Jonathan Kelly

  • Managing Partner
  • Law Society of Ireland
  • Solicitor, Law Society of Ireland 1995
  • Bachelor of Law LL.B., Trinity College Dublin, Ireland 1990
  • Postgraduate study of German civil law, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany 1990 – 1991

Jonathan has been a partner in Philip Lee since 2002 and the firm’s managing partner since September 2020.

He works on a wide range of corporate and financing transactions, with particular focus on the infrastructure, energy, media and real estate sectors. He has advised both public and private sector clients in relation to a number of the largest infrastructure projects in the State, including many public private partnerships (PPP). He is also recognised as a leading practitioner in the area of film and television finance.

Representative Matters

In parallel with performing his duties as the firm’s managing partner Jonathan continues to support many of its clients with a wide range of financing and other transactions. His recent work has included:

  • Advising O’Flynn Group in relation to the refinancing of its primary real estate development portfolio and various other financing transactions.
  • Advising Prime Arena Holdings on the development of a multi-purpose arena for sports and culture in Cherrywood, Co. Dublin.
  • Advising Wild Atlantic Pictures in connection with the production of several feature films, including “Saipan” and “Lee Cronin’s The Mummy”, two forthcoming films for Amazon Studios and major TV projects for Netflix and Lionsgate respectively.
  • Advising Element Pictures in connection with the financing of several feature films, including “The Lost Children of Tuam” and “Séance on a Wet Afternoon”, and the production of a television drama series for Universal.
  • Advising Metropolitan Pictures on several productions, including “The Walsh Sisters”, “KIN” and “Tall Tales and Murder” for RTÉ and BBC and “Infraction” for Channel 4.
  • Advising Big Things Films, a joint venture between Cillian Murphy and Alan Moloney, on the financing and production of two feature films, “Small Things Like These” and “Steve”, each starring Cillian Murphy.
  • Advising Cofiloisirs (a division of BNP Paribas) on the financing of many film and television projects.
  •  Advising a leading independent energy and forecourt retail group on a refinancing of its bank debt.
  • Advising the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) in connection with several debt financing transactions.
  • Advising the shareholders of Gamma on the 2025 sale of that company to Katrisk (a portfolio company of private equity firm TA Associates).
  • Advising the shareholders of Beechwood Partners on the 2025 sale of that company to S&W Group.
  • Jonathan is hugely experienced, very knowledgeable and well regarded in the international industry. He is also a good closer and dealmaker
    Chambers Europe, 2026
  • Jonathan Kelly is highly experienced in complex deals and is very helpful at cutting to the issues.
    Chambers Europe, 2023
  • Jonathan Kelly is the most outstanding media lawyer I have come across anywhere in Europe or North America: able, immensely knowledgeable and quick to react.
    Legal 500, 2022
  • Very experienced with a strong grasp of complex issues.
    Chambers Europe, 2022
  • Very experienced in all aspects of media finance and takes a practical and commercial approach to problem solving.
    Legal 500, 2022
  • What I like about Jonathan Kelly is his serious attention to detail,” reports one impressed client, adding that “Kelly would have known every line of every page.
    Chambers Europe, 2019
  • Jonathan Kelly is an excellent partner to have on any project.
    Chambers Europe, 2024
  • Jonathan Kelly is the best media lawyer; his grasp of the issues, both legal and commercial, is unmatched. Remarkably, he continues to offer outstanding client service.
    Legal 500, 2023

News and insights

Recent transactions and projects