A&L Goodbody LLP is a longstanding dominant player in the Irish corporate transactions space. The practice is well known for its strength in handling mid-market M&A deals and private equity transactions, often acting for a large client roster of domestic businesses, major multinational companies and private equity investors. Richard Grey is head of the M&A group, and has an excellent reputation for advising on large public and private M&A transactions. Charles Carroll, Keavy Ryan, and Richard Marron are key practitioners to note, and Sheena Doggett, who splits her time between London and Dublin, has established strength in the corporate space. Laura Kennedy, Stephen Quinlivan and Darran Nangle are emerging talents. In recent developments, Phil Fogarty relocated to the firm's London office, and Eoin Shiel joined from Matheson LLP.

Arthur Cox has remained at the forefront of M&A and private equity deals. The team routinely advises on several of the largest transactions in the Irish and international markets; the group’s track record includes assisting Irish fintech entities with large exits and acting on de-SPAC transactions. Under the leadership of Cian McCourt, the practice regularly acts for Irish-listed companies and Irish businesses listed on the NYSE. Other key practitioners include managing partner Geoff Moore, Maura McLaughlin, Michael Coyle, Maeve Moran and David Vos. Of counsel Golda Hession and senior associates Sinead Crowley and Kylie Dollard are rising stars.

Mason Hayes & Curran LLP's large corporate and M&A practice has seen an uptick in renewable energy, life sciences and corporate technology deals. The team is highly regarded for its strength in handling cross-border mandates, often involving US investors, and has a growing presence in the private equity space. Mid-market deals and transactions involving growth companies and start-ups are also included in the group's workload. David O’Donnell is a seasoned practitioner, and Justin McKenna is a key name in the practice for public M&A transactions. Other key practitioners include head of the life sciences team Martin Kelleher, Liam Brazil, corporate governance and compliance expert Claire Lord, and the 'pragmatic and experienced' Conall Geraghty.

Matheson LLP has maintained its significant market share of M&A transactions, which often involve Irish targets and acquirers. It remains at the forefront of transatlantic deals, including advising takeovers of Irish-listed companies. The firm has a sizeable client portfolio of international businesses, including Fortune 100 companies and a high number of top global technology brands. Recent areas of instruction include multi-billion dollar cross-border deals and pharmaceutical transactions; the group also fields expertise in handling M&A in the financial services and food sectors. George Brady, Patrick Spicer and David Fitzgibbon are seasoned practitioners, with established expertise in handling cross-border deals and Irish takeovers. Fergus Bolster is well versed in advising on cross-border transactions, including SPAC matters. Madeline McDonnell and Brian McCloskey are notable names for M&A and private equity. Robert Barrett and Enda Garvey are singled out for their contributions. Susan Carroll Chrysostomou was promoted to partner in January 2024. Eoin Shiel has left the firm.

McCann FitzGerald LLP continues to handle a high volume of transactional work, including private equity investments. Real estate, engineering, life sciences, insurance, aviation, energy and pharmaceuticals are key sector strengths for the corporate and M&A team, which is equally adept at advising financial institutions on deals. Stephen FitzSimons heads the corporate practice, and David Byers and David Lydon are highly regarded practitioners in the market. Ben Gaffikin, Garreth O’Brien, Alan Fuller and Valerie Lawlor have excellent reputations in the space. Brendan Murphy, Gill Lohan, Stephen Fuller and John Neeson are emerging talents. Aidan Lawlor and Conor O'Dwyer have left the firm.

At William Fry LLP, the corporate and M&A practice is highly regarded for its excellent track record in acting on a number of landmark deals in Ireland; in one prominent example, the team assisted Amgen with its proposed $28.3bn acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics. Led by Stephen Keogh, the department is regularly instructed by healthcare, life sciences, TMT, energy, financial services, insurance, and real estate sector companies in a range of corporate transactions. Mark Talbot brings expertise in public and private M&A, and Myra Garrett is hugely experienced in advising on public takeovers. Andrew McIntyre specialises in technology and life sciences deals, and Máire O’Neill focuses on energy transactions. Former senior partner Bryan Bourke has become a consultant.

Addleshaw Goddard‘s Dublin office is well versed in handling big-ticket corporate and M&A transactions. The team reports an increase in work from clients in the food sector, and continues to handle a high volume of venture capital investments involving medical devices transactions. Leisure, retail, energy, pharmaceuticals and insurance are also key sector strengths for the department. Deborah Kelly leads the corporate practice and brings extensive experience in advising on life sciences, energy and hospitality matters. John Olden, Leonora Malone and Nicola McGrath are highly regarded practitioners in the department. Lorna Osborne made partner in January 2023.

Beauchamps LLP is perhaps best known for its strength in advising on mid-market deals, and continues to handle a high volume of transactions in the area. The department has an established client base of owner-managed businesses, private equity funds and venture capital investors. Key areas of instruction include cross-border M&A, management buyouts, restructurings and reorganisations. Shaun O’Shea heads up the practice, which includes the vastly experienced practitioner Máire Cunningham, who regularly assists Enterprise Ireland with strategic investments and disposals. Damian Maloney is singled out for his contributions. Shane Costelloe joined the team in May 2023.

Managing partner Feargal Brennan heads up ByrneWallace LLP's corporate, commercial and M&A practice, which is well known for assisting life sciences, energy, food, hospitality, and technology sector clients. The team has been kept busy advising on headline life sciences deals and a wide range of cross-border M&A transactions. Colin Sainsbury and Catherine Dowling bring expertise in handling life sciences transactions, and Victor Timon focuses on technology deals. Gillian O’Shaughnessy has a solid track record in handling healthcare and energy transactions.

Dentons Ireland LLP‘s Dublin office has an impressive track record in advising on M&A, private equity and financial sponsor investments. The team’s client base has seen significant expansion throughout 2022 and 2023, with the group handling an increased volume of work for corporate and financial entities. Eavan Saunders is the managing partner of the Dublin office, and Shane O'Donnell heads up the corporate department; both lawyers are highly regarded practitioners in the space. David McGuinness, Michael McDonald and Ciaran O’Boyle are key names in the group.

Mid-market M&A transactions form the backbone of Eversheds Sutherland's practice. The Dublin team regularly acts for a solid client base of domestic and international clients, leveraging the support of the firm's extensive global network to advise multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions with an Irish focus. The group acts for private equity and venture capital entities, as well as companies in the technology, software development, life sciences, insurance, healthcare, energy, food, infrastructure and retail sectors. Practice head Gerard Ryan and private equity expert Gavin O’Flaherty are prominent partners, and Enda Newton is a key name for fintech M&A transactions. Enda Cullivan, Mary Kiely and Maria O’Brien are names to note.

LK Shields Solicitors LLP‘ corporate and M&A practice has been kept busy handling a steady workflow of instructions from clients in the technology, energy, healthcare and financial services sectors. Firm managing partner and M&A and private equity expert Richard Curran heads up the department, which continues to advise on private equity and venture capital deals. Jennifer McGuire leads the M&A group, and consultant Gerry Halpenny has extensive experience in advising on cross-border M&A matters.

Maples Group has an established track record in handling cross-border M&A and corporate transactions involving private equity and institutional investors. The Dublin office has seen an increase in venture capital investment matters, and is well known for advising on big-ticket private equity deals. Practice head Colm Rafferty is a highly regarded partner, with an excellent reputation for advising on cross-border M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions. Morgan Pierse is an emerging talent, with particular strength in acting on financial services and technology deals, and recently promoted partner Jordan O’Brien is a name to note. Of counsel William Darmody is singled out for his contributions.

The team at Philip Lee LLP fields extensive experience in handling corporate and M&A transactions, often for clients in the life sciences, technology, financial services, energy and cleantech, and transport sectors. Andreas McConnell has a solid track record in assisting healthcare, life sciences, media and energy clients with corporate matters. Other key partners include the seasoned Bernard McEvoy, Anna Hickey and Rebecca McEvoy, who garners praise for her 'unparalleled depth of legal knowledge'.

RDJ LLP handles a steady workflow of corporate matters for clients in the technology, financial services and healthcare sectors. With bases in Cork, Galway and Dublin, the firm has solid experience in advising on transatlantic deals. Private equity and venture capital transactions are also key drivers of work. Cork-based partner Gillian Keating heads up the practice, and is highly regarded for her expertise in technology matters. Bryan McCarthy is the key name to note in Dublin, and Galway partner JP Gilmartin is sought after for medtech and healthcare deals.

The team at Dillon Eustace continues to handle a high number of mid-market M&A, private equity and venture capital deals. Under the leadership of the 'stand-out performer' Adrian Benson, the practice is well known for its strength in advising on financial services sector matters and work from clients in other regulated sectors. It is also noted for handling healthcare and property transactions, alongside restructurings and reorganisations. Philip Lea is well versed in handling shareholders’ agreements and joint ventures.

With bases in Dublin and Galway, Flynn O'Driscoll has a wealth of experience in handling M&A and private equity deals. Founding partner Alan O’Driscoll is recognised for his expertise in the M&A and private equity spaces, and is regularly instructed by clients in the technology, healthcare, and food sectors. The practice is also recognised for representing corporates and investors in a range of matters. Other key practitioners include Gavin Lawlor, Mark Roberts and Galway-based David Ryan.

Hayes Solicitors LLP is widely recognised for its expertise in handling mandates from clients in the sports, healthcare, pharmaceutical, technology, financial services and other regulated sectors. Mid-market transactions form the core pillar of the practice, which is also adept at advising on corporate reorganisations. The 'hugely experienced' Ken Casey is a very highly regarded corporate and M&A specialist, with an excellent track record in advising on headline deals in the market, and David Phelan 'has a deep understanding of the commercial landscape'. Sabrina Burke is singled out for her contributions. The practice was bolstered by the arrival of experienced partner David Mangan from Mason Hayes & Curran LLP in April 2023.

Ogier has a thriving corporate and M&A practice, which is noted for its experience in mid-market deals, and has also been instructed in high-value cross-border transactions. Technology, healthcare, life sciences, hospitality, construction and maritime are key sectors for the firm; in a recent highlight, the team acted as Irish counsel in Chiesi Farmaceutici’s $1.48bn acquisition of Irish biopharmaceutical company Amryt Pharma. Private equity and venture capital deals are also key drivers of work for the group. Dominic Conlon heads up the practice. Edon Byrnes continues to be recognised for his corporate law expertise. The team was further enhanced by the arrival of Oisin McLoughlin from Pinsent Masons LLP in 2023.

Pinsent Masons LLP's Dublin office has a solid track record in handling a number of headline deals in the M&A, private equity and venture capital spaces. Energy, life sciences, healthcare, private equity and corporate real estate matters are key drivers of work for the corporate team. Private equity expert Gerry Beausang led the advice to Cathexis Holdings on its headline acquisition of Jones Engineering Holdings International. Neil Keenan's 'technical expertise is second to none in the Dublin market'. Senior associate Dorian Rees fields extensive expertise in healthcare issues. Oisín McLoughlin and Naoise Harnett left the firm in 2023.

Based in Cork, ReganWall, Business Law Firm is well known for its expertise in handling M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions. The boutique has an excellent reputation for handling mandates from clients in the technology and knowledge-based business sectors. Firm managing partner Adrian Wall focuses on domestic and cross-border transactions; he co-leads the practice with Kieran Regan, who advises on M&A deals, MBOs and corporate real estate transactions.

Walkers is perhaps best known for advising on corporate deals in the financial services sector, including handling aviation leasing and investment funds. Mid-market transactions form the core pillar of the practice. Recently promoted partner Eoin Ryan heads up the practice; Brendan O’Brien left the firm in 2023.

Whitney Moore is well versed in advising on M&A deals, and has a solid track record in handling transactions in the tech, mining, and oil and gas sectors. Cryptocurrency and blockchain matters are also prominent in the group's workload, and the department is often instructed in matters involving SMEs. Practice head Cillian Balfe focuses on private M&A transactions, and Brendan Ringrose fields expertise in assisting with mining and oil and gas transactions. Thérèse Rochford advises on takeovers and AIM matters.

BHSM LLP's burgeoning corporate and commercial practice is noted for its experience in advising on healthcare and technology deals. The group frequently assists shareholders with the sale of holdings in Irish businesses, and maintains a solid presence in the start-up sphere; governance agreements, fundraisings, and exit matters are key drivers of work. Under the leadership of Joe McVeigh, the department has been kept busy advising healthcare entities on a broad range of corporate and commercial issues. Eimear Grealy left the firm in January 2024.

Sharon McCaffrey heads up the practice at DAC Beachcroft Dublin, which leverages the strength of its multi-jurisdictional operations in order to assist international clients with entering into and consolidating a business presence in the Irish market. The group has been kept busy handling cross-border M&A deals involving Iceland, Luxembourg and Italy. Additionally, insurance work is a key area of expertise for the firm, and the corporate and commercial department is active in insurance-related matters.

EY Law Ireland has a burgeoning practice in cross-border M&A and multi-jurisdictional transactions. The team has been kept especially busy advising foreign clients on establishing business operations in Ireland, as well as potential acquisitions of businesses in the jurisdiction. The group is also adept at handling private equity investments. Adam Synnott heads up the department. Conor O’Dwyer and Aidan Lawlor joined from McCann FitzGerald LLP in 2024.

Fieldfisher handles a substantial volume of M&A deals, venture capital transactions, outsourcing agreements and commercial contracts matters. Renewable energy transactions form the cornerstone of the practice, and the team is also recognised for its strength in advising on retail and technology sector matters. Recent work for the group includes assisting with cross-border acquisitions of Irish businesses. Feilim O’Caoimh leads the corporate and commercial department, in which Elaine Traynor is the key contact for renewable energy work.

The team at Holmes O'Malley Sexton is well known for its solid track record in handling M&A and equity investment matters for a client roster of Irish businesses. The firm has offices in Limerick, Cork and Dublin. Stephen Walker, who is based in the Dublin office, leads the corporate and commercial department, and is well known for his expertise in corporate and M&A deals. Shane Costelloe left the firm in May 2023.

Led by Gríana O’Kelly, the corporate and commercial team at Lavelle Partners LLP specialises in advising start-ups and SMEs in the healthcare, technology, pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors. Key areas of instruction include cross-border M&A, seed funding, and equity investment matters. Katie Oakes is singled out for her contributions.

Cork-based firm O'Flynn Exhams continues to handle management, governance and succession issues for a high number of family-owned businesses. The team also counts healthcare, technology, media and higher education as core sector strengths, and has a solid track record in acting for large domestic corporates and international businesses. Commercial law expert Richard Neville heads up the practice; Fiona O’Connell is a key practitioner to note.

Reddy Charlton LLP counts sports sector matters as a key area of instruction, however the practice has seen an uptick in work involving asset deals and cross-border M&A. The team regularly acts for professional and amateur sporting associations, organisations and clubs, including the Gaelic Athletic Association, in a range of corporate and commercial matters. Elaine McGrath heads up the practice, which includes the 'always approachable' Niamh Gibney, who is 'very knowledgeable in her field'.

Following the opening of its Dublin office in 2021, Taylor Wessing has built a solid presence in the Irish legal market. Buyout matters are a key area of strength for the group; following the arrival of corporate expert Paddy Quinlan in 2022, the team has seen further growth in public and private M&A deals. Adam Griffiths is head of the Dublin office, and has an impressive track record in advising on private equity and venture capital transactions for technology, life sciences and healthcare sector clients. Of counsel Dannie Hanna is a key name in the practice.