Kerill O'Shaughnessy is a partner in the Asset Management & Investment Funds group. He acts for a range of funds, promoters and service providers and has extensive experience in advising on the establishment and operation of regulated and unregulated Irish investment funds including liquid retail funds (UCITS, ETFs, Retail Investor AIFs), illiquid professional investor funds (PE / VC / debt funds structured as limited partnerships, real estate funds), fund of funds, master feeder structures and segregated mandates.
Kerill has advised on the authorisation and ongoing operation of a number of UCITS management companies, AIFMs and management companies established to manage both UCITS and AIFs (Super Mancos) including those with MiFID top-up permissions.
He also advises a number of fund service providers including third party management companies, fund administrators and depositaries operating in the Irish market, and has advised on a number of significant recent M&A transactions in the asset management sector in Ireland.
Areas of Expertise
Asset Management & Investment Funds/Private Equity
Experience Advising:
- A UK-headquartered private equity firm on the establishment in Ireland of an AIFM and a buyout PE fund structured as a limited partnership.
- A global insurance and asset management group in respect of its UCITS ICAV and CCF platforms with a range of active and passively managed funds including index tracking strategies.
- A start-up ETF manager on the establishment and authorisation of a UCITS management company with MiFID top-up permissions, and its range of actively-managed ETFs and segregated mandates.
- A global asset management group in respect of its UCITS fixed income range including money market funds, liquidity funds and short duration bond funds.
- A private equity firm on the establishment in Ireland of a PE fund structured as a limited partnership.
- A UK-based distribution-focused investment firm on its Irish UCITS platform comprising a broad range of actively managed strategies including traditional and alternative UCITS strategies.
- Actively-managed UCITS platforms and management companies for a number of UCITS clients investing across the full range of UCITS-compliant investment strategies.
- Acting as legal counsel to Irish fund management companies, fund administration and depository service providers operating in the Irish market.
- Acquisitions and disposals of fund management companies and fund service providers in Ireland.
- Advising a specialist private equity and real estate fund servicing group on the establishment of operations in Ireland including the authorisation of an AIFM, a fund administrator and a real asset depositary business.
- A boutique venture capital firm on the establishment in Ireland and fund-raising for its venture capital fund.
- A European asset manager on establishing a hedge fund structure involving a Master ICAV, Feeder ICAV and Delaware LP marketed to US taxable, non-US and US tax exempt investors.
Market Recommendations
"Kerill O’Shaughnessy is a stand-out partner. Very collaborative and approachable, and overall a pleasure to deal with. " (Legal 500 2024)
"He is a proactive lawyer with a lot of energy. He always provides good advice, is always on top of his game, is never late and is very reliable. He has a high level of focus on client service and getting the right result. He understands the market we operate in." (Chambers Global 2024)
"Adds real value by bringing his technical knowledge to bear not just in his advice and support but also in fostering innovation in the wider funds sector." (Legal 500 2023)
"Kerill O'Shaughnessy has excellent expert knowledge and provides outstanding client service." (Chambers Global 2023)
Professional activities
International Bar Association - Officer of the Asset Management and Investment Funds Committee.
Current member of Irish Funds industry association ELTIF group.
Previously sat on a number of Irish Funds industry association working groups including on Limited Partnership Legislative Reform, Private Equity, Real Estate and Real Assets.
Regular speaker at conferences on asset management and investment fund related topics.
Past lecturer on the Law Society of Ireland's Finance Law Diploma programme.
Representative for asset management and investment funds on Ireland for Law, the Government of Ireland's international legal services strategy body established by the Minister for Justice to promote Irish Law and Irish Legal Services to the international business community.
Education
- Bachelor of Business and Legal Studies, University College Dublin
- Solicitor, Law Society of Ireland
Kerill O’Shaughnessy
Partner,
Asset Management & Investment Funds
Dublin