Diarmaid Gavin
Partner, Cork Office
Diarmaid is the Head of RDJ’s Corporate and Commercial team. He also leads our EU & Competition and Research Innovation and Technology practices. He brings a dynamic blend of expertise to the role across a range of commercial transactions, from technology and outsourcing projects to intellectual property and research and development arrangements, as well as advising on mergers and acquisitions, corporate group restructurings, joint ventures and investment transactions. Diarmaid also advises private and public sector clients on a variety of competition law matters including compliance, State Aid and merger control. With expansive insights across industries, Diarmaid delivers well-rounded and insightful solutions to clients.
In addition, Diarmaid is an established advisor on knowledge transfer interactions between industry and the research performing community. Advising Knowledge Transfer Ireland, as well as a number of Irish universities and companies, his particular expertise includes State-funded multilateral research collaborative projects between academia and industry, enabling knowledge transfer that empowers focused impact. Diarmaid has also advised extensively on IP licensing arrangements and corporate transactions, such as group restructurings, investments and mergers and acquisitions for technology and IP-focused companies.
Prior to joining RDJ, Diarmaid worked with a Magic Circle law firm in London and Brussels, advising on merger notifications before the European Commission and the UK Office of Fair Trading (now the Competition and Markets Authority) as well as on cartel and abuse of dominance cases.
Experience
Significant transactions include advising:
- Rowa Pharmaceuticals Limited on the sale of its shareholding in Rowex Limited to Sandoz AG.
- AventaMed DAC on its sale to Karl Storz SE & Co. KG.
- PMT Premier Machine Tools Limited on its acquisition by Sandvik.
- Independent Irish Health Foods Limited on its sale to BellCap IHF (a part of the Bellingham Capital Group).
- Capstone Financial Services (t/a Pet Insure) on its acquisition by Agria Djurförsäkring.
- O’Leary Insurances on its sale to Brown & Brown (NYSE: BRO), the sixth largest independent broker in the US.
- Lead advisor to a number of Irish Universities on intellectual property and research contract matters.
- Knowledge Transfer Ireland on the development of its model collaborative research and joint ownership management agreements, a consortium agreement for the Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund and a its practical guide for directors and observers and on State aid considerations in research, development and innovation collaborations.
Education
University of Dublin, Trinity College (LLB)
Collège d'Europe, Bruges (LLM in Advanced European Law)
Oxford Institute of Legal Practice (Diploma in Professional Legal Studies)
Professional
Admitted as a solicitor in Ireland.
Accolades
Diarmaid has been recognised by The Legal 500 for his work across EU and Competition, Information Technology, Intellectual Property and Media and Entertainment Law
Practice Areas
Diarmaid Gavin is excellent. I trust his judgment.– The Legal 500 (2024)
Has an in-depth knowledge of our business. He is very matter of fact and upfront about what is going on.– Chambers Europe
Diarmaid Gavin stands out for his state aid work in Ireland.– The Legal 500 (2024)
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RDJ appoints Diarmaid Gavin to lead the Firm’s Corporate and Commercial Group
RDJ has selected partner Diarmaid Gavin to lead firm’s Corporate and Commercial Group.
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