Two of Ireland's largest law firms, ByrneWallace LLP and LK Shields Solicitors LLP, have completed their merger to form Byrne Wallace Shields.

The merger was announced in November and has now been completed in one of the largest such deals between two Irish law firms.

ByrneWallace managing partner Feargal Brennan will lead the new firm as managing partner, while LK Shields managing partner Richard Curran will act as senior partner.

Byrne Wallace Shields will have more than 430 employees, including 220 solicitors in key areas of corporate and commercial law.

The new firm will offer services in corporate law, M&A, disputes & regulatory, banking & financial services, competition, tax, property, infrastructure construction & energy, public sector, employment, technology, AI, cyber and data privacy.

Brennan said the merger had progressed smoothly and that Byrne Wallace Shields is now focussed on maximising the benefits of the merger for clients and staff. 

"The merger has been extremely well received by clients and colleagues alike," he said. 

"We can now give our clients a larger, better-resourced firm to service their needs, and we can target larger, more complex mandates from existing and new clients.”

Curran agreed that clients had responded enthusiastically to the deal, adding: "We’ve had a fantastic response from clients who see the advantages for them in having a larger, better-resourced firm to support them.”

Photo: (l-r) Byrne Wallace Shields managing partner Feargal Brennan with senior partner Richard Curran. (Pic: Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography 2024)