Byrne Wallace Shields LLP announces further expansion of the firm’s financial services and tax practices

Byrne Wallace Shields LLP is pleased to announce the continued expansion of the firm’s Financial Services and Tax practices with the recent appointment of Joseph Gavin as a partner to head the Financial Services Group, and Anthony Smyth who now leads the firm’s Tax Group. 

Joseph Gavin has over thirty years’ financial services experience in Ireland, Europe and the United States. He joins Byrne Wallace Shields LLP from the Central Bank of Ireland, where he acted as General Counsel and chief legal adviser to the Governor and to the Bank. Joseph’s wide ranging expertise includes setting up funds, debt structures, advising on creditors' rights, the resolution of IBRC (Anglo Irish Bank), the negotiation of the Bank's mandate on the EU/IMF/ECB Troika programme, the establishment of the ECB as the Single Banking Regulator, and legislation and court applications aimed at stabilising the Irish Banking Sector. Joseph previously held senior positions in another commercial law firm in Dublin, where he established and developed the financial services practice.  As Head of the Byrne Wallace Shields LLP Financial Services Group, Joseph will bring his significant experience and expertise to bear in advising institutions and businesses which operate in the financial services sector. 

Anthony Smyth has over fifteen years’ experience advising on all aspects of taxation law. He has developed specialist expertise assisting corporate groups establishing in Ireland as part of their overall strategy, including structured finance transactions, capital market issues, investment funds, cross border financings, mergers & acquisitions, inward investment, group re-organisations and property acquisition and holding structures. His clients range from private and public sector organisations, international corporations and financial institutions, and he has specific sectoral expertise in Health and Life Sciences, Financial Services, Real Estate, Inward Investment and the Public Sector.  Anthony has previously held senior positions in two large Dublin commercial law firms, a leading accountancy practice and in one of Ireland’s leading international organisations. 

Commenting on the announcement, Managing Partner Catherine Guy said, “We are continuing to experience increased activity across a number of key practice areas. In particular, there has been a significant growth in demand for advice from the financial services sector.  

“These two senior appointments demonstrate the firm’s ongoing commitment to recruiting and developing the best people to deliver the best legal service to our clients.  

“It will further strengthen our growing Financial Services practice, which has been at the forefront of some of the most significant legal challenges and resolution projects in the sector. Together Joseph and Anthony will work closely with expert lawyers from our Banking & Finance, Corporate, Property and Litigation teams to provide a fully integrated service to the financial services sector, and thus making it one of the largest financial services practices in Ireland.

 “I would like to welcome both Joe and Anthony to Byrne Wallace Shields LLP and I am confident that they will be successful in their new roles.”