking and finance the firm primarily worked on project related
financings for clients linked with the public sector, energy, financial
services and infrastructure.
In equity capital markets the firms
has a focus on secondary share offerings for clients linked with financial services,
telecoms and the public sector whilst in
structured finance and
securitisation the firm worked on
mainly deals
for clients linked with the automotive and financial services sectors.
In investment funds the firm had a focus on fund establishment work.
In M&A the firm worked on
mainly acquisitions but also some investment working especially with investment management clients but also some technology linked clients.
In projects the firm worked on
mainly infrastructure deals especially related to technology, real
estate and the maritime sector.
In restructuring and
insolvency, the firm worked on a mix of deals for clients from a range of sectors.
“Very experienced and knowledgeable team, commercial advice.
“They have a very commercial approach.”
“Promptness, quality, customer friendliness.”
Bank lending: Borrower side
“William Fry
understand the existing facilities and
were able to deliver the ARAs within a short timeframe.
This included managing the relationship with the lenders' legal advisers.”
Bank lending: Lender side
“As noted above, the financing was split into several pieces. The initial phase was straightforward, but subject to
significant time pressure. William Fry delivered
expeditious, to-the-point work and advice, allowing the process to
proceed on
the tight timeline without requiring significant involvement from us or the Lenders. The second part of the transaction, which involved the accession of an Irish sponsor acting on behalf of various minority shareholder required more complicated advice from an Irish law perspective, since it also brought about financial regulatory issues. The advice we received here was clear and the team at William Fry were service-minded and flexible, which ensured that the lenders received the comfort
required to
proceed on a complex structure. We also note that the transaction
benefitted from the team's focus on getting the transaction completed, and they also provided direct advice and support to the company to answer any questions or concerns they had.”
“Knowledge of the specifics to the Legals presented between Ireland and the UK and their ability to deal with requests in a very efficient and effective manner.
Very positive engagement and responsive to quick demands and standard of delivery was excellent.”
“What stood out to me about William Fry's services was their exceptional attention to detail and their thorough understanding of the legal intricacies involved in our deal. Their team,
let by
Padraic demonstrated
a high level of
expertise and professionalism throughout the entire process. Additionally, their ability to provide clear and concise communication, coupled with their proactive approach to addressing any concerns, truly set them apart from other firms in the market. Overall, William Fry's dedication to excellence and their commitment to achieving favorable outcomes for their clients make them a standout choice for legal representation.”
Capital markets:
Structured finance and
securitisation
“The tax structuring advice we received was attentive and knowledgeable and on top of latest developments in
very complex VAT questions. The listing
assistance is always impeccable.”
Financial services regulatory
“Throughout the licensing process, I have collaborated closely with Shane Kelleher, John O'Connor, Louise
McNabola, and their extended team. They consistently provided clear and concise interpretations of legislation and offered valuable industry insights. Based on my interactions with William Fry, it is
evident that they
provide exceptional advice, adopting a pragmatic approach and
demonstrating extensive industry
expertise. Their dedication to clients surpasses expectations, going
above and beyond in delivering comprehensive support and guidance.”
“Having dealt with many other law firms, we found William Fry to be extremely experienced in both the regulatory environment and the expectations of the regulator, making it a lot easier to navigate the process of getting approved.
I believe they were a major factor in
our getting approved.”
“Experienced, excellent communication, problem-focused advice.”
“Very willing to stick to the quote provided,
flexible, available, easy to work with.”
“They have
very good Fintech industry knowledge and have huge
track record of experience in EMI authorization hence they were able to support very well our communication with
our firm and this helped to simplify and speed up the license approval process.”
“Their
expertise on the regulatory landscape, their understanding of our business model and the practical application and tailored approach of their advise.”
“William Fry
are super responsive. They are always available when it is
crunch time and their advice is top notch and solution focused. They have plenty of
hands on experience in a wide range of issues and they provide comfort to the regulator due to their long standing relationship with them. Their practical approach really stands out where they go the extra mile to be creative in finding solutions.”
“Practical feedback, always ready to quickly turn documents, and incredibly responsive to queries.”
“They are thorough; they respond quickly and they
are able to grasp complex legal issues.”
“William Fry have a depth experience and breadth of expertise that is unrivalled in the Irish market and provide a full end-to-end regulatory advisory service. Specifically in relation to regulatory authorizations and licences the firm helps client firms to understand the complexity of regulatory and legal requirements as well as regulators expectations. This helps their firms achieve trust with the regulator, speed to market and
long term value.”
“Very responsive and practical.”
“Technically
very strong and depth of capabilities.”
“Highly responsive, attention to detail,
very good legal and regulatory insights.”
“In-dept analysis, concise clear advise, prompt responses and excellent communication.”
“The William Fry team are collegiate and responsive.
They offer sound practical advice in
a timely manner.
They are also extremely commercial.”
“Team
were receptive and accessible, provided both legal and commercial advice in relation to the action and were always professional and responsive.”
Project development:
Infrastructure
“Excellent client focused service. Proactive approach to contract execution.”
“Quality of
expertise of specific sector.”
“A strong team with a pragmatic approach and a finger on the pulse of developments in the industry.”
“The partner and his team in William Fry have a detailed knowledge in this space, delivering key legal and commercial insights which is supported by their ability to
leverage off their considerable experience in project finance and project development. Respond quickly to all queries and ability to assist across the full range of service requirements.”
“Quick response, knowledgeable, good working relationship with other law firm.”
“John has great
expertise, quickly
identifies and the issues and finds solutions to our specific issues, all while communicating this in a clear and
simple way.”
“Excellent problem solving and communication.”
“Provides clear
and concise advice.”
“Excellent client
focused service.”
“Strong focus and understanding of the client's needs together with a keen eye for detail and pragmatic solutions.”
“Deep knowledge of sector and experience, always responsive and provides detailed analysis.”
“Matthew is a fantastic
securitisation transactional lawyer with excellent legal skills and industry knowledge.”
“Paul managed the action professionally and provided sound legal and strategic advice. He was a consumate professional and was always responsive and managed the team well such that they were all well
informed
throughout the process. He has excellent
communication skills and was always assured in the advice he was providing.”
“Technically
very strong on insolvency and related matters."
“Excellent client advice and leadership of the construction contract process.”
“Jarleth is very responsive, seeks to understand our needs and find the best way to implement them.”
“Excellent communicator with a thorough industry knowledge.”
“In depth knowledge of the sector,
always responsive and they provide quality work.”
“Extremely knowledgeable and pro-active. Responsive to requests and committed to deadlines / obligations.”
“Ciarán manages the team incredibly well. He was hands-on for any matters that
required partner attention, but otherwise his team handled all the required work. He communicates well and is a pleasure to work with, making the transaction easy for everyone involved. We also valued his and the team's ability to turn around quickly on very tight timelines.”
“I have worked with Jason for a number years and I would highly recommend him. Jason adopts a very commercial
approach, and
provides expert guidance to all parties throughout a transaction. Jason is very personable, which makes it easy to discuss concerns or issues with him as they arise. I would say his communication skills are unmatched, and his ability to lead out and
monitor a transaction from start to finish is first class.”
“Quick response, good at building relationships, good knowledge of our business.”
“Nessa, as with
all of our team in William Fry, is very personable to deal with and is our main contact for all matters relating to ESG and implementation of SFDR.
Nessa's analytical and technical abilities are invaluable, coupled, as they are, with a strong commercial focus.”
“Nessa is highly responsive and has excellent specialised knowledge.”
“Shane exemplifies excellence as a lawyer, possessing an in-depth comprehension of the regulatory landscape. He consistently provides clear, concise, and practical advice, showcasing a profound understanding of the industry. Furthermore, Shane's approachability and willingness to be readily accessible when legal matters arise underscore his exceptional professional demeanor.”
“Well versed and well connected with all areas related to our firm. Eager to push client along to achieve
optimal results.”
“Highly accessible, he provides a fast delivery of results.”
“Shane is very business focused and is always available at crunch time. He is very solution driven and practical. His knowledge of the sector is second to none.”
“Shane provided me with invaluable preparation and support before a recent interview with the Central Bank of Ireland. Shane provides a first-class client focused service.
This builds trust with clients and results in the development of
long lasting client relationships.
Shane understands our business and our people and addresses our specific needs rather than applying “one size fits all” solutions. The quality of service provided by Shane and his team is excellent value for money. This results in continuity and stability for client firms in terms of future advisory support.”
“Padraic
is extremely responsive, he sees problems before they arise and always keeps a level head. He makes you feel that your transaction is always his number one priority and consistently meets deadlines.”
“Padraic Kinsella excels in providing thorough and insightful legal counsel. His ability to analyze complex legal issues and distill them into clear, actionable advice is particularly impressive. Moreover, Padraic demonstrates exceptional attention to detail, ensuring that all aspects of a deal are meticulously addressed. His dedication to client service is
evident through his proactive communication and willingness to go
above and beyond to meet client needs. Additionally, Padraic's strategic thinking and problem-solving skills contribute significantly to achieving favorable outcomes for his clients. Overall, Padraic Kinsella's
proficiency in providing comprehensive legal guidance and his commitment to client satisfaction make him
a valuable asset to any legal team.”
“Very
proactive , engaging and supportive throughout any
transaction .Key was recent transaction which required quick turnaround and Padraic went over and beyond to deliver.”
“David is
a very knowledgeable and experienced counsel.
He has worked on a very wide range of transaction structures and is able to
provide effective advice on
aircraft financing transactions and structures of all types.”
“Ted is available at all hours to solve the most complex, serious and urgent VAT issues that we have come across in our Irish adventures.”
“Alex's knowledge for the regulatory space is impressive - his retirement will be felt across the sector.”
“Louise is the main contact at William Fry and I have worked with
her on
both on funding and licensing work. Louise is always available and proactive in her willingness to help and provide clarity.”
“Louise has vast experience in EMI licensing process. She was able to
accompany us successfully throughout the licensing journey. She is particularly good in suggesting the right format of information expected by CBI and bringing CBI's firm-specific questions into
broader context of the local regulatory requirements.”
“Louise has vast experience to draw from and a creative approach to deploying this knowledge. She is responsive and goes the extra mile to understand our business and how this applies to the situation.”
“Delivering astute legal advice (payments/regulatory) and coming up with creative solutions.”
“Louise recently provided end-to-end support on a VASP submission to the Central Bank of Ireland. Louise understands the regulatory burden on clients and
help firms understand their compliance obligations and how rules should be applied. Louise is very client focused and provides a personal service where clients feel important. This enables William Fry to build
long lasting relationships with their clients. Louise understands the complexity of
regulation and this enables her to go
above and beyond for her clients in providing solutions to complex issues.”
“She consistently
exhibits adeptness in navigating intricate legal matters and offering pragmatic advice and solutions. She
possesses exceptional legal acumen and a comprehensive understanding of the regulated payments industry. Furthermore, Louise's approachability and readiness to promptly address legal concerns underscore her outstanding professional conduct.”
“Helpful, pragmatic, transparent on costs very pleasant to deal with very good knowledge of relevant topics.”
“Ian is
very knowledgeable and experienced
on the regulatory environment in which our company
operates. He has an in-depth understanding of our business model, and is very practical with his
advices. He is approachable,
responsive and accessible.”
“John consistently
demonstrates
proficiency in navigating complex legal issues and offering pragmatic legal advice and solutions. His excellence as a lawyer is further
evidenced by his profound understanding of the regulated payments
industry.
Additionally, John's accessibility and prompt availability when addressing legal matters underscore his exceptional professionalism.”
“David was our go-to person for this transaction. He is always available when needed and
coordinates complex legal advice seamlessly without requiring significant involvement from us. Any time there were any issues or questions under Irish law, we received prompt feedback with well-reasoned and easy-to-understand advice. He communicates well and is a pleasure to work with, making the transaction easy for everyone involved. We also valued the full team's ability to turn around quickly on very tight timelines.”
“James is highly responsive, has a very pragmatic approach and suggests innovative solutions to problems.”
“James has worked on
our account for longer than
I myself have been with
our business and is the Senior Partner on our file. After many years of dealing with James,
more often than not
on a daily basis, I would consider him to be an invaluable source of support to myself personally as well as to
the business generally. James is always willing to go the extra mile for us and his advice is always sensible and on point. If you are managing a UCITS business in Ireland, James has an exceptional understanding of the regulatory landscape that you are faced with and can be completely relied upon to steer you safely through any engagement with the Central Bank. He has an ability to convey legal knowledge in a genuinely useful way and can make complex projects
seems straightforward. He can also be relied upon to provide you with a view where required and to direct you as to the best course of action to take in any
particular circumstance. James is a personable, friendly guy, as are
all of his team, and this really makes a difference when you are dealing with somebody all the time, often in circumstances that can be stressful where big projects are afoot with tight timelines to be
maintained. I am aware from speaking to some of James' other clients at industry events that he is highly thought of across the board.”
“Excellent insolvency solicitor.”
“Provides quality advice which is also always very pragmatic.”
Key clients of the firm in capital markets include Smurfit Kappa, Amgen,
Davy, Finance Ireland,
auxmoney,,
Towerbrook Capital Partners, the Department of Finance and
Shard.
Key clients of the firm in
investment funds include Mercer,
BlackRock,
Legal & General,
Sands Capital Funds and
Lazard Asset Management.
Key clients of the firm in
M&A include Echelon Data
Centres,
Amgen, Uniphar,
JOLT and the
Department of Finance.
Key clients of the firm in projects include
EirGrid, SIRO Designated Activity Company,
Eiffel Investments,
Diageo and
DNB Bank.
Key clients of the firm in restructuring and insolvency include Hamilton Beach Brands, Attestor Capital,
Interpath, PWC and
Proventus Capital.
