Ireland: Keystone seals Belfast merger

Keystone Law is moving into the Northern Ireland market via a merger with Belfast law firm McMahon McKay.

The tie-up will go live on 6 March, with the merged businesses to be called Keystone Law Northern Ireland.

It will operate from McMahon’s current location on Adelaide Street in Belfast. John McMahon and Danny McKay, who founded the firm last year, will continue to own and control the business. The firm, which also has one consultant and two trainees, concluded deals with a total value of £400m between April and December last year.

Keystone managing partner James Knight said: “We have been looking to establish operations in Ireland for over two years now, but it has not been easy to find the perfect firm to partner with. The dynamic performance and impressive growth displayed by McMahon McKay caught our attention last year and our discussions have proceeded reassuringly quickly to where they are today.”

McMahon – who spent seven years at Belfast firm Johnsons Solicitors before launching McMahon McKay – added: “We totally exceeded our expectations in 2016. This merger will enable us to respond more readily to the increasing client demand and simultaneously grow the business.”

Keystone Law Northern Ireland will be supported by the firm’s London office, which will provide finance, banking, marketing, IT and general administrative assistance.

Full Content: Irish Legal

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