London-based law firm Schillings is to open an office in Dublin, saying that it will give its clients the opportunity to access legal services in the EU.

The firm says that the expansion will enable the Irish market to benefit from its expertise in intelligence, communications, diplomacy, and security.

Partners Ben Hobbs and Phil Hartley, who are dual-qualified in Ireland, and England and Wales, will be dividing their time between the London and Dublin offices.

They will be joined by legal director John Curtin, who will be relocating to Dublin, and new consultant partner and digital-resilience expert Viv O’Connor-Jemmett.

Technology companies

Hobbs specialises in guiding FTSE 100 companies and business-owners through high-stakes reputational crises and opportunities.

Hartley, a media lawyer and litigator who has worked extensively in defamation, privacy, data protection, counter-harassment, confidentiality and IP law, has a particular depth of expertise in complex and contentious data-privacy cases.

Media lawyer Curtin has previously been a commercial-litigation solicitor in Dublin.

O’Connor-Jemmett is an expert in digital resilience and strategic communications, who will also be based in the Dublin office.

Schillings’ chief executive David Imison described Dublin as “a natural next step” in its strategic expansion.

“The city is home to many of the world's largest technology and e-commerce companies, as well as a growing cohort of highly successful entrepreneurs and business leaders,” he stated.