Service expansion at ByrneWallace with new Head of Pensions appointed

ByrneWallace is pleased to announce the continued expansion of the firm’s service offering with the appointment of new partner and Head of Pensions Liam Connellan.    

With over 20 years’ experience in the pensions industry, Liam has extensive experience advising on all aspects of pension law. Liam’s clients include some of Ireland's leading employers from the private and public sector, scheme trustees, member groups and individual members. His expertise ranges from advising on pension scheme set up, administration and governance including trusteeship governance; amending and restructuring schemes (particularly defined benefit schemes); advising on pensions regulatory and tax legislation including the application of the new IORP II Directive; providing pensions advice on corporate M&As and reorganisations; to advising on pensions disputes and litigation.

 
Commenting on the appointment, Managing Partner Feargal Brennan said:  “We are delighted to welcome Liam to ByrneWallace who will develop our pensions practice and further enhance the firm’s position as one of Ireland’s leading full service business law firms. 

“ByrneWallace has a long history as Ireland’s leading law firm advising on employment law. The firm is also widely recognised for our pensions litigation services having acted in a number of landmark cases including the Waterford Crystal Pension Scheme. 

  
“During recent years, demand for pensions law advice from both employers and scheme trustees has grown significantly and it has increasingly become an essential part of nearly every transaction we advise upon - from advising on employment contracts and pension schemes, to advising on organisation restructurings, M&A transactions, and litigation and dispute resolution.

   
 “Similarly developments such as the implementation of the Government's Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023, the introduction of auto-enrolment and master trusts and funding challenges for defined benefit schemes have all driven an increase in demand for pensions law advice. We also envisage further challenges for scheme trustees and sponsoring employers with the impending transposition of the IORP II Directive into Irish law and the possible introduction of debt on the employer legislation later in 2019.”

Head of Employment Law Michael Kennedy also said, “I am delighted to be able to draw on Liam’s expertise which I believe will further strengthen our full service offering. Liam will work closely with lawyers in employment, corporate, banking, litigation, data protection and regulatory to advise on the pensions aspects of key transactions, ensuring we provide a seamless and integrated service to our clients. His appointment also demonstrates the firm’s on-going commitment to ensuring that ByrneWallace provides the very best legal service and support to our clients, across a broad spectrum of sectors and organisations – from private to public.”

 
Feargal Brennan added, “I would like to welcome Liam to the ByrneWallace team. I am confident that he will be successful in his new role."  


Pictured L-R: Head of Employment Michael Kennedy and Managing Partner Feargal Brennan with new partner and Head of Pensions Law Liam Connellan