The Republic of Ireland’s lawyers are in an ebullient mood, and they are talking big. Not so long ago, the market’s capacity to house more than three or four full-service firms was limited – the same old names were dominating the deal tables and the headlines. But in the past couple of years, several of the country’s firms have taken the strategic decision to go full-service and shake up the status quo. The biggest firms do still sit comfortably at the top of the deal tables, but there are a handful of ambitious, smaller firms knocking at the door, aided by the growth of key clients. And Dublin’s legal centre of gravity is also changing, as a raft of firms have articulated plans to move into new offices in Dublin’s docklands. Things look set to get a lot more competitive in the Republic.
The news that UK firm Masons has closed down its Dublin operation following the departure of its top partners to a local firm is symptomatic of the growing need to be a full-service firm in order to thrive in the Irish market. Star construction partners Eamonn Conlon and Dudley Solan left to join A&L Goodbody on 1 May – a move that precipitated the end of Masons’ seven-year Dublin operation. The remaining assistants were offered jobs in Mason’s other offices, but resumes are flooding the marketplace. Masons, while pursing a stiff upper lip on the departures, was reportedly shocked. The departure means the Dublin market is now without a UK firm’s presence.
