top of page
pexels-smuldur-2048865.jpg

Legal Relations

Irish legal referrals and workstream co-ordination — handled by K&L Global

IMPORTANT

Certain things in Ireland require a qualified solicitor or a registered barrister. K&L Global does not provide legal advice, but we work alongside experienced Irish law firms and co-ordinate the legal workstream as part of your wider market entry or compliance project.


What K&L Global does — Legal Relations


1. Identify what you need We assess whether the issue requires a solicitor, a barrister, a registered IP agent, or a data protection officer — and advise on the appropriate route. Many clients come to us unsure whether what they need is legal or commercial advice; we help make that distinction.

2. Refer to the right firm We refer clients to Irish solicitors in our network with experience in the relevant area: company law, employment, property, IP, or commercial contracts. Our referrals are based on working experience alongside these firms; they are not paid referral arrangements.

3. Co-ordinate the workstream For market entry projects, legal work — such as a shareholders' agreement or employment contract template — typically runs in parallel with company formation and banking. We include the legal workstream in the project plan and keep it on track.

4. Bridge the communication gap For non-English-speaking clients, we explain the substance of legal advice received and co-ordinate communication between the client and the Irish solicitor.


What requires a qualified Irish solicitor


Under the Solicitors Acts 1954–2015, certain activities in Ireland may only be performed by a practising Irish solicitor:

  • Drafting and advising on commercial contracts (sales      agreements, licensing agreements, distribution agreements, confidentiality      agreements)

  • Shareholders' agreements and investment agreements

  • Property conveyancing — all property purchases in Ireland must      be completed by a solicitor; both buyer and seller must have independent      legal representation

  • Employment law advice, employment tribunal representation, and      WRC (Workplace Relations Commission) proceedings

  • Intellectual property registration, licensing, and enforcement

  • Data Protection / GDPR compliance advice under the Data      Protection Acts 1988–2018

  • Debt recovery and commercial litigation

  • Probate and succession

K&L Global does not provide legal advice in any of these areas. Our role is to identify what you need, refer you to the right professional, and keep the legal workstream on schedule within the wider project.


Key areas of legal support for Ireland clients


Commercial contracts 

All significant commercial agreements should be governed by Irish law and professionally drafted for the Irish market. We advise on the key commercial terms to include and refer to a solicitor for drafting.

Shareholders' agreements 

For companies with multiple shareholders — particularly where one is Irish and one is not — a shareholders' agreement covering reserved matters, dividend policy, transfer restrictions, tag-along and drag-along rights, and dispute resolution is strongly recommended.

Employment law 

The WRC handles complaints under the range of Irish employment statutes. We refer clients to employment solicitors when disputes arise and prepare the payroll and HR documentation that supports the legal process.

Property 

See the Real Estate Investment and Rental page for the property purchase process. All Irish property transactions require a solicitor. K&L Global introduces clients to property solicitors and co-ordinates the process alongside the bank account or company formation engagement.

Intellectual property 

Trademark registration in Ireland is handled by the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI — https://www.ipoi.gov.ie). European Union trademarks are registered with the EUIPO (https://euipo.europa.eu). K&L Global refers clients to IP solicitors or registered IP agents for these applications.

GDPR and data protection 

Ireland is the EU headquarters of many major technology companies, making the Data Protection Commission (DPC — https://www.dataprotection.ie) one of the most active data protection authorities in Europe. Any Irish company that processes personal data must comply with GDPR. K&L Global refers clients to GDPR specialists for compliance advice and refers to a Data Protection Officer where one is required.


GET A FREE CONSULTATION
bottom of page