Our Commercial practice takes a keen interest in the day-to-day matters that affect the operation of your business and can help you with strategic and commercial decisions to make you more successful. We work with a wide variety of clients, from domestic and international corporations to entrepreneurs and family businesses.

We offer expertise in many areas including:

• Agency and distribution
• Buying and selling
• Competitions and other promotions
• Confidentiality agreements
• Consumer matters
• Franchise arrangements
• Marketing and advertising
• Outsourcing
• Trading agreements

As a full service law firm, we can draw on the expertise of colleagues in other areas, such as our regulatory, employment, intellectual property, or tax departments. We also operate industry sector teams with specialist knowledge of financial services, retail, technology, communications, energy, construction, leisure & entertainment.

Most of all we are happy to be your sounding board for key business decisions. As a result of our extensive experience and industry knowledge, we are renowned for being proactive and so we will come to you with ideas that we think might help your business be more successful.

Recent significant experience includes advising:

Jacob Fruitfield Foods Group on various commercial and related matters including the outsourcing of its manufacturing activities, its marketing activities and brand portfolio.

Yahoo! on corporate matters regarding Yahoo!’s presence in Ireland and related tax arrangements and multi-jurisdictional IT projects; advice on regulatory matters including data retention obligations and laws on interception of data/communications.

IKEA on all technology matters for the launch of IKEA in Ireland including the establishment of the Irish website; the real-time on-line launch competition with e-voting; user generated content issues for video/audio/text; installation of payment systems, merchant services and credit card terminals; and on-line terms and conditions, privacy policy and data protection.

Inditex (owner of the well known Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka and Pull & Bear brands) on its new e-commerce website for its homeware products and related activities under its ZARA HOME brand, including advice regarding data protection; tax advice; regulatory and consumer law advice.

Railway Procurement Agency on a long term project including multi-year agreement with IBM for the build, support and maintenance of Ireland’s new Integrated Ticketing System (ITS); procurement advice on tenders for Operation of ITS; contracts for operation of ITS, procurement of equipment, and agreement of arrangements between participant transport operators of ITS.

Department

Sources say: 'William Fry is fabulous. It understands the issues clients face and ensures transactions progress smoothly.'
Chambers Europe, 2012 - Corporate/M&A

William Fry’s 'first-class' team is capable of 'devising and delivering a solution' that clients are happy with.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012 - Corporate & Commercial

William Fry’s team displays an 'unrivalled range of skills', and has a 'commerciality and pragmatism that is invaluable.'
Legal 500 EMEA, 2011 - Corporate & Commercial

William Fry has an 'unmatched ability to understand business objectives', winning particular praise for its M&A and competition practices.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2010 – Corporate & Commercial

Team

David Cullen
As well as winning plaudits for his technical ability, David Cullen is lauded as a 'superb negotiator. He can see around corners and anticipate the issues that will arise.'
Chambers Europe, 2012 - Intellectual Property

David Cullen is "one of the best in the business".
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012 - Intellectual Property

David Cullen is applauded for his "authority and commercial acumen".
Legal 500 EMEA, 2011 - Corporate & Commercial

Non-contentious specialist David Cullen is praised as…"outstanding".
Legal 500 EMEA, 2010  - Intellectual Property

Myra Garrett
Myra Garrett "has a commercial acumen and pragmatism that is unusual to find in a lawyer.”
Chambers Global 2012 - Corporate/M&A

"Exceptional" managing partner Myra Garrett.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2010 – Corporate & Commercial

Bryan Bourke
Corporate head Bryan Bourke is a "very commonsense, switched-on lawyer".
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012 - Corporate & Commercial

Bryan Bourke heads the department and wins enthusiastic praise from clients, who say: “He is shrewd, strategic and understands our business. He always makes sure we avoid pitfalls and that all eventualities are covered.”
Chambers Global 2012 - Corporate/M&A

Bryan Bourke, who "keeps one step ahead of the trends".
Legal 500 EMEA, 2010 – Corporate & Commercial

Stephen Keogh
The "very thorough" Stephen Keogh is recommended.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012 - Corporate & Commercial

The "outstanding" Stephen Keogh.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2009 – Corporate & Commercial