Leading Irish law firm William Fry LLP is pleased to announce the arrival of a 12-member Corporate/M&A team from Eversheds Sutherland Ireland.  This strategic addition significantly enhances William Fry’s corporate offering as one of Ireland's largest Corporate/M&A practices and creates a wider team comprising more Legal 500 ranked Leading Corporate / M&A Partners than any other law firm in Ireland. William Fry employs over 500 staff across its offices in Dublin, Cork, London, New York, and San Francisco.

Among the team of 12, four partners are joining William Fry’s Corporate/M&A practice, bringing deep expertise and experience:

  • Gerard Ryan, former Head of Corporate at Eversheds Sutherland Ireland, has over 25 years experience in M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions with a particular focus on cross border matters and technology related transactions and companies.
  • Enda Newton brings over 20 years of experience in M&A, equity capital markets, private equity, venture capital and financial regulation. He previously served as Senior Corporate Lawyer at the Department of Finance, advising on major transactions during Ireland’s banking crisis, including the restructuring of the Promissory Note element of Ireland's legacy banking debt, the liquidation of IBRC and the sale of Irish Life to Great West Lifeco.
  • Gavin O'Flaherty brings over two decades of experience of advising on domestic and global M&A with particular sector focuses on financial services (to include more particularly insurance), agri-food and healthcare along with advising on corporate reorganisations and investments including extensively advising foreign corporates on foreign direct investment into the Irish market. Along with being a Chartered Tax Adviser, Gavin also has particular expertise in advising private equity and venture capital houses on their investment into or acquisition of Irish corporates and has acted on a number of the largest private equity transactions in and through Ireland over the last number of years.
  • Maria O’Brien joins as a Corporate Partner, advising domestic and international clients in a variety of sectors on M&A, fundraising, governance and shareholder arrangements. Her career began at FEXCO, and since moving to private practice she has developed a strong focus on M&A transactions and private equity and venture capital investments.

Andrew McIntyre, Head of William Fry's Corporate / M&A Department commented, "We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional team to William Fry. Their deep experience and proven ability to navigate sophisticated transactions will significantly enhance our client offering. Their arrival strengthens the breadth and depth of our Corporate/M&A practice, firmly positioning us as the go to law firm in Ireland for M&A transactions.  As our clients’ needs evolve, we are focused on continuing to develop a team that can deliver strategic, commercial advice across every stage of the corporate lifecycle - these appointments are a key part of that vision."

Contact

Sorcha Handley

William Fry

DD: +353 1 489 6406

About William Fry LLP

William Fry is a leading corporate law firm in Ireland, with over 350 legal and tax professionals and more than 500 staff. The Firm is ranked by international directories as being a leader in our core practice areas of Corporate and M&A, Banking & Finance, Litigation & Investigations, Asset Management & Investment Funds, Real Estate, Insurance, Competition & Regulation, Tax, Projects & Construction, Employment & Benefits and Technology. As one of Ireland’s oldest and largest law firms, we offer proven expertise across the full breadth of industries and sectors. With offices in Dublin, Cork, London, New York and San Francisco, and a global law firm network, we can serve clients both at home and internationally.

Corporate / M&A transactions have always been a core part of William Fry's practice.  Our team has excellent credentials, a wealth of experience and impressive depth of expertise.  We consistently play a central role in the most sophisticated and complex cross-border and domestic corporate transactions and advisory work in Ireland. Clients include leading Irish and international companies and institutions, private equity funds, public and private, as well as state and public sector bodies.  They are also proud to have acted for many of Ireland’s most successful entrepreneurs.

We are consistently ranked in the top tier of Irish advisers for Corporate/M&A work by leading directories including Chambers Global and Legal 500.