International law firm K&L Gates has announced the opening of an office in Dublin, and the appointment of three founding partners.

The firm has hired Gayle Bowen(small picture), Shane Geraghty, and Michelle Lloyd, who specialise in asset management and investment funds (AMIF).

K&L Gates says that "additional lawyers and practice capabilities" are planned for the Dublin office over time.

Bowen will join the firm from Pinsent Masons LLP, where she was a founding partner.

Geraghty arrives from Dillon Eustace LLP, and Lloyd most recently practised with Maples & Calder (Hong Kong) LLP, where she headed the European funds team from the firm’s Hong Kong office.

‘Significant market’

“We are delighted to welcome Gayle, Shane, and Michelle, with their strong reputations in both the Dublin market and the AMIF client community, to our firm as the founding partners of our new Dublin office,” said Tony Griffiths (managing partner for Europe and the Middle East).

He added that, as a globally significant market for financial services, Dublin represented an important strategic step for the firm.

“As the only of the major AMIF markets in which K&L Gates did not already have an office, Dublin represents the most logical of steps for our firm, our leading global AMIF practice, and our clients,” said Michael Caccese (chairman and co-leader of the firm’s AMIF practice area).