09/06/2010 Author: Shannon Hawthorne

Dechert announces plans for new Dublin office

International law firm Dechert has announced plans to open a new office in Dublin as it seeks to take advantage of Ireland’s growing prominence as a centre for investment funds.

The new office will focus on advising investment funds, their investment managers and other fund service providers and makes Dechert one of only a small number of international law firms with an Irish presence.

“With our new Dublin office alongside our existing presence in London and Luxembourg, we are now uniquely established in the three leading jurisdictions for international investment funds in the European Union,” said Dechert chairman Barton Winokur.

The firm, which currently has 19 offices in the US, Europe and Asia, has also appointed Declan O’Sullivan, formerly of Irish firm William Fry, to lead the practice.

As part of his current role Declan, a former chairperson of the Alternative Investments Committee of the Irish Funds Industry Association, advises clients in the establishment and authorisation of all types of investment funds including Ucits, hedge funds, property funds and private equity fund products.

“We are delighted to have Declan join our team," said Winokur. "He has strong expertise in the Irish investment funds sector and will add tremendous energy and resources to the firm’s international financial services practice.”