Dublin—Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, has added two new corporate partners to significantly enhance its Irish corporate team. Both partners have been recruited from the London offices of high-profile international law firms.

Garrett Hayes comes from McDermott Will & Emery and previously was a partner of Paul Hastings London for more than 10 years.

Garrett has spent his career to date in the UK, where he worked on many large international deals in multiple geographies.

He has extensive experience in the Irish market, having advised on numerous leading Irish corporate transactions for more than 20 years, such as: the Riverdeep public to private as far back as 2002; more recently, the consortium led by the French telecoms entrepreneur Xavier Niel on the acquisition of eir in 2017; Astorg on its 2021 investment into Fenergo; eir on its 2020 sale of a portfolio of telecoms towers to Phoenix Towers International; and eir on its 2022 fibre to the home (FTTH) joint venture with InfraVia.

Louise Hodnett joins from Baker McKenzie in London, having trained in Ireland at McCann Fitzgerald.

Her focus has been on M&A with a particular expertise in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector.

Paul Jarvis, CEO for Dentons UK, Ireland and Middle East Region, said: “Corporate continues to drive our success in Dublin and the hire of another two high-calibre partners supports our growth objectives. Garrett and Louise's arrival adds bench strength to a team that is now well recognised for advising on some of the highest-profile transactions in the Irish market.”

Eavan Saunders, managing partner of Dentons Ireland, said: “Garrett and Louise bring a wealth of talent and experience to what is already a market-leading corporate team in Ireland. It is a credit to the strength of our firm that in returning to Ireland both Garrett and Louise chose Dentons as their new home. Our M&A practice has outperformed from the very start of the office and our stellar growth will undoubtedly accelerate with the addition of two very accomplished new partners. We look forward to welcoming them to the firm.”

Garrett Hayes said: “Since opening in 2020, Dentons’ Irish office has established an impressive reputation as the go-to, not only for Irish companies looking to attract international capital investment or expand abroad, but also for international investors looking to invest in Ireland. They already have an exciting portfolio of Irish clients with an international focus and of international investment firms with an Irish focus. Dentons provides a strong platform from which I can further develop and grow my existing client relationships. This, and their existing team of world-class lawyers, is why I am delighted to be joining Dentons.”

Louise Hodnett said: “I feel very privileged to be returning to practise in Ireland as a partner in a truly global law firm. Dentons Ireland has given me a path to progress my career in Ireland without sacrificing the international work that has challenged and excited me since I moved to London in 2015.”

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