Corporate and M&A have always been the bedrock of our practice at William Fry.

Our team has excellent credentials, a wealth of experience and an impressive depth of expertise.  We consistently have a central role in the most sophisticated and complex corporate transactions and advisory work in Ireland, as well as in large cross-border deals with an Irish aspect.

Our clients include leading Irish and international companies and institutions, public and private, as well as state and public sector bodies.  We 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 and M&A work by leading directories including Chambers Global and Legal 500.  Most recently we have been:

• No. 1 Irish law firm for Irish M&A activity by deal value, Q1 2010 (mergermarket);
• No. 1 Irish law firm for global M&A activity in 2009 (mergermarket);
• The only Irish law firm to feature in the top 50 of US, UK, European and EMEA League Tables (Thomson Financial 2009); and
• “Firm of Choice” for FTSE 250 companies doing business in Ireland (Chambers Report, Winter 2009).

Our Corporate team is centrally involved in the Firm’s sectoral groups, including our financial institutions, healthcare, private equity and technology groups, and is supported by our other Departments to ensure effective and efficient delivery of solutions focussed advice.

Recent work includes advising:

Skillsoft plc on the US$1.2bn recommended takeover bid, by scheme of arrangement, by a private equity consortium of Berkshire Partners LLC, Advent International Corporation and Bain Capital Partners LLC;

Goldman Sachs International on the restructuring of Irish Life & Permanent plc in 2009 and as sponsor on the admission of Irish Life and Permanent Group Holdings plc to trading on the ISE and the LSE;

JP Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation on its successful Stg£129m takeover of EcoSecurities Group plc by tender offer;

Duke Street Capital on the €104m cross border debt and capital restructuring of Payzone Group plc;

Wolseley plc on the sale of Wolseley Ireland Holdings to WIBHM Limited;

Olympus Corporation on the Irish aspects of the €630m sale of its worldwide diagnostics systems business to Beckmann Coulter;

JDH Acquisitions on the €1.1bn sale of Jurys Inns Group to Quinlan Private following its successful takeover bid for Jurys Doyle Hotel Group plc;

Smurfit Kappa Group plc on its €3bn IPO, the largest IPO in Irish corporate history, as well as on its €1bn Senior Secured Note issuance in 2009; and

IONA Technologies plc on its US$162m take-private, by scheme of arrangement by Progress Inc.

ESB, the Irish Electricity Supply Board on the recently announced negotiations to acquire NIE plc. 

Department

Sources say: “If you are looking for exceptional work from smart, responsive people William Fry is the place to go.” “We get a Rolls-Royce service. The team can tackle any problem and I am treated like an individual not just a faceless client.”
Chambers Europe, 2013 - Corporate

William Fry will ‘stay at the table for as long as it takes to close the deal’ and its lawyers are ‘very strong negotiators’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2013  - Corporate & Commercial

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’s Corporate/M&A group has a loyal client following and handles many of the market’s top deals…The firm has a strong international pedigree, having developed close relationships with top London law firms and US outfits.  Sources say: 'William Fry has top-quality individuals who focus entirely on achieving their clients' goals.' 'The firm suits the needs of clients perfectly with its incredibly dynamic corporate practice.'
Chambers Global, 2010 – Corporate/M&A

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

This 'efficient and talented' team continues to make a clear mark on the Irish business landscape, increasing its M&A and public takeover activity and impressing clients with its 'genuine mutual trust and respect – you can have a forthright conversation with these lawyers and they will listen and act on what you want done.'
Chambers Global, 2009 – Corporate/M&A

William Fry has an 'excellent core of experienced seniors and partners'.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2009 – Corporate & Commercial

Team

Myra Garrett
Managing partner Myra Garrett is commended by clients as an “outstanding commercial adviser. She is excellent at applying the legal side to our business needs and getting us the result we need.”
Chambers Global 2013 - Corporate/M&A

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

Managing partner Myra Garrett is a 'high-performing, tenacious and commercial lawyer' with a broad practice that encompasses IPOs, M&A, venture capital investment and corporate governance.
Chambers Global, 2010 – Corporate/M&A

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

'A tough negotiator, and someone you definitely want in your corner rather than your opponent’s.' Clients commend her practicality on deals and excellent knowledge of the law surrounding corporate governance and venture capital investment.
Chambers Global, 2009 – Corporate/M&A

Owen O'Connell
Owen O'Connell is widely hailed as “incredibly good. He understands numbers and complex accounts, and will tie up our matters very well. He never leaves any gaps.”
Chambers Global 2013 - Corporate/M&A

Owen O’Connell is 'a force to be reckoned with'. 
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012 - Corporate & Commercial

The 'superb' Owen O’Connell is 'one of the very top lawyers in Ireland'.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2011 - Corporate & Commercial

Owen O'Connell is praised as 'outstanding and resilient,' and is 'the leading light of the Irish market'.
Chambers Global, 2010 – Corporate/M&A

Owen O'Connell is 'one of the finest corporate legal minds in Dublin - he always solves problems quickly'...and is 'absolutely top-class.'
Chambers Global, 2009 – Corporate/M&A

Bryan Bourke
Bryan Bourke is "a great thinker with a fantastic ability to absorb information and use it practically."
Chambers Global 2013 - Corporate/M&A

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 has 'the most superb business focus,' and his advice 'goes straight to the heart of the matter.'
Chambers Global, 2010 – Corporate/M&A

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

Bryan Bourke...'puts a lot of personal time and effort into a deal, so you always walk away knowing it’s gone well.'
Chambers Global, 2009 – Corporate/M&A

Brendan Heneghan
Brendan Heneghan is especially well versed in stock exchange listings and takeovers of public companies.
Chambers Global, 2010 – Corporate/M&A

Brendan Heneghan is 'an amazingly sharp guy and one of the most productive lawyers around.'
Chambers Global, 2009– Corporate/M&A

Stephen Keogh
Stephen Keogh is regarded as an accomplished transactional lawyer with notable expertise in private equity and venture capital work.
Chambers Global 2013 - Corporate/M&A

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

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

Private equity specialist Stephen Keogh is 'incisive and extremely capable,' and 'gets deals done rather than over-lawyering the issue.'
Chambers Global, 2009 – Corporate/M&A

Ken Casey
Ken Casey is a strong generalist with particular expertise in M&A, corporate reorganisations and capital markets transactions.
Chambers Global, 2010 – Corporate/M&A

Brendan Cahill
“Sharp and clever,” Brendan Cahill is praised as an outstanding technical lawyer.
Chambers Global 2013 - Corporate/M&A

Brendan Cahill has a strong international clientele and also advises Irish publicly quoted clients on a host of matters, including M&A, corporate governance, listing requirements and debt and equity issues.
Chambers Global, 2010 – Corporate/M&A

Shane O'Donnell
Corporate finance specialist Shane O'Donnell is a valued adviser to his clients. He is “hugely commercial. He identifies the real business issue and helps me deal with that.”
Chambers Global 2013 - Corporate/M&A

Alvin Price
Alvin Price is highlighted as “an absolutely brilliant corporate lawyer.”
Chambers Global 2013 - Corporate/M&A