New partners set to boost firm expansion
BYRNEWALLACE has announced the continued expansion of its projects and infrastructure with the appointment of partners Fergal Ruane and Gavin Blake.
Mr Ruane, who now leads the firm’s projects and infrastructure team, has more than 20 years’ experience advising companies in construction and public procurement law.
He has offered guidance on public procurement and commercial matters as well as projects in transport, data centre, ICT, health, residential, energy, commercial and concession sectors.
Mr Ruane’s previous positions included head of legal in the Railway Procurement Agency (now known as Transport Infrastructure Ireland) and senior roles with two well-known corporate law firms.
Mr Blake joins Byrnewallace as partner and head of the firm’s Energy & Natural Resources Team. With more
Gavin Blake, Feargal Brennan & Fergal Ruane of Byrnewallace than 10 years’ experience in the power sector, he has advised on a vast range of projects in the fields of wind energy, solar PV, bioenergy, hydropower, auto-production, conventional power, AD and CHP.
He works with developers, funders and investors, from the preliminary site acquisition and consenting phase, right through to project commissioning.
In addition, Mr Blake has acted in the purchase and sale of around 300MW of both development stage and operational wind farms projects.
He joins the firm as partner from another large Dublin law firm, and was previously company secretary of a multi-national renewable energy developer.
Commenting on these appointments, managing partner Feargal Brennan said: “We are currently experiencing significant growth in demand for legal advice on infrastructure and energyrelated projects.
“In particular, the launch of Project Ireland 2040 (by the Government) earlier this year, coupled with the anticipated roll out of renewable energy projects under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), will drive further growth across this sector. As a result we foresee major large-scale infrastructural development to continue within Ireland through to 2040 and beyond.
“The appointments of Fergal and Gavin demonstrate the firm’s ongoing commitment to delivering the best legal service to our clients, and will further enhance and strengthen our growing projects offering.
“Fergal and Gavin will work collaboratively with expert lawyers from our procurement, construction, property, banking and finance, and corporate teams to provide a fullyintegrated service, advising both the private and public sector, thus making it one of the largest projects practices in Ireland.
“I would like to welcome Fergal and Gavin to Byrnewallace.
“I am confident that they successful in their new roles.” teamed up with the Government to establish the scheme, which will assist our most vulnerable groups in society gain access to jobs by providing them with training and employment experience.
Margot slattery, country President of sodexo ireland, said: “as part of sodexo’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, we are already supporting and working with several organisations like one Family, Employability, seetec, the National Learning Network and Carriglea Cairde services.
“We’re looking forward to sharing our learnings and experience with our fellow partners in the open Doors initiative.”
sodexo ireland employs around 3,700 people in more than 230 locations in ireland and delivers food and facilities management to clients. will be