Sean is a Partner in our Corporate M&A and Regulatory Team, and Head of EU & Competition. As a leading lawyer with over 25 years experience advising on corporate M&A transactions and competition law / regulatory matters, Sean has a deep understanding of the complex legal landscape and has consistently provided clients with innovative and effective solutions to their legal challenges. He is a trusted advisor to clients across a wide range of industries, assisting clients achieve their strategic objectives while navigating complex legal and associated regulatory issues, and demonstrates first-hand the commercial approach and expertise of the lawyers within Whitney Moore.
Sean has advised on some of the highest profile and complex corporate / M&A transactions in Ireland, including a number of transactions that have been specifically singled out by competition regulators as being complex transactions from a competition law perspective requiring commitments (including Synch Payments (a complex joint venture transaction within the banking / payments services sector); the sale of Joyce’s Supermarkets to Tesco; advising the Irish Bookmakers Association in respect of a dawn raid by the CCPC and associated matters around legally privileged documents; and advising Circle K on its acquisition of Pelco (a highly complex transaction within the retail sale of motor fuel sector). A seasoned and experienced lawyer, he was also the first lawyer to be appointed ‘Monitoring Trustee’ by the Irish competition regulator, he has advised the Irish competition regulator on merger control issues, he advised the Irish Pensions Board on the processes and procedures to be applied in planning and conducting its first ever dawn raid, leading to a successful prosecution and is regularly involved in advising clients on high profile and complex matters.
Consistently ranked as a leading lawyer in legal directories, Sean’s dual expertise and experience in Corporate / M&A and Competition Law is a real asset, providing clients with the guidance they need to successfully achieve their business objectives. Sean advises clients on a wide range of corporate and competition law matters including M&A transactions; EU and Irish merger filings; joint ventures (Sean advised on the first joint venture involving all the main Irish banks in over 20 years); competition law compliance and training; dawn raids; distribution agreements; commercial contracts; dominance; VBER; Irish FDI screening compliance & filings; and EU FSR compliance & filings.
Recommendations:
Sean is listed in the ‘The Best Lawyers in Ireland’, and has been recognised for his expertise by leading independent directories such as Chambers Europe and Legal 500.
‘Sean Ryan provided excellent advice and guidance and navigation of a complex transaction through the Competition Authority in Ireland (CCPC). With 4 shareholders and a JV entity, this took significant leadership to hold the parties together to achieve the end result. He achieved this through clarity, letting stakeholders know where we were and likely next steps. He advocated the right strategy and tone at the final stage and this delivered the result.’- Legal 500
‘Sean Ryan is extremely knowledgeable in his specialist areas’ – Chambers Europe
‘Sean Ryan was the right person for this engagement. His experience, calmness, listening and consistency stood out. He was attuned to many different views from the various stakeholders, but had the ability to hold the parties to the approach and ultimately delivered the end goal.’ – Legal 500
‘Sean Ryan provided excellent advice and guidance and navigation of a complex transaction’ – Legal 500
“Ryan brings substantial corporate acumen to the table” – Chambers Europe
‘..has a burgeoning position in the market thanks largely to the presence of Sean Ryan, who has more than 25 years’ experience in the EU and competition field’ – Legal 500
‘Ryan brings strong experience to the table’ – Legal 500
Sean Ryan is noted for his solid competition know-how – Legal 500
“an outstanding lawyer, incredibly responsive to clients’ needs, and tremendous at anticipating issues and bringing them to our attention in a clear and concise way” – Chambers Europe
“Clients describe Sean Ryan as ‘very smart, efficient and responsive’ ” – Legal 500