Key Contacts: Andrew Tzialli – Partner | Bernard McEvoy – Partner
Capitalising on a Brexit “bounce”, thriving M&A activity and very significant potential in the UK legal services market, Philip Lee has moved to larger offices in the City of London to service existing Irish clients and a busy pipeline of new UK business.
The 30th floor of the Leadenhall Building, designed by Sir Richard Rogers (and affectionately known as “The Cheesegrater”), is now home to an enlarged team of lawyers who will be based there. Spearheaded by partners Andrew Tzialli and Bernard McEvoy, they will play a significant role in the ongoing growth and development of the Philip Lee brand in the UK.
Andrew Tzialli is a partner specialising in venture capital and corporate technology. Andrew advises on English and Irish law and is head of the firm’s cryptocurrency and blockchain group. He says: “In a post Brexit world, the level of referrals to Ireland from the UK has been steadily growing. Having a substantial on-the-ground presence in London will increase the work that comes our way as we build new commercial relationships.”
He continues: “Another driver for having a substantial London presence is the M&A activity, where the £29.4 billion invested in 2021 was twice that invested in 2020. UK Ireland cross-border activity increased by 25%. As in Ireland, the growth in cross-border deal activity was driven by the technology, media, telecoms and professional, scientific and technical activities sectors. The potential of new acquisitions and investment opportunities is clear.”
UK legal services market
Acknowledged by Legal 500 as astute, straight-talking and commercial, well-known lawyer Bernard McEvoy specialises in high level corporate advisory and transactional work. Bernard says: “Part of what makes a bigger presence in London so appealing is the knowledge that the UK legal services market has a value of about €50 billion per annum. With the quality of talent at our disposal we’re confident that we can make inroads into this market, offering clients specialist advice and expertise of the highest international quality. Having a significant base in the City of London provides career opportunities for our Dublin lawyers, offering them the experience of working in another market.”
This initiative in London comes during a busy year for Philip Lee which announced in January that it is to hire fifty new lawyers in 2022, following its move to a new HQ in January. The 2,500 square metre office at Connaught House, 1 Burlington Road, Dublin was the biggest Commercial Property lease signing of Q2, 2021.