Taylor Wessing has hired two senior partners in Dublin from rival international firms adding finance and real estate law capabilities to the office.

Joining the Anglo-German firm’s Dublin arm are Libby Garvey, who hails from Addleshaw Goddard where she was head of finance and projects, and DWF’s former head of real estate, Órlaith Molloy.

The departures underline the fluidity of Ireland’s market, which has experienced an influx of international firms in the wake of Brexit including Taylor Wessing, which opened for business in September 2021, and Addleshaws which secured the largest Irish law firm merger to date last March when it took over Eugene F Collins.

Garvey was one of four Eugene F Collins partners chosen to join the executive teams of Addleshaws’ four operating divisions when the merger went live. Molloy joined DWF just a year ago from leading Irish firm Arthur Cox.

The duo’s arrival boosts Taylor Wessing's office’s headcount to eight and expands its capabilities beyond its initial focus on technology and life sciences, a core focus for the firm which was underlined earlier this week when it unveiled a strategic alliance with Spain’s ECIJA.

Garvey advises financial institutions on syndicated facilities and acquisition financings and notably acts commercial and residential real estate investors and developers. Molloy, on the other hand, has a broad commercial real estate practice.

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Adam Griffiths, who joined Taylor Wessing from ReganWall in July 2021 to head up the office, said: "Banking and finance and realeEstate are areas core to our growth plans, and we couldn't have hired more credible leaders than Libby and Órlaith.”

Managing partner Shane Gleghorn added: "We are seeing increasing demand from our clients in relation to the Irish market, and these two hires are a significant step towards building a team that covers the key sector strengths of Taylor Wessing."

Meanwhile, at Addleshaws, partner Ray Byrne took over from Garvey as head of finance in January, the same month that it made up four partners in Ireland, boosting the total number of partners to 28. One of the new intake was finance specialist Erc Walsh.

A host of international law firms have set up shop in Dublin since Brexit having previously serviced the Irish market from their London bases. These include, most recently, K&L Gates, which hired a trio of senior asset management and investment funds lawyers from rival firms to launch its ninth European office in January.