International law firm Simmons & Simmons has opened for business in Dublin, having always had close links with the Irish funds industry.
Simmons & Simmons says that Ireland has been the fastest growing major fund domicile in Europe over the last five years, a tangible reflection of the benefits the Dublin office can offer the firm’s clients.
Simmons & Simmons is aiming to establish a ten-partner, 40-person practice within the next three years, supporting its asset management and financial institution clients across the breadth of their operations, including investment funds, regulatory, banking, capital markets, tax and corporate. The firm has taken a further step towards meeting this ambition with the arrival of two new partners, Niamh Ryan and Elaine Keane, who officially joined the firm on 09 July 2018 from A&L Goodbody.
Partner and country head, Fionán Breathnach (pictured), says: “I am delighted to welcome Niamh and Elaine to the Dublin office. They are well respected investment funds lawyers and highly rated in the Irish market. Their expertise offers clients a world class service for the establishment and ongoing support of Irish investment funds and asset managers.”
Ryan says: “I am excited to be joining the team at such an interesting and challenging time. Brexit means that Ireland has been attracting even more attention as a potential European hub for UK-based asset managers, and for US and other international asset managers looking for a gateway to European capital raising. There is a lot to be done and I am looking forward to working with the kinds of organisations that will benefit from what we have to offer at Simmons & Simmons.”
Keane says: “It’s a pleasure to join such a well-respected firm at this pivotal time. Ireland is one of the leading global fund domiciles, offering asset managers an attractive range of flexible fund products within a well-regulated framework. Post Brexit, Ireland will be a key destination for managers seeking to maintain distribution channels to, and continuity of business with, their European clients.”
The arrival of Niamh and Elaine will bring the number of partners in Simmons & Simmons’ Dublin office to three and allow work to begin on establishing the firm’s position in the market. Initially, the office will be undertaking fund formation and fund advisory work, covering the full spectrum of asset management. Including but not limited to: UCITS, QIAIF and RIAIF products targeted at retail and sophisticated investors and closed-ended private fund structures in various legal forms including ICAVs, Investment Limited Partnerships, PLCs, CCFs and Unit Trusts. It will also be offering broader regulatory support to its asset management and financial institution clients both domestically in Ireland and as part of more substantial cross-border projects.
