Brendan O'Brien

Brendan O'Brien

Partner

T +353 1 470 6653
M +353 86 130 4885

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Practice Areas

Brendan is a partner and head of the Walkers' Corporate team in Walkers' office in Ireland.

Brendan has wide-ranging domestic and international transactional experience and advises on a broad range of corporate law matters, including mergers and acquisitions, equity fundraisings, private equity, venture capital, and shareholder / joint venture arrangements. Brendan has experience across a range of sectors and is especially experienced with cross-border M&A in the financial services / aviation sector and with international corporate reorganisations.

Brendan also regularly advises on corporate governance and compliance matters and commercial contract / business matters.
 

Recent transaction highlights include advising:

M&A / Fundraising

  • LCI on a US $230 million joint venture
  • Airborne Capital Limited on its establishment and subsequent debt and equity raise
  • Iceland Seafood International hf (a listed company) on the acquisition of a majority stake in the Oceanpath Seafoods group
  • an international fund administrator on the acquisition of two leading global fund administration businesses
  • the management team on their leveraged buyout of the Extraspace Group, a leading manufacturer of modular buildings
  • the sole shareholder on the sale of a leading Irish fashion retailer
  • a leading international corporate travel business on its first investment in the Irish market
  • an Irish data recovery business on an equity fundraising and implementing its buy and build strategy
  • several domestic start-ups on initial fundraising rounds
Restructuring / Corporate Governance

  • Halma plc (a FTSE100 company) on several corporate restructurings
  • an international medical device business on the Irish aspects of its corporate restructuring
  • an international auctioneering business on the Irish aspects of its corporate restructuring
  • multiple aircraft leasing platforms on their Irish corporate requirements
  • multiple international companies establishing themselves in Ireland

Prior Employment Experience

Before joining Walkers in 2015, Brendan worked in the corporate finance group of a leading law firm in Dublin. During this time he completed a secondment with one of Ireland's largest utility companies and later with a global insurance company where he managed the successful completion of several cross-border merger transactions.

Admitted in & Qualifications

Admitted In:
England and Wales (not practising)
Ireland

Qualifications:
BCL, University College Dublin
LLM (Commercial Law), University College London

Other Distinctions

2021 IFLR 1000 (31st Edition) - Highly Regarded - "Very experienced and knowledgeable. Provides excellent advice and customer service and has built a very strong team around him."

"Brendan is particularly strong advising on corporate matters within the FS space. His team has a strong and growing reputation."

2021 Legal 500 - Next Generation Partner and Recommended Lawyer (Commercial, corporate and M&A) - "Brendan O’Brien is very experienced and pragmatic in all dealings. He knows the Irish market very well and has excellent contacts."

2020 Legal 500 - Next Generation Partner and Recommended Lawyer (Commercial, Corporate and M&A) - ‘Brendan O’Brien is a real rising star. His all-round knowledge and commercial acumen are truly impressive.’

2020 IFLR 1000 - Leading Lawyer and Highly Regarded

2019 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - 'Excellent practitioner and adviser' 

2019 IFLR 1000- Highly Regarded:

"Brendan O'Brien provides a fantastic service. He is responsive and commercial. A pleasure to deal with." 

2018 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer: "Brendan O’Brien stands out for his ‘professionalism and business acumen’."

2018 IFLR 1000 - Rising Star:

  • “Extremely professional. Superb contract and industry knowledge and very committed.”
  • “Really professional and always accessible. Has really good attention to detail and is very commercial.”
  • “Extremely professional, friendly and straightforward to deal with.”

2017 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer: "Brendan O'Brien is a 'consummate professional'."

Boards & Associations

Member of the Law Society of Ireland

Member of the Law Society of England and Wales (not practising)

Member of the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association

News, Matters and Publications

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Extremely professional. Superb contract and industry knowledge and very committed.

IFLR1000

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