Addleshaw Goddard Ireland has appointed Craig Sowman as Joint Head of Restructuring & Insolvency as part of its continued expansion of its Dublin office. The international law firm has also announced three internal promotions with Caoilfhionn Ní Chuanacháin being promoted to Head of Disputes. Doreen Mescal and John Darmody have both been promoted to Partners within the Corporate practice. The international law firm continues its growth strategy since its merger with Eugene F Collins in 2022 and has increased its headcount by 15% to 135 staff and expanded its client offering to include new Tax, Financial Regulation and Energy practices. 

Craig Sowman, Joint Head of Restructuring & Insolvency

As the new Joint Head of Restructuring & Insolvency, Sowman will work alongside fellow Joint Head of Restructuring & Insolvency, Doug Smith, to continue to grow the team and portfolio of clients. Having worked for over 15 years at William Fry, Sowman brings with him significant experience advising a variety of stakeholders, debtors and insolvency practitioners in complex domestic and international restructurings and insolvencies (both contentious and non-contentious) together with substantial experience in commercial litigation and shareholder disputes. 

Caoilfhionn Ní Chuanacháin, Partner, Head of Disputes 

With over 17 years’ experience, Ní Chuanacháin has an established commercial litigation practice having successfully represented key clients in a wide range of complex disputes across a number of sectors. Ní Chuanacháin has a broad commercial practice with a particular focus on financial services litigation, high profile property related litigation and professional negligence claims. Ní Chuanacháin brings to this Head of Disputes role a significant experience in alternative dispute resolution and sits on the Executive Committee of Arbitration Ireland. Caoilfhionn also sits on the Committee of the Commercial Litigation Association of Ireland.

Doreen Mescal, Partner, Corporate

Since joining the firm in 2016 from A&L Goodbody, Doreen has worked across a range of corporate areas including mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, restructurings and shareholder arrangements. Mescal has particular expertise in early and later stage investments for high potential start-up and SME companies, particularly in the medtech sector, and regularly advises on successive rounds of funding through to exit. She also advises company leaders and directors on corporate governance practice and general company law compliance. 

John Darmody, Partner, Corporate 

Specialising in corporate transactions, Darmody has extensive experience advising clients across a range of sectors including telecoms, renewables, technology, and energy. Darmody advises on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganisations, private equity investments, joint ventures, and inward investment projects. Having worked at Eugene F Collins for five years in the early stages of his career, John returned to Addleshaw Goddard as a Managing Associate in 2023 from DAC Beachcroft Dublin.

Welcoming these appointments, Head of Ireland at Addleshaw Goddard, Mark Walsh, commented: “It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of two new heads of practice, Craig & Caoilfhionn, and the internal promotion of two new partners, Doreen & John, strengthening our offering to clients. Craig brings with him a wealth of industry experience and knowledge in Restructuring that will be invaluable to our clients. Whilst the promotion of Caoilfhionn, Doreen and John is recognition of their high levels of performance and valued contribution to the firm’s growth. These appointments are a sign of the continued evolution of our Dublin office and ensures our firm is well positioned to continue this growth trajectory into the future.”