Orla is a partner in the Finance Department and Chair of the firm. She has led on numerous financing and restructuring transactions both for banks and borrowers across all asset classes and on some of the most high profile financial services M&A transactions in the Irish market.

Orla is also a member of the firm’s Financial Regulatory Group and advises on bank reorganisations and on a wide range of regulatory issues relating to payments, electronic money, anti-money laundering, mortgage arrears and consumer credit. She has also advised a range of banks, private equity firms and servicers expanding and restructuring their operations on regulatory, licensing and other legal issues and on their interactions with the Central Bank. She has advised on a wide range of bank asset disposals by both Irish and international banks operating in Ireland as part of their deleveraging strategies.

In 2022, Orla was recognised as one of IFLR1000 Women Leaders and she is ranked as a Legal 500 Leading Individual (2021); Chambers Eminent Practitioner (2021) and IFLR1000 Expert Consultant (2022).

Relevant Experience

• Advised Permanent TSB plc (PTSB) on the acquisition of certain elements of the Ulster Bank Ireland DAC (Ulster Bank) retail, SME and asset finance businesses
• Advised Apollo Capital Management on a range of bids, acquisitions and servicing arrangements in the Irish market and on the related restructuring and financing arrangements
• Advised Bain Capital on a range of financing and loan asset purchases in the Irish market
• Advised Lloyds Banking Group on its Irish loan portfolio disposals
• Advised Elliott Capital on a range of asset purchases in the Irish market
• Advised Goldman Sachs on the licencing of a range of portfolio companies and relating outsourcing arrangements
• Advised Cabot Ireland on various servicing arrangements
• Advised Balmoral International Land plc on its financing arrangements
• Advising a broad range of banks, regulated firms and servicers on financial regulatory issues including anti-money laundering and financial sanctions compliance, consumer credit issues, review of policies and procedures, customer documentation and customer correspondence to ensure compliance with consumer legislation and the Consumer Protection Code, SME Code and Mortgage Arrears Code