Walkers, which specialises in international financial-services law, has promoted two lawyers to become partners in its Irish office.

Damien Barnaville (pictured) becomes a partner in the practice that covers asset-management and investment funds, while Shane Martin (small picture) is a new regulatory partner.

The firm says that Barnaville has more than 15 years' experience as a solicitor – as EU legal director for a US broker-dealer, and as a partner in another law firm – before joining Walkers in 2020.

Walkers describes Martin as “a recognised regulatory expert”, who has been with Walkers since 2014, having previously worked in the enforcement department of the Central Bank, and for the Irish Banking Federation.

Largest round of promotions

Jonathan Sheehan (managing partner of Walkers' Ireland office) described the new partners as “outstanding lawyers”, who had contributed to the continuing growth and success of their respective practice groups.

The Irish appointments were among 26 new partners named across Walkers' global offices – the firm's largest round of additions to the partnership.

The firm has more than 150 staff in Ireland, and more than 1,100 across the world. It advises on the laws of Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Ireland, and Jersey.