The Legal Cheek View
Winston Taylor Ireland traces its Dublin roots back to 2021, when Taylor Wessing opened its 29th worldwide office in the Irish capital and quickly set about establishing itself as a serious player in the local market. Fast forward to 2026, and the office has a new name above the door following the completion of Taylor Wessing’s merger with US outfit Winston & Strawn. The tie-up has created one of the largest transatlantic firms, with more than 1,400 lawyers across 20 offices spanning the US, the UK, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
For Dublin, the merger marks a significant next step. The office, led by Adam Griffiths, is part of Winston Taylor’s Europe and Middle East platform and now sits within a wider firm known for major litigation, critical transactions, strategic IP and private wealth, with particular sector strength in technology, media and telecommunications, life sciences and healthcare, financial services, and projects, energy and infrastructure. That is a neat fit for the Dublin team, which has already made a name for itself in Ireland’s technology, life sciences, healthcare, real estate, private wealth and private equity markets.
Even before the merger, the Dublin office had been growing quickly. What started as a new entrant to the Irish market in 2021 has become a team of almost 50 people, with expanding capabilities across corporate, banking and finance, real estate, technology, IP, data privacy, disputes, patents, tax, private wealth and employment. Recent work has included advising on Eudia’s acquisition of Johnson Hana, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC’s additions of Grant Thornton France, Belgium and Spain, Sanara MedTech’s agreement with Biomimetic Innovations, and a string of Dublin real estate transactions, including the acquisition of several high-profile city office buildings. Its deal sheet speaks for itself: Winston Taylor Ireland is building its reputation on complex domestic and cross-border work, particularly in the sectors driving Ireland’s growth economy.
The Irish office has also continued to deepen its bench. In spring 2024, Patricia McCarvill joined as its first dedicated tax partner in Dublin, signalling the development of a standalone tax practice, while lateral hiring across finance, real estate and other key areas has added further depth. Now backed by Winston & Strawn’s US firepower and Taylor Wessing’s established European reputation in tech, life sciences and IP, Winston Taylor’s Dublin office looks well placed to keep growing from in the Emerald Isle.
The firm’s Ireland base can be found at 58 Fitzwilliam Square North, in the heart of Dublin’s pristine legal and commercial district. Set within one of the city’s most architecturally appealing squares — completed in 1830 and centred around a private residents’ garden — the firm’s office blends contemporary design with the charm of Dublin’s best-preserved Georgian architecture. The surrounding streets are lined with elegant red-brick townhouses now home to law firms, embassies, consultancies and galleries, creating an atmosphere that balances professional prestige with cultural vibrancy. Just a short stroll away are Grafton Street’s boutiques, leafy St Stephen’s Green, and a wealth of cafés, bars and restaurants — from traditional Irish pubs to sleek hotel lounges — offering plenty of scope for post-work socialising. Fitzwilliam Square’s mix of heritage, green space and city-centre energy makes it an energising base for its lawyers to work. The move to these newly fitted offices in 2024 signifies Winston Taylor’s long-term commitment to its Irish operations and provides a comfortable setting for its growing team.
And speaking of growth: in summer 2027, Winston Taylor will welcome its first cohort of Irish trainees. The firm says the Dublin rookies will play a central role in shaping the culture of the Dublin office and the structure of the programme, gaining early responsibility and exposure within a growing practice. From its Dublin base, the firm’s lawyers are fully integrated into Winston Taylor’s international network, collaborating with colleagues around the globe on complex, high-value mandates for clients ranging from fast-growth startups to multinational corporates. Trainees can likely expect to experience seats across the office’s expanding range of offerings — including corporate, M&A, banking and finance, real estate, tax, disputes and investigations, patents, intellectual property, information rights and cyber security, and digital regulation.
With its strong international reputation, ambitious growth trajectory and strategic investment in Dublin, Winston Taylor’s Irish office is an exciting prospect for aspiring solicitors. It reflects the city’s growing importance as a European legal and commercial hub and offers the rare opportunity to grow alongside a global firm still in the early stages of its Irish story. For those eager to take on high-calibre work and early responsibility in this exciting growth period, Winston Taylor’s Dublin training contract looks like one to watch.