McCann FitzGerald LLP
Overview
McCann FitzGerald LLP is one of Ireland’s leading full-service corporate law firms with a long heritage (roots dating to the 1820s and the firm prominent since 1965). The firm is partner‑owned and is known for its strength on high-value corporate, finance, disputes and real estate work, combined with sector-focused teams (technology, digital infrastructure, financial services, energy/ESG and public sector). Distinctive capabilities include an established Digital Services / Project Services capability for technology‑assisted review and progressive delivery, an international platform with offices in London, New York and Brussels, and a partner-led, collegiate training model that places trainees in partner offices from day one.
- Headquarters: Dublin, Riverside One (Sir John Rogerson’s Quay)
- Founded: 1965
- Lawyers: 350
- Partners: 101
- Offices: 4
Values & Culture
Practice Areas
- Corporate & M&A
- Banking & Finance
- Capital Markets
- Construction & Engineering
- Commercial Contracts
- Competition & Antitrust
- Data Protection & Privacy
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Employment
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Environment & Planning
- ESG & Sustainability
- Financial Services & Regulation
- Fraud & Investigations
- Infrastructure & Projects
- Insurance & Reinsurance
- Intellectual Property
- Investment Funds
- Media & Entertainment
- Private Equity & Venture Capital
- Real Estate
- Regulatory & Compliance
- Tax
- Technology & Digital
- Transport & Logistics
- White Collar Crime
Geographic Focus: The firm is strongest in Ireland (Dublin HQ) with an international platform serving cross‑border matters via offices in London, Brussels and New York. The London office focuses on Irish law work for UK/International financial institutions and corporates; the firm routinely advises international private equity, asset managers, banks, fintechs and state bodies on Ireland-focused elements of multi‑jurisdictional transactions.
Training Contract
The solicitor traineeship runs for 33 months and comprises four seat rotations of approximately six months each through the firm’s four core practice groups. Trainees share an office with a partner and receive one‑to‑one mentoring. The traineeship includes completion of PPCI and PPCII at the Law Society (Blackhall Place) as part of the programme. Regular lectures, workshops, department‑specific training, monthly training lunches and a Trainee Programme Manager and Head of Legal Professional Training provide structured support and feedback.
- Academic Requirements: The firm seeks candidates with strong academic records, character, energy and sound judgement. Tax and Company Secretarial trainees are required to have or be on target to achieve a 2.1 honours degree. The firm accepts non‑law graduates.
Seat Options
- Corporate & M&A
- Banking & Finance
- Capital Markets
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Real Estate
- Construction & Engineering
- Financial Services & Regulation
- Technology & Digital
- Tax
- Intellectual Property
Sponsorship
The firm pays all Law Society fees (PPCI/PPCII) and pays trainees their full salary while they complete courses at the Law Society.
International Opportunities
Many trainees spend part of their training working in the London, Brussels or New York offices or on secondment with one of the firm’s leading international clients.
Mentorship
Each trainee shares an office with a partner for one‑to‑one training; the Head of Legal Professional Training acts as a mentor and the Trainee Programme Manager provides ongoing support. There is also a buddy system (trainee buddy for interns) and a trainee social committee.
Programmes & Schemes
A three‑week immersive summer internship (two intakes in June and July) aimed at second, penultimate and final year students. Interns are placed in one of the firm’s four core practice groups, work on client projects under supervision, attend lectures and social events, are supported by a trainee buddy and interview for a place on the firm’s graduate traineeship at the end of the programme.
- Duration: 3 weeks
- Salary: Paid (amount not published)
A one‑day programme for first and second year third‑level students to experience life at McCann FitzGerald, learn about practice areas, meet trainees/partners and attend a skills session. Applications are assessed via written application; there are no interviews for Law First.
- Duration: 1 day
Annual recruitment for a Trainee Company Secretary who trains within the Company Secretarial and Compliance Group and works alongside Corporate, Investment Management and Finance Groups. Requires or expects a 2.1 honours degree and/or ICSA progression.
- Places: 1 (recruits a Trainee Company Secretary each year)
Annual recruitment for a Tax Trainee to train within the Tax Group (a mixed team of solicitors, accountants and chartered tax advisers). Requires or expects a 2.1 honours degree and a strong interest in tax.
Notable Matters
Advised on the Irish law aspects of DigitalBridge's full-function joint venture with Liberty Global to create AtlasEdge, a pan‑European edge data centre business (project represents the firm’s work on data centre/infrastructure transactions and joint ventures).
Infrastructure & Projects
Advised on Irish law aspects of the $15bn take‑private acquisition of CyrusOne, representing large-scale cross-border M&A and financing work with significant data centre implications.
Corporate & M&A
Acted on Irish elements of EQT’s acquisition of EdgeConneX, advising on transactional, regulatory and real estate aspects connected to data centre operations.
Corporate & M&A
Advised Cordiant on the acquisition of the Speed Fibre Group from AMP for €190m, covering corporate and telecoms regulatory issues and supporting fibre infrastructure expansion.
Corporate & M&A
Advised Vodafone Ireland on the spin‑out of its Irish towers business into Vantage Towers and related tower portfolio transactions, reflecting the firm’s telecoms and infrastructure capability.
Infrastructure & Projects
Advised Greencoat Renewables on acquisition of a utility‑scale solar asset, demonstrating the firm’s ESG/energy transactional and project finance expertise.
Energy & Natural Resources
Acted for ESB on a €2.4bn sustainability‑linked revolving credit facility provided by a syndicate of international banks, linking finance to the client’s Net Zero strategy.
Banking & Finance
Advised Hostelworld on IT, commercial and data protection matters (including acquisition work) and advised CarTrawler on an exclusive white‑label IT agreement with Ryanair and on the IT/IP/data elements of the Holiday Autos acquisition.
Technology & Digital
What McCann FitzGerald LLP Looks For
Key Competencies
- Strong academic record
- Commercial awareness
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Sound judgement
- Energy and character
- Resilience and willingness to learn
- Effective communication and relationship-building
Evidence Signals
- Summer internship experience at McCann FitzGerald (interns are invited to interview for traineeships)
- Relevant commercial or regulatory work experience (paralegal/knowledge team roles)
- Pro bono or voluntary engagement (community involvement)
- Demonstrable interest/experience in technology, fintech, infrastructure or energy for sector roles
- Strong academic results (Tax and Company Secretarial roles expect 2.1 honours degree)
Benefits & Wellbeing
- Competitive salary
- Generous annual leave allowance
- Pension contribution
- Income protection cover
- Life assurance
- Home purchase conveyance scheme
- Relocation assistance for those joining from overseas
- VDU testing
- Annual summer wellness programme
- Lockers and shower rooms
- Tax saver cycle to work and travel scheme
- Active social committee
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Annual flu vaccination
- State of the art building (Riverside One, Dublin)
- Subsidised restaurant
- On-site dry cleaning service
- Accommodation support for some interns from outside Dublin
Wellbeing
Wellness programme, VDU testing, Employee Assistance Programme, annual summer wellness activities, trainee wellbeing and summer fun programmes; active social committee and trainee social committee organise social/wellbeing events.
Awards & Recognition
- Silver accreditation from the Irish Centre for Diversity
- Anti-Discrimination Firm of the Year in Europe, Social Impact Awards (year referenced on site: 2024)
- Multiple practice rankings in Legal 500 (technology, construction, disputes and other practice areas referenced across site content)
- Chambers rankings for various practices (referenced on practice pages)
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Member of the 30% Club; founding member of OUTLaw Network; Business Partner to TCPID; publishes annual Gender Pay Gap Reports (2022–2025) and has a Responsible Business strategy aligned with UN SDGs and UN Global Compact participation.
- 30% Club (long-time member)
- Female Connections Business Development Network
- Two years post-qualification mentoring for female associates
- Partnership with Diversity In Law (application workshops)
- Founding member of OUTLaw Network
- Business Partner to the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities (TCPID)
- Supporter of Trinity Access Programme (TAP) 'Pathways to Law' programme
- Partnership with the Early Learning Initiative and the National College of Ireland
Pro Bono
The firm expanded its pro bono programme and doubled reported pro bono hours; trainees participate in FLAC pro‑bono work. The firm supports community volunteering, charity events (Calcutta Run), and other community initiatives noted within the Responsible Business programme.
Innovation
The firm embeds legal expertise with digital technologies through its Digital Services and Project Services teams, offering technology‑enabled legal and compliance solutions (document automation, AI-assisted contract analysis, data room management, eDiscovery). Project Services delivers large‑scale review projects using industry platforms, while Progressive Delivery integrates legal expertise with digital tools and flexible resourcing to provide agile, cost‑effective solutions. Trainees and junior lawyers engage with these initiatives through Project Services secondments, training sessions and department projects.
- Digital Services
- Project Services
- Progressive Delivery
- People Services (Flexible Resourcing)
- Use of Kira Systems
- HighQ Collaborate
- Contract Express (contract generation suite/Start Strong)
- Technology-assisted review / TAR (established expertise in Ireland)
- AI contract analysis and document automation
Quick Application Angles
- Demonstrate commercial awareness of the Irish market and mention specific sectors the firm highlights (digital infrastructure/data centres, fintech/financial services, energy/ESG).
- Reference the firm’s progressive delivery and Digital Services experience (e.g., technology-assisted review, document automation) when applying for technology, project services or investigations roles.
- For trainee applications, highlight teamwork, collegiality and examples of working collaboratively — the firm emphasises partner-led mentoring and sharing an office with a partner.
- If applying for Tax or Company Secretarial roles, state academic standing (2.1 honours where applicable) and any relevant technical qualifications or intentions to complete ICSA.
- Use experience from the firm’s early‑careers programmes (summer internship or Law First) if applicable — interns are invited to interview for traineeships and these routes are explicitly supported.
Tracking McCann FitzGerald LLP?
Create a free account to add McCann FitzGerald LLP to your application tracker, follow its deadlines, and get AI help with the application itself.
Start Climbing, FreeFree to start - No credit card required