Browne Jacobson and Davidson McDonnell team up
Browne Jacobson, which operates in Britain and Ireland, is to join forces with Belfast-based commercial-law firm Davidson McDonnell.
The firms have exchanged contracts, with completion of the deal remaining subject to external approvals.
Browne Jacobson, which launched in Dublin in 2022, describes the agreement as a “deliberate, strategic move” that marks a “significant milestone” in its growth strategy.
The firm says that the combination will create a “powerful, integrated presence” spanning Dublin and Belfast, by bringing together complementary strengths across property, corporate, banking, and litigation.
Dual-qualified lawyers
Davidson McDonnell has grown significantly since its establishment in 2015, with turnover increasing by 15% in its most recent financial year, and it recently expanded into London.
The tie-up will see a team of almost 50 professionals join Browne Jacobson – including a five-strong leadership group.
Most of Davidson McDonnell's lawyers are dual-qualified in the North and England and Wales, which the firm says will enable it to advise “seamlessly” across jurisdictions.
Brown Jacobson says that the North has seen significant growth in cross-border transactions, foreign direct investment, and major regeneration projects, creating substantial opportunities.
‘Serious player’
Browne Jacobson, which employs 1,300 staff, reported turnover of Stg £137 million (€158 million) in the year to the end of March 2025.
The firm’s managing partner Richard Medd described its plan to launch the Browne Jacobson brand in the North as “a statement of intent”, adding that the firm was capable of operating at scale across Britain and Ireland.
"Davidson McDonnell has established itself as a serious player in a competitive market. It advises on complex, high-value transactions and has built relationships with some of the region's most significant businesses,” he stated.
Ambition
Ross Davidson (co-founder and director of Davidson McDonnell) said: "We founded this firm with the ambition to build something that could compete with anyone on technical excellence and commercial impact. When we join Browne Jacobson that ambition will accelerate significantly.”
After completion, Davidson McDonnell will operate under the Browne Jacobson brand, with the Belfast office forming a fully integrated part of the firm's offering in Britain and Ireland.
The directors of Davidson McDonnell will become partners in Browne Jacobson.