Our Financial Institutions Group is a dedicated team of lawyers drawn from our Banking & Financial Services, Insurance, Mergers and Acquisitions, Asset Management & Investment Funds and Regulatory Practices.
Our clients include leading credit institutions, (re)insurance undertakings, MiFID regulated firms and intermediaries, as well as investors and private equity houses.
Areas on which we advise:
Banking and Financial Services
Our Banking & Financial Services Department is acknowledged as a leader in the market. We have a long history of acting for leading Irish and international banks. The team also supports our M&A Group in transactional and recap work, as well as assisting on day-to-day advisory and product and outsourcing structuring issues. We work with financial institutions, corporates, issuers, treasury vehicles, arrangers, dealers, rating agencies and governmental bodies, in a broadly-based department, known for its detailed market knowledge.
Insurance & Reinsurance
Our dedicated Insurance Department is the market leader in Ireland on insurance (both life and non-life) and reinsurance matters. This multi-disciplinary team has provided legal, regulatory and tax expertise in some of the largest and most complex insurance transactions in recent years. This includes share acquisitions, portfolio transfers and court schemes, renewal rights deals as well as on-going regulatory advice and restructuring assistance in the lead-up to Solvency II implementation.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Our M&A Group is ranked in the top tier by the leading international legal directories. We have acted on the largest and most complex banking and financial institutions transactions in Ireland including recapitalisation deals, trade and distress sales and MBO/MBI transactions. Our client list spans the main domestic and international banks, finance houses, private equity players and other investors.
Asset Management & Investment Funds
William Fry has one of the largest Asset Management & Investment Funds departments in Ireland, with a pedigree in innovative areas such as ETFs, alternative investment products and UCITS IV developments. We are at the cutting edge across fund structures, promoters/investment managers, administrators and custodians.
Financial Services Regulation
Our lawyers are in daily contact with the Central Bank of Ireland and other financial services authorities. The issues they deal with include acquiring transaction clearances, on-going compliance and product structuring work, Basel/Solvency II, as well as new establishments and the defence of enforcement proceedings.
Our dedicated Regulatory Enforcement Group is a team of lawyers focused on providing a rapid response to clients in regulatory need.
Owen O’Connell is ‘a force to be reckoned with'.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012
'One of Ireland’s top negotiators,' Owen O'Connell has according to sources, 'a powerful intellect and focuses on getting the deal done.'
Chambers Europe, 2011
Clients particularly value John Larkin's 'fantastic network – he knows everyone in the business in Ireland and further afield.'
Chambers Europe, 2012
John Larkin is highlighted for his ‘keen understanding of the financial services environment'.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012
Clients rave about long-standing insurance and reinsurance expert John Larkin, observing that he 'has excellent intuition about the international insurance market, a great deal of experience, and he's highly practical and demonstrative in what he says'.
Chambers Europe, 2010
Bryan Bourke 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 Europe, 2012
Bryan Bourke is a ‘very commonsense, switched-on lawyer’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012
Practice head Bryan Bourke has 'the most superb business focus,' and his advice 'goes straight to the heart of the matter.'
Chambers Europe, 2011
Myra Garrett 'has a commercial acumen and pragmatism that is unusual to find in a lawyer'.
Chambers Global, 2012
Managing partner Myra Garrett is described by sources as 'a tough negotiator whose intricate knowledge of her clients' businesses allows her to provide timely and accurate advice'.'
Chambers Europe, 2011
Eoin Caulfield is highly valued by clients, who say 'he is approachable and knowledgeable, with an exceptional understanding of the European insurance market.'
Chambers Europe, 2012
Eoin Caulfield is highlighted as being ‘a pillar of support’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012
Orla Brennan is picked out by clients as ‘highly experienced, quick to respond, commercial in her view and excellent to work with.’
Legal 500, 2011
Patricia Taylor is 'experienced and practical, and meets the challenge of giving clear and succinct advice,' according to clients.
Chambers Europe, 2010
Banking & Financial Services Department
'The banking team at William Fry continues to occupy a prominent place in the Irish market'.
Chambers Europe, 2012
William Fry’s ten-partner group constitutes ‘a very experienced team’ of ‘good negotiators’ that ‘goes well beyond normal client service expectations’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012 - Banking & Finance
This well-respected practice combines a group of experienced banking specialists with complementary strength in areas such as restructuring and financial regulation. It acts for both lenders and borrowers on the refinancing of major facilities. ... It regularly receives instructions from all of the major domestic banks, as well as international financial institutions.
Chambers Europe, 2011
Asset Management & Investment Funds Department
Sources say: 'William Fry has a great culture of client service and will tailor its advice to us. It is extremely helpful and it will go into areas that other lawyers often will not.'
Chambers Europe, 2012
William Fry is ‘at the top of its game’, say clients.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012
The sizeable team represents blue-chip players in a wide range of large transactions, and has special expertise in certain product types, such as ETFs. Clients 'find the lawyers to be businesslike and practical: they look at issues in a pragmatic manner, and are extremely responsive and knowledgeable.' Noteworthy recent files include advising the leading ETF platform iShares on its transition to a new administrator and custodian, and assisting leading US independent investment management firm Sands Capital Management with the establishment of a UCITS global equity fund.
Chambers Europe, 2011
Corporate Department
Sources say: 'William Fry is fabulous. It understands the issues clients face and ensures transactions progress smoothly.'
Chambers Europe, 2012
William Fry’s ‘first-class’ team is capable of ‘devising and delivering a solution’ that clients are happy with.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012
William Fry’s team displays an ‘unrivalled range of skills’, and has a ‘commerciality and pragmatism that is invaluable’. Managing partner Myra Garrett is still active, and the ‘superb’ Owen O’Connell is ‘one of the very top lawyers in Ireland’.
Chambers Europe, 2011
Capital Markets Group
William Fry provides ‘a first-class service’, ‘client commitment and commercialism’. Managing partner Myra Garrett is ‘highly accomplished’, and Owen O’Connell, Shane O’Donnell and Orla Brennan are also recommended.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012
On the equity front it has been involved on the restructuring of Irish Life & Permanent, and has acted for Goldman Sachs as sponsor on the listing of its holding company on the Irish and London stock exchanges. Sources say: 'It builds strong relationships with clients so is able to offer them a seamless and cost-effective service.'
Chambers Europe, 2011
Insurance & Reinsurance Department
Sources say: 'The team will work all hours to make sure we get what we need in the time.” “It is a tight-knit team that is full of integrity and works to provide the best for its clients.'
Chambers Europe, 2012
William Fry is an ‘expert in its field’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2012
The large, multidisciplinary practice at this leading Irish firm handles a broad range of insurance and reinsurance work, including contentious, non-contentious, domestic and international matters. .... Sources enthuse that "the lawyers’ substance and knowledge stand out - you can ring them with a question, and nine times out of ten you'll get an answer straight away. Also, they're proactive, ringing us to make sure we're up to date on legislative changes."
Legal 500, 2011