Stephen Quinlivan is a partner in the firm's Corporate department and part of the mergers & acquisitions (M&A) group. Stephen also works very closely with the firm's Insurance department on a range of corporate insurance matters, in particular insurance sector M&A and international re-organisations for insurance groups. Stephen is also a very experienced private equity lawyer and advises a number of the firm's key PE and VC clients on fund level matters (including fund formation), acquisitions, disposals, joint venture arrangements and MIPs. Stephen's key areas of expertise include general M&A transactions, insurance and financial institutions M&A, private equity, venture capital, group restructurings, cross-border mergers, cross-border conversions, loan portfolio sales, insurance policy portfolio sales, public takeovers, shareholders agreements and share incentive schemes.
Areas of Expertise
Corporate and M&A/Financial Institutions M&A/Insurance M&A/Insurance & Reinsurance /Private Equity/Corporate Advisory & Company Law/Venture Capital & Growth Equity /ESG and Sustainability
Experience Advising:
- Felix Pharmaceuticals PVT Limited on a complex $175m growth private equity investment from Advent International in 2025, structured as part primary equity investment, part secondary share sale and part ESOP liquidation.
- Fountain Healthcare Partners on the formation and ongoing administration of a number of Irish venture capital funds structured as 1907 Act Limited Partnerships, as well as multiple investments into, and exits of, life science portfolio companies from such funds.
- SCOR Reinsurance on the migration of its Irish headquartered reinsurance undertaking, SCOR Global Reinsurance Ireland DAC, to France by way of cross-border conversion under the Mobility Directive in 2025/26.
- Lanthorn / TMR Hotel Group on the acquisition of a number of Irish hotels by way of share acquisition, including the Fleet Hotel in Templebar and the Ormonde in Kilkenny.
- Grant Thornton Ireland on its sale to and merger with Grant Thornton USA (backed by New Mountain Capital).
- Zurich Insurance plc on its ground-breaking cross-border conversion into a German stock corporation under the Mobility Directive in 2023. This was the first ever outbound cross-border conversion of an Irish company and the first ever cross-border conversion of a regulated insurance company anywhere in Europe.
- AIG/Corebridge on the sale of its Irish health insurance MGA, Laya Healthcare, to AXA for €650m in 2023.
- Liberty Mutual on the Irish aspects of the sale of its West European Markets general insurance business to Generali for €2.3bn in 2023.
- Arthur J. Gallagher on its entry into the Irish market in 2022 via the acquisition of Innovu insurance and its further acquisition of First Ireland Risk Management in 2023.
- Madison Dearborn and Ardonagh on their acquisition of Arachas Insurance, including joint venture and MIP arrangements.
- Tesco Ireland on the acquisition of Joyce's Supermarket Group.
- Blackstone Infrastructure Partners and other consortium members on the acquisition of Applegreen plc by way of public takeover.
- Liberty Insurance Ireland in relation to the migration of its Irish authorised general insurance business, by way of a court sanctioned portfolio transfer and cross-border merger, to Liberty Seguros Spain.
- The Aegon Group on the sale of its Irish life insurance business, Aegon Ireland plc, to Athora/Apollo.
- The Achmea Group on the sale of its Irish life insurance and pensions business, Friends First Life Auurance Company DAC to Aviva.
Market Recommendations
Ranked in the ‘Top 100 lawyers in Ireland’ by the Sunday Business Post – October 2025
‘Stephen Quinlivan goes above and beyond what is required to deliver an efficient, professional service, which represents our interests while maintaining our industry and investor relationships.’ (Legal 500 2025)
‘Stephen Quinlivan – a rising superstar, excellent, very reactive and delivers solution focused outcomes.’ (Legal 500 2024)
Ranked as a “Next Generation Partner” by Legal500 for Commercial, Corporate and M&A in Ireland
Ranked as a “Key Individual” by Legal500 for Insurance Law in Ireland
Education
- Solicitor, Law Society of Ireland
- Bachelor of Business and Law, UCD (First Class Honors)
- Masters in the Business of Law, UCD Smurfit
Stephen Quinlivan
Partner,
Corporate and M&A
Dublin