Combination is the largest merger between a UK-HQd legal business and an independent Irish practice and accelerates each firm’s strategic focus on providing a client-shaped service in growing markets around the world.

The merger between Addleshaw Goddard and Top 15 practice Eugene F Collins has completed today (1 March 2022), with new assignments and client opportunities already secured for the new firm.

Mark Walsh transitions from Eugene F Collins Managing Partner to Head of Ireland. Sean Twomey, who was Managing Partner between 2009-2015, will join the global AG Board. Four Eugene F Collins partners will also join the Firm’s Executive teams leading AG’s four operating divisions – Libby Garvey (Finance & Projects), Deborah Kelly (Corporate & Commercial), Maura Connolly (Dispute Resolution) and, Kathi O’Riain (Real Estate).

The business, which will be known in Ireland as Addleshaw Goddard, has ambitious growth targets for the region and is planning to double income and headcount in Dublin by 2025.

The combination between AG and Eugene F Collins is expected to deliver stronger client and sector offerings in a comprehensive range of areas, especially financial services, real estate, retail and consumer, technology and life sciences. In recent weeks and months teams from both businesses have worked increasingly closely together on client assignments including Elysian Capital’s acquisition and investment with management in Cross Rental Services from Lonsdale Capital Partners.

John Joyce, Addleshaw Goddard Managing Partner, said: “The merger is a very exciting development for each firm but also one full of opportunity for every single client operating in, to and from Ireland. As one enlarged global business, the Partner group is excited about the future and absolutely in no doubt that, together, building on Eugene F Collins’ strong market reputation, we will be able to unlock more opportunities for our people, bring more imagination and more impact to our work and help more clients to succeed.”

Mark Walsh, Addleshaw Goddard Head of Ireland, added: “There are many opportunities for businesses based or doing business in Ireland and so it is crucial we have the appropriate reach and expertise to meet their requirements. A merger with AG introduces immediate scale in markets which are important to clients of Eugene F Collins and the early feedback from contacts and staff has been overwhelmingly positive with the benefits of a combined approach already reaping rewards.”

Eugene F Collins acts for blue chip clients, many with Irish HQs or roots, together with a range of businesses active across the UK and internationally. While the two firms have some clients in common, particularly in the financial services, retail & consumer and real estate sectors, their client portfolios are largely complementary.

The merger with Eugene F Collins, which was founded in 1893, comes one year after AG launched in Paris and two years after opening in Germany and extends AGs influence throughout the main business centres in Europe, bringing the total number of AG offices outside of the UK to 10.