Walkers

walkersglobal.com

Nicholas Blake-Knox

Donna has over 20 years' experience in aviation finance and is part of our Global Asset Finance team, based in London. Donna specialises in Irish law leasing and financing of transportation (notably aviation) assets, the establishment of funds-based aviation platforms as well as debt capital markets transactions and related mergers and acquisitions. In 2021 she was awarded the Women In Business Law Awards – European Aviation Lawyer of the Year as well as Irish law Legal Advisor of the Year at the Women In Finance Awards.

Eimear Burbridge

Niall Esler heads Walkers' Regulatory & Risk Advisory Practice Group in the Ireland office and specialises in Irish and EU financial services regulation. Niall advises domestic and international credit institutions, investment firms, payment/e-money institutions, asset managers, funds and other institutions on all aspects of Irish and EU financial services regulation. Niall’s experience includes advising on regulatory perimeter, licensing, prudential and conduct of business requirements. He also has significant commodities regulatory experience. He is part of the team that advises global financial services groups on establishing regulated entities in Ireland to manage the impact of Brexit. He is also a member of our FinTech Group. Niall advises on: implementing regulatory change projects and remediation exercises financial institution and utility company mergers and acquisitions regulated asset (e.g. loan book) sale transactions winding down regulated business. He has also helped clients facing Central Bank of Ireland or European Central Bank regulatory authority inspections, themed reviews, risk mitigation programmes and administrative sanctions procedures.

Caitlín is Of Counsel in the Walkers Asset & Aviation Finance Group. Caitlín advises banks, financial institutions, international aircraft operating lessors, aircraft owners, financial arrangers and private equity groups on asset finance transactions. Caitlín has advised on the financing and leasing of both fixed wing and rotary aircraft including government-supported financings, secured lending, cross-border and operating leases, the purchase and sales of single aircraft and multi-aircraft portfolios, workouts and restructurings, debt finance and security matters, domestic and cross-border tax-driven leasing, pre-delivery financing and sale and lease-back financing. Caitlín also has experience on a wide range of cross border banking and finance transactions, including bilateral and syndicated lending, leveraged and acquisition financings and restructurings.

William Greensmyth

Partner and Head of Insolvency and Dispute Resolution

Matt specialises in financing and leasing aviation assets and is a member of our Asset and Aviation Finance Practice Group. Matt advises private equity investors, operating lessors, financial institutions and airlines on tax-efficient leasing and financing structures. That includes platform establishments, warehouse financings, joint ventures and transportation business acquisitions disposals. He also specialises in advising clients on derivative and securities-lending transactions for a wide range of Irish entities using industry standard documentation like the International Swaps and Derivatives Association’s master agreements and global master repurchase agreements. Matt has a strong finance background and particular expertise in cross-border debt capital markets transactions. This includes aircraft securitisations and loan portfolio financings, acquisitions and restructurings. He regularly advises on Irish and European Union financial services and securities law including: The Prospectus Directive The European Market Infrastructure Regulation The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive The Market Abuse Directive The Securitisation Regulation.

Shane Martin is a Partner based in Walkers' Ireland office. He has significant experience in regulatory risk and compliance in financial services across the banking, insurance, asset management, credit union and payment services sectors. Drawing on his experience as a regulator and industry adviser, Shane provides practical and informed advice on all regulatory compliance matters with particular expertise in financial crime. Admitted In: Ireland New York (not practising)

Killian McSharry

Killian specialises in asset-finance transactions and is part of our Asset & Aviation Finance Practice Group. Killian advises banks, financial institutions, international aircraft operating lessors, aircraft owners, financial arrangers and private equity funds on financing and leasing both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. This includes: Setting up and advising on the establishment of aviation financing and leasing platforms (including funds-backed); Delivery financing PDP financing Purchase and leasing transactions for both commercial and private aircraft Aircraft securitisations Export credit financing Workouts and restructurings Domestic and cross-border tax-driven leasing Sale and lease-back transactions Killian also has experience of a wide range of cross-border banking and finance transactions, including bilateral and syndicated lending, and leveraged and acquisition financings and restructurings. Killian regularly lectures for the Law Society of Ireland’s Aviation law diploma and presents at leading aviation industry conferences.

Partner and Co-Head of Finance & Capital Markets

Eoin Ryan is a Partner in the Irish office of Walkers and is a member of the firm's corporate department. Eoin has extensive expertise in share / asset acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, partnerships, shareholders' agreements and has worked on domestic and multi-jurisdictional transactions from initial stage through to completion. He also advises on domestic and cross-border corporate restructuring, Irish corporate governance and general commercial matters. Recent Experience Eoin has acted on a number of high-profile transactions including advising: an Irish mast company in relation to its multi-million euro sale to an infrastructure fund; an Irish wireless networks company on its sale to a US entity; a large US corporation on its multi-million euro acquisition of an Irish media company; a UK asset manager on its entry into various joint-venture agreements with Irish property developers; a European advertising company on its acquisition of an Irish advertising business; a leading European finance company on the multi-million euro sale of its assets to a US bank; an Asian corporation on its multi-million euro acquisition of an Irish semi-conductor company; the lender to a UK bank on the restructuring of its Irish operations; an Irish energy company on various equity-fundraising rounds; and a UK bank on its successful exit from various Irish investments.

Jonathan Sheehan

Jonathan is the Managing Partner of our Ireland office and head of the Tax Group. A corporate lawyer by training and qualified chartered tax adviser (CTA), Jonathan advises on various financial, corporate and real estate transactions. Jonathan's primary area of focus is on the tax treatment of capital markets, investment funds and real estate transactions. He also has extensive experience in advising on M&A transactions, corporate migrations, cross-border mergers and loan portfolio sales and acquisitions. Jonathan has acted for a wide range of domestic and international clients, including publicly listed companies, financial institutions, private equity providers, fund managers and administrators, and Irish State bodies. Jonathan sits on the tax committees of various industry associations in Ireland. He is known for his collaborative style, technical ability and commitment to client service.

Partner and Co-Head of Finance & Capital Markets