Mergers & Acquisitions

We are leaders in M&A.

Our M&A Group is consistently ranked in the top tier by the leading international legal directories.  Our unsurpassed experience is gained from years of involvement in the most challenging and complex transactions in Ireland, and in international transactions with Irish aspects.  We advise on public and private mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, take-privates, management buy-outs and restructurings, and on private equity and venture capital transactions.

We are committed to and focused on our clients’ aims, the delivery of the right solutions and pre-empting legal issues and obstacles in transactions.

We act for buyers, sellers, financial advisers and financial institutions, both Irish and international.

We are fully supported in our transactional work by excellent, dedicated teams from specialist groups including our banking and finance, tax, employment and property colleagues.  These teams are market leaders in their own areas of expertise.

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;

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

JP Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation on its Stg£129m recommended takeover of EcoSecurities Group plc;

University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre on its acquisitions of its majority shareholding in Beacon Medical Group and of its shareholdings in other private co-location hospitals to be built in Ireland;

Aran Technologies on its sale to Tektronix Communications;

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

Horizon Technologies Group plc on its €100m take private by Avenet;

Aergo Capital on its €110m acquisition of Safair Proprietary and Safair Lease Finance;

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

E-map plc on its €200m disposal of The Irish Radio Group to Communicorp Group

JDH Acquisitions on its €1.25bn successful takeover bid for Jurys Doyle Hotel Group plc and its subsequent €1.1bn sale of Jurys Inns Group to Quinlan Private;

J&E Davy on its €250m MBO from Bank of Ireland; and

Statoil ASA on the disposal of its retail and distribution business in Ireland.

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

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

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

"Superb negotiator" Owen O'Connell.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2009 – Corporate & Commercial

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 "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

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

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

Clients also highlighting David Cullen as “excellent”.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2009 - Intellectual Property

“He managed to steer us through a minefield of issues," say sources, who add: "He has great strategic sense.”
Chambers Europe, 2009 - Intellectual Property

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

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