Rachel Stanton is to take over from Fionán Breathnach as head of law firm Simmons & Simmons' Dublin office from January 2023 after Breathnach’s decision to retire from legal practice.
Breathnach opened the Simmons Irish office in 2018 and Stanton joined the practice from William Fry in 2020.
Simmons is an international law firm with around 320 partners and 2,400 employees working in Asia, Europe and the Middle East across 21 offices.
The Ireland office supports international clients doing business in or through Ireland, with a focus on Asset Management & Investment Funds, Financial Institutions, Healthcare & Life Sciences and Telecoms, Media & Technology.
Simmons & Simmons was one of the first international law firms to expand into Dublin pre-Brexit with the anticipation of increased demand for legal services from the financial services sector.
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Stanton leads the firm’s banking and structured finance practice and will take over as leader of the firm’s financial markets practice, with partner Niamh Ryan taking over as head of the investment funds practice.
“I am excited about continuing the firm’s growth in Dublin and helping our clients navigate the myriad of challenges ahead, especially in such an uncertain economic climate,” said Stanton.
Breathnach commented: “We have gone from a single practice firm in 2018 to now servicing our Irish and international clients in the areas of asset management, banking and finance, corporate and M&A, financial services regulation, real estate, dispute resolution and tax.”
Elsewhere, Hayes Solicitors has announced that Liam Moloney is joining as partner within the firm’s commercial property team. Moloney joins from HBMO and previously spent 23 years with Noel Smyth & Partners.
Hayes managing partner Joe O’Malley commented: “The commercial property industry is a very important sector for us and one in which we have a growing client base and demand. We are delighted to have Liam join our commercial property team and bring with him a wealth of expertise and experience as we continue to offer our clients a first-class service offering.”
A&L Goodbody has announced the appointment of Mark Ellis as a partner in its Commercial & Technology group. Ellis joined the firm in August 2022 from McCann FitzGerald.
Ellis advises domestic and international clients on all aspects of technology, intellectual property, privacy and data protection related law.
A&L’s Commercial & Technology practice is led by John Whelan, alongside partners John Cahir, Andrea Lawler, Andrew Sheridan and Chris Bollard. The firm says its technology focused legal team is the largest in the Irish market.
Managing partner David Widger commented: “Technology and data privacy is an important sector in Ireland's economy and regulatory landscape. With some of the world's largest tech companies headquartered here, our Commercial & Technology practice is a key area of growth for us.”
Ellis is a TCD graduate who did a Masters in Law at the London School of Economics. He trained with Slaughter and May.
Main Photo: Fionán Breathnach and Rachel Stanton
