Conor is a partner in the  Corporate and M&A Group and Head of the London office. Conor advises public and private industry-leading Irish and international corporates on all aspects of Irish company law and equity capital markets transactions.

Conor advises clients on a wide range of corporate transactions including M&A transactions, joint ventures, corporate finance transactions, cross border mergers, corporate reorganisations and general corporate/commercial law matters. Conor also specialises in advising both issuers and banks in relation to equity capital markets transactions. Conor also works with his litigation colleagues in advising parties to complex shareholder and other commercial disputes. Conor has advised on some of the most high profile Irish M&A and equity capital markets transactions in recent years. Conor joined the firm in 2014 from Linklaters LLP in London.

Relevant Experience

  • Advising CRH plc on its ongoing ordinary share buy-back programme pursuant to which c. $5 billion has been returned to shareholders to date
  • Advises CRH plc on various of its domestic and global acquisitions and disposals including its €6.5 billion acquisition of assets from Lafarge S.A. and Holcim Limited in 12 jurisdictions and the related €1.6 billion “cashbox” placing by CRH to raise funds for the acquisition of certain assets from Lafarge S.A. and Holcim Limited
  • Advised Ryanair Holdings plc on its €400m share placing and advises Ryanair on various corporate law matters
  • Advises JP Lease Products and Services on its joint venture with Airbus Financial Services
  • Advises international private equity clients on their acquisition and/or investments in Irish targets, including Montagu Private Equity on its significant investment in Waystone
  • Advised eir on GIC’s acquisition of €230 million minority holding in eir; and the €3.5 billion sale of eir to NJJ
  • Advises numerous clients in the healthcare sector
  • Advises parties to shareholder and other commercial disputes
  • Advised financial institutions on the transfer of their European banking business from the United Kingdom to Ireland (via cross-border merger)
  • Advised Aryzta A.G. on its €800 million underwritten rights issue and the resulting admission of shares on the SIX Swiss Exchange and Euronext Dublin
  • Advised Bank of Ireland on its holding company reorganisation using a new Irish holding company and its flotation on the ISE and LSE

Endorsements

“Conor McCarthy is extremely commercial and responsive, has taken time to really and properly understand our business which enables him to focus on and understand the commercial objective of our deals, avoiding over-lawyering. He is a pleasure to deal with and easy to put in front of colleagues in the business.”

The Legal 500: Europe, Middle East & Africa, 2023

“The team at Arthur Cox, in particular Conor McCarthy and his associates, are our long-standing and valued advisers.”

The Legal 500: Europe, Middle East & Africa, 2023

Conor McCarthy is an “excellent communicator and very responsive. He provides service that is akin to driving a Ferrari… excellent, in the best hands and a pleasure to work with.”

IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms, 2022

Conor McCarthy is a “trusted adviser. He understands our business and is committed to our objectives. He has deep, valuable experience, availability and good humour.”

IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms, 2022


Education & Qualifications

  • LLB, 2007, Trinity College Dublin
  • Admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales, 2011 (currently non-practising)
  • Admitted as a solicitor in Ireland, 2014
  • Member of Law Society of England and Wales
  • Member of Law Society of Ireland