McCann FitzGerald announces opening of US office in New York

The office will be headed by Gary McSharry, Corporate Partner, McCann FitzGerald. In recent years, Gary has acted for leading Irish and international public and private companies across a range of business sectors. He has particular expertise advising US clients, having already spent a number of years in New York.

Gary McSharry, Partner, McCann FitzGerald, commented: “There is a growing demand for an Irish corporate law presence in the US, evidence of which is that many of the largest US Corporate and Merger and Acquisition (M&A) transactions in the past twenty four months involved Irish companies. These deals required significant input from Irish corporate lawyers as well as US lawyers. The natural next step is for McCann FitzGerald to open an office to satisfy both Irish and US client demand.”

Ireland and the US have a unique connection that has translated into significant economic activity and cross-border transactions between the two countries. US companies have invested over $270 billion in Ireland (more than the BRIC countries combined), and more than 140,000 Irish people work for US companies in Ireland. On the flipside, Irish investment in the US is in excess of $26 billion, and these businesses generate an impressive $62 billion in annual sales. McCann FitzGerald has taken the decision to open this new office in response to clear client demand.

Barry Devereux, Managing Partner, McCann FitzGerald said: “McCann FitzGerald is excited to be expanding to the US market with the opening of our New York office. Significant economic recovery in both the US and Irish markets has driven increased demand for legal services, particularly in the areas of M&A, asset management, venture capital/private equity, and foreign direct investment. Opening a full working office in New York allows us to grow the services we offer clients and increase our focus on this important market.”

He continued: “We have recently acted on some major US-Ireland transactions including Horizon Pharma’s US$660 million acquisition of Vidara Therapeutics Intl.; and its US$1.1 billion acquisition of Hyperion Therapeutics, Inc.; Chiquita Brands International’s proposed $1.07 billion combination with Fyffes; and AerCap/ILFC’s US$7.6 billion acquisition of ILFC from AIG which is the largest M&A deal in the aviation industry to date. We also acted for Weichert Enterprise/Mayo Power Limited on the planning, development and financing of €180 million investment in a new 42 MW, biomass fuelled, combined heat and power generating station in Killala, Co. Mayo. We look forward to working more with new and existing clients in the US market as we grow our presence there.”