Key Contacts: Jonathan Kelly – Managing Partner | Bláthnaid Evans – Partner | Edon Byrnes – Partner |
Philip Lee LLP is delighted to announce the appointment of Bláthnaid Evans as Partner in our employment team and Edon Byrnes as Partner in our corporate and M&A team.
Bláthnaid Evans
Bláthnaid has joined the firm’s employment practice, advising employers on all contentious and non‑contentious employment law issues. Bláthnaid joins from Ogier where she was a partner and head of employment and immigration. Her experience spans the full employment lifecycle, including employment contracts and policies, TUPE and outsourcing, workplace investigations, disciplinary and grievance processes, protected disclosures and employment litigation. She also advises on the employment aspects of corporate transactions and regulatory compliance.
Bláthnaid regularly speaks at leading employment law conferences, where she is known for delivering clear, practical insights on workplace regulation, WRC procedures and emerging employment law trends. Bláthnaid is a founding member of KELLA, an organisation designed to help organisations retain senior women and strengthen leadership at the top.
Bláthnaid commented, “I am delighted to join Philip Lee at such an exciting time for the firm. The strength of the employment practice, combined with the firm’s collaborative culture and clear ambition, made this a very compelling move for me. I look forward to working with colleagues across the firm to support clients with practical, commercial employment advice.”
Edon Byrnes
Edon has joined the firms corporate and M&A team with extensive experience advising Irish and international clients on a broad range of corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings and general company law. Prior to this Edon was a partner in the corporate team at Ogier. He has worked across a variety of sectors and is recognised for providing commercially focused, pragmatic advice to clients navigating complex transactions. Edon also works with companies setting up in Ireland as part of the firm’s foreign direct investment offering.
Edon’s appointment expands Philip Lee’s corporate and M&A team to 18 partners dedicated to corporate and M&A transactions, highlighting the firm’s continued investment in building one of Ireland’s leading legal deal teams. The corporate and M&A team is consistently ranked in the top 6 legal teams, by deal count, in the Irish M&A market according to Mergermarket and Experian.
Edon commented, “I am delighted to be joining Philip Lee and its highly regarded corporate and M&A team. I look forward to working with colleagues across the firm to support clients on complex transactions and to contribute to the continued growth of the practice.”
Commenting on the appointments, managing partner Jonathan Kelly said, “At Philip Lee we are always looking for opportunities to invest in exceptional people. Bláthnaid and Edon are both highly regarded in their respective fields and bring exactly the kind of experience and perspective that supports our long‑term vision for the firm and our clients.”
2025/2026 growth milestones at Philip Lee LLP
- March 2025: Philip Lee LLP partnered with New York-based Skylight Law LLP. The US firm now operates as Philip Lee (US) LLP.
- January 2026: Philip Lee LLP and BHK Solicitors LLP announce merger, focused on expanding the combined firm’s business in the Cork area
- 2025 strengthened service lines:
- Investment Funds
- Tax
- New Homes
- 2025/26 partnership growth:
- 4 internal partner promotions
- 4 internal of counsel promotions
- 5 external partner hires
Pictured L:R Jonathan Kelly, Blathnaid Evans and Edon Byrnes.
