International law firm Bird & Bird appoints IP litigation specialist Michael Finn as a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property practice in Ireland. He will start at Bird & Bird on 3 January 2023.
Michael joins the firm from Pinsent Masons where he was a partner in the IP and Commercial Litigation team. Michael specialises in complex intellectual property and technology matters, as well as domestic and international commercial disputes. He also has significant experience in regulatory disputes and investigations, product liability and judicial review. He has acted on some of the leading disputes in Ireland and has extensive experience advising on Irish Commercial Court litigation, and multijurisdictional mandates. He advises a range of international clients in the life sciences, technology and communication sectors.
Michael’s arrival comes as part of the strategic expansion of Bird & Bird’s office in Ireland, following the opening of the Dublin office in Summer 2022 and the arrival of partners Deirdre Kilroy and Anna Morgan. The firm has an ambitious three-year growth plan, aiming to expand the team to at least 30 lawyers, including five partners.
Deirdre Kilroy and Anna Morgan, partners in Bird & Bird’s office in Ireland say: “We are very happy to welcome Michael to our Bird & Bird team in Ireland. Michael is highly regarded in the Irish legal market and has wide ranging expertise advising on IP litigation, and commercial disputes and life sciences matters. He is a strong networker and will have a crucial role in the growth of our office in Ireland. Welcome to the team Michael!”
Morag Macdonald, co-head of the international Intellectual Property practice at Bird & Bird adds: “Michael’s outstanding IP litigation experience and strong reputation in both the domestic and international legal market will broaden to Ireland our already extensive capability for high end IP litigation across Europe. Michael has been the go-to Irish litigator for Bird & Bird partners for many years now, so I’m thrilled he is finally going to be one of us. I cannot wait to add the Irish element to our European litigation strategies.”
Michael says: “I am excited to join both Deirdre and Anna in the new year to help further embed the Bird & Bird brand in Ireland. This vibrant country is increasingly becoming the location of choice for many multinational companies as they seek access to the EU market through a business-friendly, English-speaking, common law jurisdiction. I look forward to helping clients navigate the Irish IP and commercial landscape and working with the rest of the team to attract emerging legal talent in the IP, life sciences, tech and data protection sectors.”
