Our Financial Services team advises and assists a wide range of leading securities and derivatives trading houses, asset managers, administrators, depositaries, investment funds, e-money and payment institutions, insurance companies and other financial services firms.

The Financial Services team primarily advises in the following practice areas:

Asset Management and Investment Funds

We represent investment funds and their managers in guiding them through the structuring and establishment of investment funds across every conceivable strategy in Ireland. We also focus on setting up the managing entity and advising on its successful operation over the long term.

Financial Services Regulation

We advise in all aspects of regulation as it applies to the financial services industry in Ireland.

In particular, our team has extensive experience advising on issues such as licensing applications, capital requirements, anti-money laundering rules, acquisitions/disposals of businesses, distribution and marketing related issues, compliance and corporate governance requirements and other financial services regulatory requirements in Ireland.

Our multi-disciplinary Regulatory Investigations Unit provides advice to clients in relation to administrative sanctions procedures initiated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Debt Capital Markets

The team acts for issuers, originators, lead managers, arrangers and trustees on debt capital market issuances globally.

Insurance

We support clients across the full range of their legal needs in insurance-related matters in Ireland.

Experience

Advises a large number of financial services providers, including in relation to compliance with MiFID (Markets in Financial Services Directive) and AIFMD (Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive).
Clients include banks, wealth managers, real estate managers, depositaries and fund administrators.
Advises on the legal and regulatory aspects of all financial services activities and products which are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Represents fund promoters and investment managers on the setting up and structuring of both regulated and unregulated funds, including UCITS and AIFs.
Advises on real estate fund structures - established a number of Qualifying Investor Alternative Investment Funds (QIAIFs) to hold portfolios of EU and UK properties. Advice on REIT structures.
Advised on a number of fund restructurings involving the migration of existing fund structures to and from the Irish jurisdiction.
Acts as adviser to some of the largest fund administrators and custodians operating in the Irish market.
Represents originators and investment managers on the establishment of securitisation vehicles or other special purpose companies used for the issuing of debt instruments
Advised promoters on merger of fund assets into and out of Ireland.
Advised promoters on Super QIAIF structures (QIAIF into SPV) and on reverse Super QIAIF structures (SPV into QIAIF).
Advised promoters of closed ended funds in relation to a variety of regulatory compliance and governance matters.
Advised promoters on establishment of closed ended funds of side pocketed and distressed assets.
Advises financial institutions on all aspects of compliance with Irish Anti Money Laundering requirements.
Advises in relation to Acquiring Transaction Notifications affecting Central Bank regulated firms.

Head of Practice

David Naughton

Partner
Financial Services

dnaughton@lkshields.ie
+353 1 637 1585

More from our Financial Services team

Awards &
Recommendations

‘This is one of the strongest fund and regulatory teams in Ireland. They have a broad experience across asset classes and have a clear idea of the expectations and requirements of the CBI.' Recommended for Investment Funds.

Legal 500 2023

Awards &
Recommendations

Recommended for Investment Funds.

Chambers Global 2023

Awards &
Recommendations

‘Excellent client focus, extensive expertise and knowledge.’ Recommended for Capital Markets and Investment Funds.

Legal 500 2022

Awards &
Recommendations

Recommended for Investment Funds.

Chambers Global 2022

Awards &
Recommendations

"Very commercial and responsive." Recommended for Investment Funds.

Chambers Europe 2022

Awards &
Recommendations

Recommended for Capital Markets and Investment Funds.

Legal 500 2021

Awards &
Recommendations

Recommended for Investment Funds.

Chambers Europe 2021

Awards &
Recommendations

"The team is responsive and is able to adapt to our needs." Recommended for Investment Funds.

Chambers Global 2021

Awards &
Recommendations

'A very responsive and quality-driven group.' Recommended for Capital Markets.

Legal 500 2020

Awards &
Recommendations

'Commercial awareness and the ability to convey the legal requirements in plain language. Affordable and practical solutions to issues. Approachable and available to help.' Recommended for Investment Funds.

Legal 500 2020

Awards &
Recommendations

Recommended for Investment Funds/Financial Services. Clients highlight the lawyers' ability to provide an "in-depth look at the legal structures and bring in different people as needs be," noting: "Their main strength is their thoroughness."

Chambers Europe 2020