Ogier reveals Dublin firm merger

Ogier reveals Dublin firm merger

The string of Irish launches by international firms continues with the creation of Ogier Leman

In an unusual move, offshore giant, Ogier is to merge with eight-partner Dublin firm Leman, marking a major entry into the onshore market.

Following the completion of the transaction between Ogier and Leman on 22nd March, 2022, the two firms will merge to form the Ireland-registered LLP Ogier Leman in June.

Ogier is the latest international law firm to establish its presence in Ireland after Addleshaw Goddard merged with 25-partner firm Eugene F Collins in February 2022.

The 52-member Leman team, led by eight partners, will join Ogier's approximately 900 employees and 100 partners based in 12 offices throughout Europe, the Caribbean and Asia.

In June, the combined firm will launch and provide a range of legal services to the Irish market, including corporate, real estate, dispute resolution, employment, as well as providing a nationwide banking and corporate network.

In a statement, Ogier Leman mentioned that it will continue to develop its offering in Ireland with a growth strategy that will deepen its capabilities and extend its services to meet both domestic and international clients' demand. It further stated that all the posts at the firm would remain vacant.

In the wake of its merger with Leman in February 2022, Ogier became the first offshore law firm to establish operations in Beijing, having done so in Singapore six months earlier. Besides the BVI, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg law, the firm also advises on the law of Ireland, as a result of the merger and it provides services in the areas of banking, finance, corporate, dispute resolution, investment funds, private wealth, restructuring, bankruptcy and tax planning.

"There is no other law firm that provides the variety of laws, jurisdictions, and services which Ogier does and the addition of a well-established and growing presence in Ireland enhances the firm's ability to provide sector-specific advice across the range of domestic and international business law," commented Ogier's global managing partner. Edward Mackereth.

The chairman of Mackereth describes Ireland as "a thriving domestic market as well as a significant and growing centre for financial services excellence, which we believe is a perfect match for our next home jurisdiction" and asserts that there is a "definite strategic and cultural fit" between Ogier and Leman in terms of talent and development potential, coupled with "ambitious plans and the ability to make this both successful and enjoyable."

John Hogan and Larry Fenelon founded Leman in 2007. Hogan currently serves as the managing partner. For clients in Ireland, the firm focuses on corporate, real estate, employment, financial services, dispute resolution, and restructuring.

It has been reported that Hogan says the merger "starts a new phase of investment and growth that will present opportunities for our people to grow along with the business". She continues saying that Hogan has been striving to strengthen its existing teams to "compete in the new legal environment and look towards the new markets in which Ogier specializes across the world's international finance centres".

Currently, our primary objective is to continue investing in our practices and our people, as well as to grow the business in anticipation of client needs as they evolve both in Ireland and internationally.

Ogier's arrival in Dublin will follow the merger between Addleshaws and Ogier, which took place early March 2022. It was stated at the time that adding a firm as reputable as Eugene F Collins to its offices in Germany and France would enhance its influence throughout the key business centres in Europe.

Among the other firms that have recently commenced operations in Ireland are Burges Salmon, Ashurst, Hogan Lovells and Bird & Bird. It is likely that the trend is due in part to post-Brexit restrictions on UK-based lawyers practicing EU law from Ireland without having a physical presence there, although even before Brexit, Belfast was proving to be a popular destination for lawyers, including Kennedys, DAC Beachcroft, DLA Piper, Pinsent Masons, Simmons & Simmons, and Fieldfisher.

According to today's GLP report, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) judge refused to allow Ogier to withdraw his representation of sanctioned Russian bank VTB in an ongoing action, asserting that 'even pariahs have rights'.