Insolvency Solicitor – International Firm – Dublin This is an opportunity to work with a small expert team where you get one-to-one attention and hands on experience across a wide portfolio of top end work. You will advise a varied client base of creditors, directors, and liquidators on enforcement aspects of insolvency. You will advise on both contentious and non-contentious insolvency matters. Aviation Finance Associate, Leading International Law Firm – Ireland This market-leading Aviation Finance team advises many of the world's largest aircraft lessors, airlines, financial institutions and investors on some of the most high-profile and complex cross-border aviation transactions in the market. Working alongside highly regarded partners and specialists, you will advise on a broad range of aviation finance matters, including aircraft acquisitions and disposals, leasing, financing and refinancing transactions. Insurance – Of Counsel – Flexibility – Dublin/Remote This is an exciting opportunity as it gives the individual the scope of being the expert leader within the firm on insurance related matters while making the role fit around their lifestyle. You will bring expertise in all things insurance, including regulation, advisory work and corporate transactional matters. You will be a trusted leader and offer sound and confident advise on client matters in the insurance and corporate sector. Finance/Banking Senior Associate - International Firm - Dublin A major international firm in Dublin is seeking to hire an outstanding finance lawyer to join their global Finance Group. This is a great opportunity for someone who is keen to join a progressive and supportive firm with clear career prospects and an exciting international platform. The Finance Group assists clients across a wide range of transactions and although there is a focus on structured finance, the firm is interested in speaking with candidates from a General Banking background, as well as Capital Markets and/or Finance. Employment Associate, 3+ PQE, Dublin Market leading firm with a personable and down to earth culture in a modern and friendly working environment is seeking to welcome an Employment Associate to their outstanding and top ranked team. You will be part of one of the largest employment practice groups in the country which gives innovative and commercial solutions to complex HR issues at the very highest level. Corporate Lawyer – Dublin, Ireland An outstanding opportunity has arisen for a Corporate Associate to join a high profile Dublin team operating at the forefront of M&A, venture capital and corporate finance. This highly regarded practice advises some of Ireland’s most innovative and fast-growing businesses, as well as leading investors on high-profile domestic and cross-border transactions. FS Regulatory Lawyer - Dublin A top international law firm is looking to hire an FS Regulatory Lawyer to join their growing FS Regulatory Practice. The firm is particularly strong on Financial Services which makes their client base enviable and ensures interesting and challenging work. You will get exposure to top level work and clients both domestically and internationally. You will offer regulatory advice to financial services institutions and have a good relationship with the Central Bank. Planning & Environmental Lawyer – International Firm – Dublin or Cork In this role, you will act in planning judicial review proceedings brought against state agencies and authorities and you will provide high-quality legal advice to clients on all aspects of planning and environmental law. The team is involved with high court litigation and high profile and exciting work. Knowledge Lawyer – Finance & Capital Markets - Ireland This opportunity is well suited to a lawyer who enjoys the technical aspects of finance law and wants to move beyond fee-earning, while remaining closely connected to complex, high-quality transactional work. The role plays a key part in shaping and developing the team’s legal expertise. Responsibilities include developing and maintaining know-how, tracking legal and regulatory developments, and supporting effective knowledge sharing across the practice. You will also contribute to innovation by engaging with legal technology and AI tools.

The Australian Legal Market in 2026: What You Need to Know

Keane McDonald’s 2026 Irish Legal Salary Guide is now available. Built on 21 years of market experience, it covers the latest salary benchmarks and hiring trends across Private Practice, In-house Legal and Company Secretarial roles.

Keane McDonald is proud to support Darkness Into Light 2026 , a global movement uniting communities to promote hope, raise awareness, and support mental health and suicide prevention. Founded by Pieta in Dublin in 2009, this powerful initiative has grown to over 150,000 participants worldwide. Across Ireland, events will take place in key locations including Phoenix Park and Dublin City University, reflecting the movement’s strong national roots. Internationally, the event continues to expand, with Australia playing a key role through Pieta’s partnership with headspace. In Sydney, participants will gather at Bondi Beach, alongside events in Perth, Cronulla, Adelaide and Darwin. Taking place at 5:35 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2026 , participants walk or run 5km from darkness into dawn—symbolising the journey from despair to hope. Supported by Electric Ireland, Darkness Into Light continues to spark conversation, strengthen communities, and shine a light on mental health. Join us in making a difference.

Keane McDonald enjoyed the most fabulous evening on 27 November at The Merrion Hotel, Dublin to celebrate 20 years in business. Thank you to Michaella McMahon of The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation who joined us to discuss the incredible work they do for the families of children with severe cognitive delay. Claire Corbett of Right Point Global shared valuable insights with our guests on the importance of the human element in the work place. Thank you to our clients, families, friends and of course the whole team at Keane McDonald for making it a truly memorable evening. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Celebrating 20 years in business, Keane McDonald places legal talent at every level in the Irish market, both in private practice and in-house. It has a well-established reputation for excellence, delivering a discreet, professional service to clients and candidates. So, how does one of Dublin’s leading legal recruitment specialists perceive the local market and what advice do they offer to the city’s law firms? Mia Barry, the firm’s longstanding commercial director, suggests that her role is “all about relationships, building trust, and deepening market knowledge. To develop those relationships, you need a certain depth of experience and knowledge. Giving consultative advice through a partner process is complicated. It involves trusted information being shared which requires you to be very discreet and sensitive: working in an ethical manner around confidentiality is absolutely key.” She points to the size of the Irish legal market. “Most people know of each other, especially at partner level. At associate level, it can be different. Although an associate’s name might not be recognised, the firm where they trained and worked will be, so the interviewer will know whether they are likely to be a good fit.” Competency-based interviews at law firms are rare, she notes. “They focus more on culture, ensuring an all-inclusive and healthy working environment. Employees are looked after, not just in terms of remuneration, but also wellbeing – employers have focused more on this in recent years.” Money, she says, is always important. “New international entrants pay above market rate to secure their initial cohort of hires. This was very attractive to many lawyers whose firms had not perhaps kept up with annual salary increases.” International firms bring transparency Before the recent influx of international firms, she explains, the market was quite opaque. “There was little knowledge around what firms paid or how promotions happened,” she says. “Their arrival brought greater transparency around remuneration, benefits and career paths, which encouraged local firms to review their policies. We’ve noticed the pay gap closing with local firms now almost at par.” Growing demand, she explains, has led firms to focus on “better benefits, including a stronger social aspect and a more harmonious balance between work and home life. As salaries became better aligned, the focus shifted to employees’ well-being. It’s a key factor for most when considering a move.” According to Barry, international firms have also brought transparency around career trajectory, delivering greater clarity to how promotion works. “This more open culture has shed light on partner-level hires and promotions, although myriad different package structures still exist at a senior level,” she says. “From a talent shortage viewpoint, the slow-down in international firms entering the market is welcome: the pressure to hire talent has calmed and it feels more like business as usual. The focus now seems to be on consolidating and making new entrants profitable quickly.” As soon as economic concerns arise, recruitment is one of the first areas affected, says Barry. “We’ve not experienced any significant change in law firms’ hiring appetite. However, some US companies issued hiring freezes this year on the in-house side. Many firms talk about cautious optimism; certainly not negative. Candidates are very happy to move – there’s a nice rhythm.” She points to “a continued steady demand” for legal talent across most practice areas. “It feels stable,” she says. “Partners probably notice fewer calls from headhunters as the market takes a breather. The landscape will become more competitive with less opportunities, but we also see continued growth in many firms and anticipate more mergers next year.” Precious associates Although firms are recruiting, she confirms the slow-down. “The feeding frenzy for associates has calmed,” says Barry. “They are more selective, ensuring candidates tick all their boxes. There’s less turnover at associate level due to recalibrated salary levels and the focus on employees: lawyers are well looked after; associates are precious. “Every firm, domestic and international, says they are growing – but in a more measured way. Some international firms continue to expand quite rapidly, but most take their time, assessing people carefully before committing to hire. The focus has shifted from new entrants to ‘strength in numbers’ and we’ve seen the Top Six continue to hire in growth areas.” In a relatively small legal market like Dublin, it can be difficult to recruit at a senior level because people are more concerned about confidentiality. Barry suggests that Dublin law firms are open to hiring from overseas, which is confirmed by several firms which have recruited from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa in recent years. But there is little appetite to go through a visa process, notes Barry. “They would rather wait for the right hire locally. Local market experience is often essential which can prove difficult, especially for more senior lawyers based abroad.” Which recruitment areas are hot? “It’s easier to say which aren’t hot,” she says. “We’ve recruited for nearly every practice area this year, although technology and corporate are quieter. Litigation continues to specialise more: we see a focus on IP litigation, as well as regulatory and technology disputes.” So, what can law firms do to make themselves more appealing to young lawyers? They are improving, says Barry, but “there’s still some work to be done – at all levels. Some firms have transparent steps to follow while others have less clarity. Candidates prefer transparency. “Prior to interview, firms that share slick presentation packs with them stand out: it shows they take the process seriously and that the candidate is important. When hiring, firms that are highly responsive, communicative and willing to share valuable information are in a much stronger position.” What sells best A strong identity and reputation also matter. “Brand is important,” says Barry. “Some candidates prefer well-recognised, longstanding local firms. They’re often considered safe and reliable, while others prefer big international brands. Often, it comes down to personal choice, experience or ‘word on the street’. It takes more than a strong brand to sway someone’s preference. An excellent working culture and environment is as high on a potential employee’s list as the brand. “As well as focusing on employee wellbeing, Irish firms have increased the benefits on offer (maternity and paternity leave, the option to work overseas, wellbeing days etc.) and there’s an increased focus on culture and hybrid working arrangements. They’ve looked at what helps people perform better while enjoying where they work – it’s a more rounded environment.” And new offices? “Fancy, shiny offices are great, but if the culture isn’t in sync, that spreads like wildfire, especially in such a small market. Everybody tends to know each other, so a good culture is key to retaining and hiring staff, especially at the junior level. “Gone are the days of cloak-and-dagger cultures, where you have to second guess your value, work all hours and just hope for the best. Law firms had to evolve, tweaking their environment to become more attractive or risk losing staff. Retaining good staff is much better than having to hire replacements.” In terms of culture, transparency and communication are the key imperatives, according to Barry. “Firms that communicate well – internally, externally, to us, to candidates, to the market – and aren’t afraid of showing what they do and how they do it, what good and bad looks like, and are honest and open. That’s what sells. That’s the environment people want to be in.” Source: https://reportslegal.com/ireland-report-2/

Last Friday, the Keane McDonald team was delighted to join a wonderful group of recruiters — all members of Recruitment United — to support Eat Up Australia by making over 1,000 sandwiches for hungry Aussie kids. Across Australia, 1 in 4 students need an Eat Up lunch, and with the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, 77% of schools have reported an increase in students requiring free meals. To date, Eat Up Australia has provided more than 5 million free lunches to students nationwide — an incredible achievement that makes a real difference in young lives. We’re proud to have contributed to this initiative and to stand alongside others in our industry who share our commitment to supporting local communities. A heartfelt thank you to Pete Watson and Kym Kearney for bringing together such an inspiring group of people for this important cause.

Keane McDonald was delighted to support the fight against MND at the Vipers RC inaugural ball in Manly on Saturday night

For access to our comprehensive guide on how to ensure you have the best job interview, please contact Barbara Blask via email at bblask@keanemcdonald.com Absolute discretion and confidentiality is assured.