Latest news with #EvershedsSutherland
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
William Fry hires partners from rival law firm
Leading Irish law firm William Fry has hired four senior partners from rival Eversheds Sutherland as the fallout from a failed merger of the two firms continues. Merger talks between the two firms collapsed in May, but it subsequently emerged that William Fry was bidding to recruit several senior partners from Eversheds. Sources confirmed over the bank holiday weekend that William Fry has succeeded in hiring Gerard Ryan (the head of corporate mergers and acquisitions in Eversheds Sutherland), together with Gavin O'Flaherty, Enda Newton, and Maria O'Brien. All four are senior partners in Eversheds' corporate unit and are likely to bring members of their departments with them. READ MORE In all, 10 to 15 lawyers could move to William Fry as a result, it is understood. Eversheds did not comment when contacted by The Irish Times. Sources say its corporate lawyers had strongly supported the proposed merger with William Fry. The weekend's move means that the firm has gained many of the likely benefits of the merger, but at a fraction of the cost and risk normally associated with such deals. It leaves William Fry with one of the country's biggest corporate and mergers and acquisitions practices. It also means that five of the firm's senior partners are ranked 'leading partners' by Legal 500 EMEA 2025, an international directory that grades lawyers according to jurisdiction and specialisation. So far this year, William Fry's corporate team has advised on two of the three biggest deals in the Republic in the six months to the end of June. The firm advised Irish-listed company DCC on the €1.22 billion sale of its healthcare division to HealthCo Investment Limited, a subsidiary of funds managed by Investindustrial Advisors Limited. It also worked for the Department of Finance on the completion of a €1.2 billion share buyback with AIB, which was bailed out by the State post the 2008 financial crash. Did the EU have its hands tied before striking a trade deal with the US? Listen | 23:32 William Fry is one of the State's biggest law firms and employs 500 people, including 350 legal and tax professionals. The firm was founded in 1847 and is led by managing partner Stephen Keogh. According to recent reports, nine Eversheds Sutherland partners are likely to join a new practice that Eversheds Sutherland will establish in the Republic, while about 150 of the firm's existing 290 staff were destined to do the same. London-based Eversheds Sutherland (International) put the existing Irish practice on notice that it was taking back the Eversheds name after news of the merger talks broke late last year.
Irish Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
William Fry set to hire Eversheds Ireland partners and ESRI cuts growth forecasts
Law firm William Fry is in advanced talks to hire as many as four equity partners from Eversheds Sutherland Ireland following the collapse of merger between both firms talks last month, according to sources. Joe Brennan reports that about nine current and former equity partners at Eversheds Sutherland Ireland are also on track to join a new practice Eversheds Sutherland (International) is setting up in the Republic. The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has downgraded its growth forecasts for the Irish economy, citing US trade policy uncertainty which it said was already dampening investment and consumption. Eoin Burke-Kennedy reports. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan is preparing to bring a memo to Cabinet on July 8th to pave the way for draft legislation that would give effect to a plan by the State's judiciary to hike personal injury awards by almost 17 per cent, according to sources. Joe has the scoop. On the Inside Business podcast, Ciarán Hancock is joined by Willie Walsh, the director general of IATA, the Geneva-based representative group for the airline industry . The former Aer Lingus CEO talks about airline profits and whether air fares are likely to go up or down in the near term, as well as why Ireland is something of a laughing stock on the international stage thanks to the Dublin Airport passenger cap. READ MORE Irish consumer sentiment improved in June as worries around tariffs cooled and interest rates fell, but concerns over trade wars, escalating military conflicts and cost of living pressure kept the gains marginal. Hugh Dooley reports. This is probably the era of technology products for babies. Sometimes the choice can feel overwhelming though. Helpfully, Ciara O'Brien goes through the best baby tech of the year to date. Penneys parent company, Primark is set to cut around 100 roles from its Dublin headquarters, planning to outsource a number of support roles to India through Accenture. Hugh has the story. More than 90 per cent of Irish businesses believe they are adequately protected against cyberattacks even though almost six in 10 do not regularly update their software, according to research by insurance broker Gallagher. Colin Gleeson reports. One of the companies in the international human resources (HR) firms' ' spy ' dispute instructed that 'discreet' surveillance be carried out on the Irish payroll compliance manager at the centre of High Court proceedings over the affair, a judge was told on Wednesday. If you'd like to read more about the issues that affect your finances try signing up to On the Money , the weekly newsletter from our personal finance team, which will be issued every Friday to Irish Times subscribers.
Irish Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
William Fry in talks to hire some Eversheds partners after failed merger talks
Law firm William Fry is in advanced talks to hire as many as four equity partners from Eversheds Sutherland Ireland following the collapse of merger talks between the two firms last month, according to sources. Nine current and former equity partners at Eversheds Sutherland Ireland are also on track to join a new practice Eversheds Sutherland (International) is setting up in the Republic, other sources said. It is expected that about 150 of the existing firm's 290 employees will end up with the new practice. However, sources said that final numbers have yet to be determined as the fallout from the abortive merger talks continues to reverberate. London-based Eversheds Sutherland (International) put the existing Irish practice on notice that it was taking back the Eversheds name after it emerged late last year that Eversheds Sutherland Ireland was in tie-up talks with William Fry. READ MORE [ William Fry ends merger talks with Eversheds' Irish arm Opens in new window ] Eversheds Sutherland (International) confirmed last month that that two of the original 25 equity partners at Eversheds Sutherland Ireland, Pamela O'Neill and Gareth Planck, will lead the Dublin and Belfast offices of the new Irish firm, respectively, from September. A number of other equity partners are either planning to retire, join other law firms, or are weighing opportunities for in-house counsel in large corporations, sources said. Eoin Mac Aodha, a partner in Eversheds Sutherland Ireland's dispute resolution and litigation group, has signed up to join Byrne Wallace Shields later in the summer, according to sources. Spokesmen for William Fry and Byrne Wallace Shields and a spokeswoman for Eversheds Sutherland Ireland declined to comment. A spokeswoman for Eversheds Sutherland (International) did not provide comment when asked. Eversheds Sutherland Ireland's managing partner, Alan Connell, who spearheaded the merger talks with William Fry, did not respond to efforts to contact him. While Eversheds Sutherland Ireland is structured as a stand-alone firm within the Eversheds network, Eversheds Sutherland (International) has said that the new firm will be fully integrated into it. However, one of the options being suggested in some quarters is that the new firm could essentially reverse into the existing operations and premises of Eversheds Sutherland Ireland. The outstanding liabilities of the existing firm would need to be resolved beforehand. Eversheds Sutherland Ireland has a little more than a year to run on its existing lease at One Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin 2. The firm had been planning to move to a new office development, called Cadenza, at the junction between Earlsfort Terrace and Adelaide Road. It first emerged in December that William Fry, one of the largest corporate law firms in the State, was in tie-up talks with senior representatives from Eversheds Sutherland Ireland. However, William Fry walked away from the negotiations in late May, after the two sides failed to agree on commercial terms for a deal. This came as a surprise, as William Fry's managing partner, Stephen Keogh, highlighted the 'complementary mindset' of the two firms in an interview published only weeks earlier – and that the Eversheds team would 'hopefully be joining us some day soon'. William Fry had 216 practising solicitor certificates at the end of last year, making it the sixth largest law firm in the State, according to the Law Society. It employs about 500 people. It has been led since the start of November by Mr Keogh and is chaired by Liam McCabe. Eversheds Dublin had 107 practising solicitor certificates at the end of last year, placing it in 12th position among firms in the Republic. It had about 290 staff at that stage.
Business Mayor
09-05-2025
- General
- Business Mayor
Carrie Morrison lecture: No space for complacency over equal opportunities
Hard-won equal opportunities and access to them 'cannot be taken for granted', the audience at the Carrie Morrison lecture heard this week. Kathryn Roberts, chair of Eversheds (International) LLP and co-chair of Eversheds Sutherland's global brand, gave the keynote address at the firm's London offices. Roberts highlighted 'the importance of championing and being championed but perhaps more importantly being a champion for others'. She told the audience that growing up she had 'absolutely no concept of what it meant to be a lawyer' but was 'blessed…by an amazing and inspirational teacher Mr Harris, my history teacher, who saw something in me and encouraged me to think about applying to study law at university'. She added that her teacher went 'well beyond the call of duty' and arranged for Roberts to undertake work experience with a friend 'who happened to be a solicitor'. The experience, she said, helped her decide on a legal career and, as a result, she has 'never underestimated the power of somebody telling you that they believe in you, that you can do something'. She added: 'Many years later it was a dear colleague here at Eversheds who is the first person to say to me 'I think you'd be a really good chair of the firm' and because I respected her opinion, her saying that to me had a huge impact.' Her other lesson, she said, was that 'being different is actually your superpower'. She added: 'In our profession we still have a significant underrepresentation of women and ethnic minorities in leadership roles and in partnership roles. Gender and pay parity is still an aspiration but we have made great progress. Nothing can be taken for granted. These incredibly hard-fought equal opportunities for all are to be cherished and protected. They are not, it seems, sacrosanct and there is absolutely no room for complacency. 'No one is looking for a leg up, no one is looking for favouritism or special treatment. We're looking for equal opportunity and the ability to get on and thrive regardless of our backgrounds, our experiences or our diverse characteristics.' A panel (pictured above) chaired by Simmons & Simmons partner Emma Sutcliffe and including CEO of The Eagle Club Lesley Wan, and BCLP global senior partner Segun Osuntokun, followed Roberts' speech. Wan said 'support from the top of the organisation that will go all the way down', mentorship, and the culture of an organisation were important in improving the experience of women in the law. Osuntokun added: 'It is about making sure the right people are given the right access to the right opportunities.' The Carrie Morrison Lecture: Shaping the Future for Women Solicitors commemorates the first woman to be admitted to the roll in 1922.
Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Tightening harassment laws will place a significant burden on employers
Significant changes around protections in the workplace appeared on the horizon last October that would require employers to take 'reasonable steps' to prevent sexual harassment of their employees. The Employment Rights Bill is now progressing through parliamentary stages and is expected to gain royal assent in the summer; it will take employee protection to the next level and place a substantial burden on employers. This impending legislation will force employers to take 'all' reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, introduce third-party harassment liability and ensure that disclosures of sexual harassment are explicitly covered under whistleblowing legislation. And the government is considering whether sexual harassment protections should be extended to volunteers, although there are no confirmed timescales for implementation on these changes and they are not expected to take effect before 2026. The government's intention behind strengthening the duty by adding the word 'all' is clear — it aims to mirror the existing concept of the 'all reasonable steps' defence in the Equality Act 2010. However, that earlier legislation does not specify which steps are deemed reasonable for an employer, making it challenging to rely on this defence in discrimination claims. To bridge this gap, the bill proposes future regulations that will define the reasonable steps employers must take and the considerations they must account for to prevent sexual harassment. Once enacted, employers will be deemed to have taken 'all' reasonable steps if they adhere to the specified regulations and undertake any other preventive measures that are reasonable given the circumstances. Potential steps, as suggested by the government, include conducting risk assessments, publishing policies or plans, and establishing procedures for reporting and handling complaints. As a result, employers will need to update their risk assessments regularly and audit their policies and procedures to cover potential areas of risk adequately. These requirements will undoubtedly place a substantial burden on employers, necessitating a more thorough approach to managing sexual harassment in the workplace. Employers must continue to be vigilant in preventing and addressing sexual harassment under the current law, ensuring they are well prepared for the impending strengthened duty. Failure to do so could be costly and result in a potential 25 per cent increase in compensation where an employee successfully files a sexual harassment Choudry is a partner at the law firm Eversheds Sutherland
