English and Irish qualified Clyde & Co insurance and reinsurance partner Garrett Moore will be based in the office, supported by his team in London who have been providing Irish law advice to Irish and London market insurers and reinsurers for a number of years. 

Changing approach?

Mr Moore says, “We have been offering our insurance and commercial clients advice concerning matters relating to Irish law for a number of years and we want to ensure this continues whatever the outcomes of Brexit. The office and a formal Dublin presence will allow us to do that.” Clyde joins the likes of Lewis Silkin, Fragomen, and Simmons & Simmons as the latest law firm to open a new office in Dublin. While the Law Society of Ireland has recorded a significant increase in solicitors from England & Wales obtaining Irish practicing certificates, fewer have established a physical presence. The Clyde news may signal a change in approach. 

Dock move

Last week Simmons & Simmons moved its Dublin office to landmark new offices in Grand Canal Dock, one of Dublin’s most sought-after locations and known for the prominence of asset management firms and high-end-tech companies. The firm agreed a 10-year lease for 5,287 sq ft of office space for up to 60 lawyers. Fionán Breathnach, partner and country head, said “Our new offices will be a fantastic home for the current team as well as the significant number of new lawyers that we plan to add to our Dublin office over the coming months. We will be located in the heart of the financial services district in Dublin which is the home for many established asset managers and financial institutions, as well as many of those managers who have established a new presence here for Brexit related reasons.”