Ireland

Dechert’s Dublin office has significant expertise in sustainable finance, where it advises on the structuring of green bonds and sustainable investment products. The team also actively represents a significant number of fund platforms, assisting with issues related to the EU Securities Financing Operations Regulation, the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, and the Taxonomy Regulation.

One client in this area is UBS, which seeks the firm’s advice on the integration of ESG considerations and compliance with the SFDR and Taxonomy.

On a pro bono basis, the team is also assisting the Free Trade Advocacy Office, a joint initiative of Fairtrade International, the World Fair Trade Organisation, and the World Fair Trade Organisation-Europe, in integrating sustainability values into traditional competition law analysis.

As part of its efforts towards energy conservation, waste and pollution prevention, and reduction of supply chain impacts, the firm estabished several internal practices aimed at reducing energy consumption, incorporating eco-friendly products, and promoting employee awareness of environmental issues.

Sharing its knowledge, the team also continues to publish articles and papers on ESG topics, including sustainable finance and climate change.

Luxembourg

Dechert LLP’s Luxembourg office continues to assist clients on sustainability-related matters, particularly in the area of sustainable finance, where the team routinely advises on green bond structuring and the formation of sustainable investment products.

A particular area of expertise is the Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation. Here, the team is currently assisting Stepstone Group and its subsidiary Swiss Capital on a number of fund formation and fund financing matters in line with the SFDR. Another client in this space is Forty51 Advisors, where the team is handling the implementation of the client’s first life sciences venture capital fund under SFDR.

The firm also actively publishes ESG thought leadership on sustainability trends and sustainable finance strategies and developments, including a piece on the Luxembourg supervisory authority’s (CSSF) SFDR guidance.

Internally, the firm’s sustainability measures include policies on saving energy, preventing waste and pollution, and reducing supply chain impacts.

Arne Bolch focuses his practice on fund formation, representing alternative investment funds (AIFs) and traditional retail funds (UCITS). Mr. Bolch also assists clients in fund-related M&A transactions, general investment fund advice and regulatory law matters. Mr. Bolch regularly advises initiators and institutional investors (particularly German investors) in their dealings with Luxembourg investment funds.

Alec Burnside practices in the area of EU competition law, with a particular focus on merger clearances, state aid, cartel defense, and abuse of dominance matters. Over the past three decades, Mr. Burnside has played a key role in cases for leading corporations, global industries and governments on issues arising across a broad spectrum of industries, including consumer products, energy and natural resources, financial services, manufacturing, military, pharmaceuticals, technology, telecommunications, and transport and logistics. He has been based in Brussels continuously since 1989.

Cyril Fiat focuses his practice on the structuring of and fundraising for private investment funds. He also advises on regulatory issues, and guides investors through their investments in alternative assets. Mr. Fiat’s work has a strong international focus and he regularly acts for alternative investment fund managers on the creation of and fundraising for French, international and Pan-European investment vehicles (including buyout, venture, infrastructure, mezzanine, real estate, funds of funds and debt). He also advises institutional or private investors regarding their investments in private funds and bespoke investment structures.

Jean-Louis Frognet is a partner in the Luxembourg office and member of the firm’s financial services practice group. Jean-Louis Frognet has over fifteen years of experience advising international clients on M&A transactions and on corporate structurings, including the setting up, management, financing and liquidation of companies, joint ventures and investment vehicles, as well as the negotiation of complex shareholders agreements and management incentive plans.

Angelo Lercara, LL.M. EuR advises on all different aspects of financial services law. He has more than 15 years’ experience relating to the structuring and marketing of financial products and alternative investment funds, as well as counselling of German institutional and regulated investors. He also regularly advises fund sponsors on the regulatory implications of utilizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in the investment process.

Patrick Lyons represents life sciences and other healthcare companies, energy companies, banks and financial institutions, sovereign and quasi-sovereign issuers and others in public and private transactions, including IPOs and follow on SEC-registered transactions, Rule 144A and Regulation S offerings, investment grade and high-yield debt issues, PIPEs and other private placements, green, blue and social bond offerings, rights issues, privatizations and liability management transactions, including tender offers, exchange offers and similar transactions.

Ciara O’Leary focuses her practice on investment funds, advising fund promoters and fund services firms on matters relating to the establishment, authorization, operation and ongoing maintenance of funds. Ms. O’Leary advises on all types of funds, including UCITS and Alternative Investment Funds. She has extensive experience handling matters pertaining to ETFs, alternative or structured UCITS and the use of derivatives and financial indices within the UCITS space. Ms. O’Leary is a member of the Irish Funds ETF working group.

Giovanni Russo focuses his practice on corporate law, advising institutional investors, corporates and management teams on all kinds of private equity, venture capital and M&A transactions, both domestic and cross-border. His practice covers both the buy-side and sell-side of acquisitions as well as co-investments. His recent in-depth experience include advising on high-profile, complex corporate matters in the Internet, digital media, e-commerce and mobile applications industries.

Mikhaelle Schiappacasse is a co-head of Dechert’s Global Sustainability Practice, and in this capacity, she is a leading member of the firm’s ESG working groups and advises asset managers on compliance with the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the EU Taxonomy Regulation and other European ESG-related regulatory matters.

Privat Vigand focuses on banking, finance and real estate, advising leading banks and investment funds on domestic and international asset acquisition and structured finance. He has particular experience on matters relating to financing complex real estate deals and leveraged finance.

Carol Widger is a partner in Dechert’s Investment Funds group in Dublin and Managing Partner of the firm’s Dublin office. Ms. Widger has 20 years’ experience advising fund promoters, fund managers, AIFMs, MiFID firms and other investment funds services firms, on matters relating to the establishment, launch and ongoing management of all types of investment funds, including UCITS and AIF products. Ms. Widger is a former Chair of Irish Funds’ Legal Working Group and currently acts as a senior advisor of the Dublin location for 100 Women in Finance, where she was the former Chair and founding member.