Gerard Ryan

Partner

Practice areas

• Corporate
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Private equity

Practice notes

‘Gerard Ryan is commercially and technically ahead of the rest, a brilliant mind. One of the most honest and approachable partners in the Irish market.’ - Legal 500

‘Gerard Ryan is excellent in terms of marshalling and co-ordinating the experts and then providing the layer of strategic guidance of what to do and when.’ - Legal 500

Gerard Ryan "is intelligent, efficient, diligent, expert and seemingly all-knowing in all areas of corporate law" - Chambers Europe

“Sources also highlight his ability to handle cross-border mandates” – Chambers Europe

Clients appreciate Gerard's ability to keep calm under pressure, with one source saying: "Where negotiations may get heated, he is very good at reading the room and keeping everyone calm and level-headed." - Chambers Global

"A different class of solicitor, a down-to-earth genius" - Legal 500

He is valued by clients for his "intelligent, efficient, diligent and expert" advice. - Chambers Europe

"strong commercially, articulate, gives clear direction and is very client focussed"  - Chambers Global

"A cool, calm, collected guy who knows what he is talking about" - Chambers Global

Gerard Ryan is "Seasoned and plugged-in" and  is "noted for his experience in advising technology clients on cross-border M&A transactions" - Legal 500

"Gerard Ryan brings a great deal of experience to the team. Clients appreciate his hands-on approach, with one describing him as "very accessible and very pragmatic" - Chambers Global

"Gerard advises on a wide range of corporate matters including joint ventures, corporate governance and management buyouts.  According to sources he is practical, articulate and has a great legal mind”. Chambers Europe

‘Gerard Ryan is very supportive and can provide practical commercial guidance. He runs our account extremely well.’ -Legal 500

‘Gerard Ryan is a key business adviser for us. His excellent legal expertise and commercial experience allows him consider a situation and plot a legal and commercial strategy to achieve our goals. He has built a team around him that put client service at the top of everything they do. Gerard continues to see around corners for us and sets us up for future success. Over the last year, his previous advice has saved us time and money.’ - Legal 500

Gerard is a partner in and Head of the Corporate Department and has extensive transactional experience with an expertise in mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganisations, venture capital and private equity. He also advises on the corporate structuring of foreign direct investment into Ireland and matters of corporate governance. Gerard has lectured and delivered talks to professional bodies, including the Law Society of Ireland on corporate law issues.

Gerard graduated from Trinity College Dublin (LLB) in 1996. He is also a board member of the Ireland Funds board in Ireland. The Ireland Funds are a philanthropic network that supports worthy causes in Ireland and around the world.

Examples of transactions that Gerard has worked on include advising:

• STAR Capital on its acquisition of the global aviation group ASL Aviation Holdings, a global aviation services provider with operations on six continents
• A technology company in relation to financing arrangements entered into by it with Guggenheim
• Clanwilliam Group, the Irish healthcare, technology and services group on its acquisition of a number of healthcare technology, service and communications companies
• Development Capital on a number of its investments
• A peer to peer lender on the establishment of its lending platform
• Vela Software, part of Constellation Software Inc. on its acquisition of software company Financial Risk Solutions
• Euronet Wordwide Inc., a leading global payments provider, on its acquisition of approximately 400 Easycard branded ATMs in Ireland from Royal Bank of Scotland
• Kingspan, on its investment in Invicara, a provider of transformative software solutions for the entire ecosystem of the built environment
• Circle K on the sale of its 50% stake in the company operating the joint fuels terminal in Dublin Port
• Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. on the acquisition of Topaz and Esso Ireland
• Shareholders of E-Shop World on sale to Asendia which is a joint venture between two of the world's leading postal operators, La Poste and Swiss Post
• Tetrarch and PIMCO on a number of acquisitions in Ireland in hotel and leisure