Department profile
Walkers

Banking & Finance: Asset Finance

Global Guide 2026 : Ireland


Walkers

Rankings

About

Provided by Walkers

Asset Finance
Walkers' market leading Asset Finance Group focuses on all aspects of the financing, leasing and trading of aircraft, aircraft engines, helicopters and other heavy transportation assets such as rolling stock and vessels. It has extensive experience in establishing leasing and trading platforms in Ireland and in complex asset finance transactions acting for lessors, lessees, financiers and private equity houses.

Banking
Walkers' Banking Group advises agents, arrangers, banks, international financial institutions and corporations on an extensive range of domestic and international cross-border banking and finance transactions. It advises on all aspects of loan and credit facilities ranging from short-term unsecured loans to multi-currency syndicated loans and revolving facilities, leveraged finance, acquisition finance, asset finance, debt restructuring, structured finance and capital markets.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Banking & Finance: Asset Finance - Ireland

Band 2

Band 2


What the Team is Known For
Walkers is an elite offshore law firm with a widely respected asset finance practice in Dublin. The team acts for lessors, airlines and financial investors on an array of high-value leasing, acquisition and securitisation mandates. Walkers also maintains a highly regarded DCM and structured finance offering, with particular expertise in securitisation transactions, and often assists clients with note issuances and CLO transactions. The law firm also has a growing reputation in the real estate finance sphere.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Walkers advised Boltech on its USD50 million senior secured venture debt facility.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Walkers is responsive and willing to discuss complicated issues.

    Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
  • The Walkers team is very proactive; the lawyers do not wait for the question to be asked but rather they anticipate the needs of their clients, and ensure issues are dealt with and risks minimised.

    Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
  • Walkers is responsive, really pleasant to work with and very knowledgeable.

    Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
  • Walkers' customer service and responsiveness is unparalleled.

    Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
  • Walkers is responsive and diligent.

    Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 2Andrew Traynor
    Band 2Andrew Traynor

    Andrew Traynor

    Andrew Traynor is a well-known figure in the DCM market and has notable experience in structured finance, EMTN programmes and securitisations.
    • Andrew Traynor is brilliant and good-humoured.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Andrew Traynor is highly responsive, always brings thoughtful suggestions and ideas to the table, and is a real asset on any deal.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Andrew is very professional and knowledgeable.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Andrew provides excellent advice and guidance through the Irish aspects of our transaction.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
  • Band 2Noeleen Ruddy
    Band 2Noeleen Ruddy

    Noeleen Ruddy

    Noeleen Ruddy offers expertise covering note issuances as well as matters relating to collateralised loan obligations.
    • Noeleen Ruddy is always putting herself out there and being an excellent mentor to those around her.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Noeleen Ruddy is an exemplary professional heading a best-in-class team with an outstanding reputation in the market.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Noeleen is constructive and a natural problem-solver. Her advice is sought on the most complex matters.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Working with Noeleen is an absolute pleasure.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
  • Band 3Matt Hedigan
    Band 3Matt Hedigan

    Matt Hedigan

    Matt Hedigan is well regarded for his robust aviation finance practice. He is sought out by financial institution, private equity investors and operating lessors, and often acts on cross-border transactions.

    • Matt Hedigan is a great all rounder and a safe pair of hands for complicated transactions.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Matt is always responsive and provides clear legal advice. He is there for us to provide the time sensitive support needed.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Matt is commercially aware and savvy, and he knows how to solve problems.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Matt Hedigan is a super responsive lawyer, providing very clear, sound commercial legal advice. He is excellent at getting things done in a timely fashion.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Matt is a great partner.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
  • Band 3Paddy Rath
    Band 3Paddy Rath

    Paddy Rath

    Paddy Rath enjoys a solid reputation in the areas of CLO's and securitisations.

    • Paddy is a natural collaborator and problem-solver.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Paddy is great to work with and incredibly knowledgeable.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Paddy Rath is hugely respected and highly regarded practitioner in this space.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Paddy Rath is super helpful, responsive and extremely supportive of our business.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Paddy Rath is very responsive, and simply outstanding when it comes to understanding Irish law applying it to very challenging and complex matters.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
  • Band 4Ian McNamee
    Band 4Ian McNamee

    Ian McNamee

    Ian McNamee holds a strong track record in the areas of fund finance, securitisation and structured finance. He is frequently mandated for cross-border transactions.

    • Ian McNamee is very supportive and has an understanding of what the client needs.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Ian McNamee is very thoughtful and prepared in all the meetings, and takes the time to explain nuances, differences or emphasis in documents.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Ian is very commercially minded and able to provide exactly what clients need.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Ian is extremely good on the technical and knowledge side, but is also very easy to deal with and commercial.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
  • Up and ComingKillian McSharry
    Up and ComingKillian McSharry

    Killian McSharry

    Killian McSharry is an up-and-coming partner who is recognised for his experience handling aircraft finance and leasing matters.

    • Killian is very experienced in working on cross-border transactions and is highly attuned to the demands of international transactions and bridging Irish legal requirements with commercial objectives.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Killian is a strong technical lawyer and always seeks to help.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Killian McSharry is an excellent professional and a pleasure to deal with.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
    • Killian is an excellent lawyer and a standout figure in the Irish aviation legal market.

      Banking & Finance: Asset Finance respondentGlobal
  • Ireland, expertise based abroad in UKDonna Ager
    Ireland, expertise based abroad in UKDonna Ager

    Donna Ager

    Dual-qualified UK and Irish lawyer Donna Ager is an expert in handling aircraft acquisitions, leasing transactions and syndicated warehouse facilities. She acts for clients from the firm's London office.

Ranked Individuals at Walkers (7)

Ireland

Members

Provided by Walkers

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