VETERAN COMMERCIAL lawyer Laurence K Shields has decided to retire from the Dublin-based practice that bears his name.
Mr Shields, who is 61, will step down from his role as chairman of LK Shields Solicitors on April 30th next year.
In a statement, Mr Shields said his intention was to “actively pursue existing and other commercial interests”. It is not clear what this will involve.
Mr Shields graduated from UCD in 1970. He was admitted as a solicitor in Ireland two years later, and in Northern Ireland, England and Wales in 1998.
He founded his law firm in 1988 and served as its managing partner until 2005.
The firm is currently led by managing partner Hugh Garvey. It has 22 partners, about 130 staff, and specialises in commercial law.
Mr Shields has been involved in a number of high-profile corporate transactions and business lawsuits over the years.
These involved a number of transactions by listed Irish food company IAWS, now part of Swiss-registered Arytza. These included its acquisitions of Goulding Chemicals, RH Hall and Cuisine de France at a time when it was led by Philip Lynch.
Mr Shields subsequently worked with investment group One51 during Mr Lynch’s time at the helm. He also represented the late Donal Geaney in his case with Irish pharma group Elan Corporation, which he had led.
Other cases included acting for Terence Horgan in relation to his shareholding in the leading PR firm Murray Consultants, and Irish Press plc’s dispute with Ingersoll Publications.
Mr Shields said he was “proud” of the way the firm had developed over the past 23 years.
“I am most grateful for the support we have received over the years from both Irish and international businesses, and I wish the firm continued success in the years ahead,” he added.
Mr Shields served as president of the Law Society of Ireland and of the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association.
He currently serves as a member of the UCD School of Law Development Council; as a director of Bord Gáis; and is a member of the Irish Commercial Mediation Association.
