Mark is a partner in the firm's Corporate Department. Mark specialises in M&A, company law, corporate finance, private equity, joint ventures, venture capital, corporate restructurings, commercial contractual arrangements and corporate fundraisings.
Mark's clients include public and private corporates, private equity, financial institutions and commercial enterprises generally. Mark's work ranges from general advice on compliance, including corporate governance, to advice on transactions, restructurings and on commercial contract arrangements. Clients that Mark advises generally include Kerry Group plc, ICON plc, eir, Glenveagh Properties plc, ABP Foods, Gas networks Ireland, BGE (Centrica), Nephin energy (CPPIB), and Elavon (US Bank).
Areas of Expertise
Corporate and M&A/Investing in Ireland/Commercial Contracts/Capital Markets – Equity/Hospitals & Healthcare/Food, Drink & Agri/Corporate Advisory & Company Law
Experience Advising:
- CVC on its carve-out acquisition of the Therakos business, a fully integrated extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) delivery system for autologous immunomodulatory therapy, from global specialty pharma company Mallinckrodt.
- PHOENIX Pharmahandel GmbH & Co KG on the acquisition of parts of McKesson’s European business activities.
- ICON plc on its proposed $12bn acquisition of PRA Health Sciences.
- Brindley Healthcare Ltd on its sale to Orpea S.A.
- ICON plc, eir, ABP, Ervia, CPPIB, Google and Elavon on general commercial advises.
- CVC Capital Partners on its acquisition of a stake in the Pro14 provincial rugby union league.
- Comcast on its acquisition of Irish cloud based telco Blueface in January 2020.
- CPPIB on its acquisition of Shell's interest in the Corrib Gas Field.
- Verizon Communications on its offer to acquire FleetMatics Group plc for $2.4bn. (European Corporate Deal of the Year - The Lawyer 2017)
- Link Asset Services on its strategic partnership with Leveris.
- Brookfield on the disposal of the Killhills and Knockacummer Wind Farms to Greencoat.
- GenCell Biosystems on its acquisition by Becton, Dickinson and Company.
- Pfizer on its proposed $160bn merger with Allergan plc.
Market Recommendations
"He offers excellent consideration of complex matters." (Chambers Global 2024)
"Mark Ward maintains a distinguished practice and is widely acknowledged as a leading M&A lawyer." (Chambers Global 2023)
“An excellent senior statesman, with first-rate insight and a very commercial.” (IFLR 1000 2023)
"A serious operator who is able to quickly identify and resolve the key issues." (Legal500 2022)
Professional activities
Mark has lectured at the Irish Law Society on contractual arrangements and has presented at a number of conferences, including conferences relating to mergers and acquisitions for high growth companies in the technology sector.
Education
- Solicitor, Law Society of Ireland
- BCL, University College Dublin
Mark Ward
Partner,
Corporate and M&A
Dublin