US law firm DLA Piper today officially opened its new Irish office in Dublin.
The Chairman Emeritus of DLA Piper, Senator George Mitchell, was in Dublin to mark the event.
The Irish office of DLA Piper, led by Country Managing Partner David Carthy, has already made a number of significant partner hires.
It plans to build up a team of 100 lawyers and business professionals over the coming years.
DLA Piper said it had set up a Dublin office in response to demand for globally benchmarked legal and tax advice from domestic and multinational companies operating in, expanding into or exporting from Ireland.
Its initial focus here will be on the life sciences, technology and financial services sectors.
DLA Piper's David Carthy said that the internationalisation of the Irish economy is driving change in the Irish legal sector, changing how we do business and requiring greater innovation and diversity of thought.
"How firms adapt to meet and exceed client demand is the key factor in this evolution, and, as a firm well-known for its entrepreneurial spirit, we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead to drive disruption and radical change in the market," Mr Carthy said.
Senator George Mitchell said that Ireland's position in the global market has become increasingly important given the internationalisation of the economy.
"With the global remit we have for our existing clients alongside Irish companies' appetite to do business in every corner of the world, it was a natural step for DLA Piper to establish an office in Dublin," Mr Mitchell said.
"We also believe there is a real opportunity to establish Ireland as a global centre for legal services, which is why we are building a team with the strength and depth to deliver on this ambition," he added.
IDA Ireland's chief executive Martin Shanahan said that Ireland has developed a thriving legal sector, and today's announcement by DLA Piper further endorses this.
"In this ever-changing economic climate, Ireland can provide companies with a consistent, pro-business environment in which they can grow and thrive," Mr Shanahan added.
