Firm Announcement - ByrneWallace LLP to merge with LK Shields Solicitors LLP

Two leading law firms to merge in one of the largest Irish legal deals 

Merger of ByrneWallace and LK Shields will create one of the largest law firms in Ireland with over 430 employees including 220 solicitors 

Merged firm to be called Byrne Wallace Shields

“This merger is a strong vote of confidence in the Irish economy and will help enhance support of clients’ growth ambitions.”

Two of Ireland’s largest law firms, ByrneWallace LLP and LK Shields Solicitors LLP have agreed to merge their firms to create Byrne Wallace Shields. The deal is one of the largest involving two Irish law firms and will create a firm with over 430 employees – including 220 solicitors. The merger will take effect from 1st January 2025.

The Managing Partner of the merged firm will be Feargal Brennan, current Managing Partner of ByrneWallace. Richard Curran, Managing Partner of LK Shields will become Senior Partner in the merged firm.

Byrne Wallace Shields will offer strength in depth across the key areas of corporate and commercial law including Corporate/M&A, Banking & Financial Services, EU & Competition, Tax, Litigation, Property, Infrastructure Construction & Energy, Regulatory, Public Sector, Employment, Technology, Cyber, and Data Privacy. 

Speaking today the Managing Partners of the two firms, Feargal Brennan of ByrneWallace LLP and Richard Curran of LK Shields Solicitors LLP, said that the merger would create a larger, better resourced, more dynamic firm to service the needs of existing clients and to target larger mandates from existing and new clients.  

They said, “We see this merger as a strong vote of confidence in the Irish economy. Our firms share similar cultures and values and we both enjoy the support of loyal clients, both domestic and international. We believe that this merger will enable us to provide enhanced services to those clients in support of their growth ambitions, and to compete for new Irish and international business.”

Byrne Wallace Shields will be based in the current offices of ByrneWallace LLP on Harcourt Street in Dublin. All of the partners in LK Shields Solicitors LLP will become partners in Byrne Wallace Shields.

Pictured L:R - ByrneWallace LLP Managing Partner Feargal Brennan with LK Shields Solicitors LLP Managing Partner Richard Curran announcing the merger of the two firms to form Byrne Wallace Shields