A&L Goodbody LLP’s ‘standout’ team is well-regarded for its advice to public and private clients on a wide range of pensions and incentives matters, particularly those related to large corporate and multi-jurisdictional transactions. The team is a key port of call for global financial institutions looking to ensure their remuneration arrangements comply with CRD V and IFD/IFR. The head of the pensions practice, David Main, has notable expertise in liability management issues and trustee governance matters. Keavy Ryan leads the incentives side of the practice, which assists clients with navigating available incentives and the associated legal, tax, regulatory and corporate governance issues. David Francis and Chris Comerford are names to note, as is Aoife Malone.

Philip Smith heads Arthur Cox‘s pensions and employee benefits group which assists corporate, public sector and semi-state clients, as well as pension scheme trustees and scheme members, with all aspects of pension law. The team has specific experience advising on public sector pensions/semi-state superannuation arrangements, as well as auto-enrolment and deferred annuities/buy-in buy-out. Deirdre Cummins is a strong choice for pensions litigation and cross-border pension transfers, while Sarah McCague is particularly well-positioned to advise on ESG obligations under Irish pensions law. Promoted to partner in 2025, Daniel Watters is noted for his advice on scheme restructurings, litigation and regulatory compliance, and Michael Shovlin specialises in equity incentives work.

Byrne Wallace Shields LLP advises a broad mix of public and private sector employers, scheme trustees, pensioner associations and individuals on the full range of pensions and employee benefits matters. Liam Connellan leads the team and is noted for his expertise in corporate pensions issues, including scheme restructurings, wind-ups, regulatory and tax compliance, master trust transitions and auto-enrolment; his experience also extends to advising on insolvent defined benefit schemes and pensions disputes. Gillian Dully bolsters the practice with her experience across employee benefits schemes, including pensions.

Eversheds Sutherland delivers complex and specialised pension projects, and is a first port of call for master trust transitions, auto-enrolment and large-scale scheme consolidation exercises. The group is known for its market-leading experience in pension restructuring and liability management work. Trustees and employers seek out the team for assistance on governance, regulatory and compliance matters, including guidance on DORA and IORP II compliance for pension scheme trustees. Peter Fahy leads the practice and advises on the full spectrum of pensions law. David McKeating is particularly well-equipped to advise on complex liability management exercises.

As a key contact for national and international employers, pension scheme trustees and pension providers, Mason Hayes & Curran Professional Services Ltd advises on the full range of pensions matters. Stephen Gillick leads the practice and is a go-to for advice on IORP II related issues and master trust establishment and operation. The team is also well equipped to advise employers and trustees with scheme alterations, fundings and restructurings, as well as wind-ups, cross-border issues and liability management projects. Peggy Hughes is a key lawyer and contributes to advisory work on scheme operation and governance. Providing specialised GDPR and data protection advice in a pensions context is another core part of the group’s offering.

McCann FitzGerald LLP is well-placed to advise on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious pensions and incentives matters, across public and private sectors. The group is recognised for its strong semi-State and trustee advisory capability, alongside a growing employer-focused practice, and regularly guides clients on scheme governance, master trust structures and regulatory engagement. The team also acts in complex pensions litigation, as well as advising on the establishment and operation of both approved and unapproved incentive share schemes. Noted for her expertise spanning both pensions and incentives law, Eleanor Cunningham leads the practice, regularly advising financial institutions, semi-State bodies, companies and trustees on contentious and non-contentious mandates. Another key contact is Catherine Austin, particularly for her advice on the pension aspects of mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and restructurings.

The team at William Fry LLP is adept at advising clients across a wide range of pensions and incentives matters. Ian Devlin, who spearheads the pensions practice, has a wealth of experience in advising companies, regulatory bodies and pension scheme trustees on liability management and scheme restructurings, mergers and wind ups. Ciara McLoughlin is well-placed to advise on the establishment and management of occupational pension schemes. The incentives offering is led by Carol Eager, who regularly advises on the design and implementation of incentives arrangements, in both general advisory work and as part of corporate transactions.

Matheson LLP advises an international and domestic client base on the full range of pensions matters. The practice handles both contentious and non-contentious issues, including pensions litigation before the Irish courts, auto-enrolment and trustee obligations under DORA. Lorcan Keenan leads the team and advises on the establishment and operation of Irish pension arrangements, including defined benefit schemes and master trusts, as well as restructuring, winding-up and the pensions aspects of corporate transactions.