Irish law firm Eugene F Collins to merge with Addleshaw Goddard

Eugene F Collins has agreed to merge with London-based Addleshaw Goddard, which will result in the 129-year-old name being dropped as it sets its sights on doubling in size over the next five years.

The deal will involve Eugene F Collins’s 25 partners, led by Mark Walsh, becoming partners of the wider Addleshaw Goddard group, which currently has 297 partners. The combination is expected to close by March 1st, the Irish firm’s wider 100-strong staff were told on Thursday morning after the partners voted this week in favor of the tie-up.

“This merger with Addleshaw Goddard provides us with an exciting opportunity to grow our business, better serve our clients and provide our team with new and interesting opportunities,” said Mr. Walsh, managing partner of Eugene F Collins.

“Over time we have built up a strong working relationship with Addleshaw Goddard, working side by side, allowing us to gain a better understanding of our respective business, culture, and people which has helped form this merger.”

While there has been a flurry of activity in the legal sector with UK and US firms entering the Irish market to position themselves for the fallout from Brexit, Mr. Walsh told The Irish Times that this combination – which has been in the works for two years – is more to do with the increasingly complex nature of international trade.