Keoghs, the legal arm of specialist professional services and technology business Davies, will expand into Ireland after acquiring the assets of O’Brien Lynam Solicitors (OBL).
Following the acquisition, Dublin-based law firm OBL will be rebranded as Keoghs Ireland.
OBL is a full-service law firm with clients including multinational insurers, PLCs, financial institutions, investment funds, and semi-state bodies as well as corporate entities and private individuals.
The firm employs lawyers specialising in insurance, litigation, property, banking and commercial law, who will make the transition to Keoghs.
Founding partners Michael Lynam and Jack O’Brien, along with six partners and 30 professionals will form part of Davies’ complex & specialty division led by COO Laura Warwick.
“Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone in OBL’s 25-year history,” said O’Brien.
“Since founding the firm, we have grown organically with the support of our loyal clients and team take pride in the results that we have delivered and the impact we have made in the market.”
Lynam added: “Joining Davies, and becoming part of Keoghs, allows us to tap into the deep expertise that the Keoghs team brings while also providing us with the opportunity to broaden our offering to our existing clients on the claims litigation side and also in our property and banking practice.”
Keoghs in the UK was acquired by Davies in 2020 and provides claims and legal expertise to insurers, businesses and other suppliers to the insurance industry.
The deal agreed with OBL marks Keoghs’ first expansion outside the UK as part of its strategy to broaden its reach into new markets.
Following the deal, Keoghs Ireland will be able to offer clients a range of insurance litigation capabilities specific to Ireland, including specialist defence litigation for the London market and adjusters, as well as expertise in professional negligence.
The OBL team will continue to support existing clients and, as part of the wider Keoghs team, will also provide advice and counsel to clients within Keoghs’ and Davies’ wider network.
“The transaction with OBL marks a significant step for our Keoghs business and its growth strategy, while building on our existing claims operations in Ireland,” said Dan Saulter, CEO of Davies.
“The team is highly respected for their specialist expertise and knowledge and will be an excellent addition to our end-to-end claims solutions offering across the UK & Ireland.”
The deal is Davies’ third in the legal sector to date following the acquisitions of Keoghs and Shoreside Law earlier this year, and the group has invested heavily in R&D and AI in recent years.
In 2023, Davies announced a new simplified structure which saw it bring together its UK and Ireland based claims and legal solutions under CEO Allison Carr to streamline its operations.
Davies’ financial advisors for the deal were RSM UK Corporate Finance LLP, and its lawyers were A&L Goodbody LLP. Davies’ tax advisors were RSM Ireland.
OBL’s corporate advisors for this transaction were Azets Ireland and its lawyers were Addleshaw Goddard (Ireland) LLP.
(Pic: Getty Images)