Dublin-based law firm Eugene F Collins LLP is to merge with UK-based Addleshaw Goddard LLP, in a deal that will see the Irish staff and business fully integrated into the larger firm by 1 March.

Eugene F Collins said that the combined business would trade as Addleshaw Goddard LLP, bringing together extensive experience in corporate, property, banking and litigation.

The firms say they have plans to “more than double” the size of the business in Ireland over the next three to five years.

“This is an exciting moment for both firms, driven by the recognition that there is great chemistry between us, and a shared commitment to finding the smartest ways of delivering the biggest business impact to clients of all sizes in Ireland, Europe and beyond,” said John Joyce (managing partner of Addleshaw Goddard) and Mark Walsh (managing partner of Eugene F Collins) in a joint statement.

Dublin ‘unlocks opportunities’

Walsh (pictured), who will continue to lead the Irish team for a three-year period, added that the merger provided the Dublin firm with an exciting opportunity to expand its business, better serve its clients, and provide its team with new opportunities.

Joyce stated that the deal would unlock opportunities for the Addleshaw Goddard, with more UK and international businesses doing business in Ireland.

“Dublin is a global hub for world-leading, fast-growing businesses in a range of sectors,” he said, adding that the firm had been looking at a move into the Irish market for some time.

Established nearly 130 years ago, Eugene F Collins is the 17th largest law firm in Ireland (as at year end 2021), with a team of 60 solicitors, 25 of whom are partners. It employs more than 100 legal professionals.

Addleshaw Goddard operates from 15 offices in the UK, France, Germany, Asia and the Middle East. It has 297 partners and around 1,000 other lawyers.

The financial details of the merger are not being disclosed.