KPMG has recruited Francis Hackett to lead its legal services division in Ireland, which will focus on corporate and commercial work.
Formerly managing partner with legacy Eversheds Ireland firm, O’Donnell Sweeney, Hackett, a telecommunications specialist, worked as EMEA general counsel for Blackberry prior to his move to the accountancy firm last month. He handles all areas of commercial law and was a non-executive director on Aer Lingus’ board until February.
KPMG has expanded its Irish legal team recently. In addition to Hackett, who has been appointed chairman of the accountancy firm’s legal group, the firm has hired six new lawyers. These include former private practice lawyers Michael Moore and John O’Shea, who joined from Beauchamps and McCann Fitzgerald respectively, and Aoife Newton and Orla Cullen who were previously in inhouse positions with Ibec and Bank of Ireland.
These four, who all have a background in corporate and commercial law, have joined KPMG as associate directors. Currently under Irish law, lawyers and accountants cannot be partners in the same firm as they are not permitted to share profits or control of the business. However the government is considering revising the law to allow for one-stop shops under its protracted Legal Services Regulation Bill.