Declan O’Sullivan advises domestic and international clients in the establishment and authorisation of all types of investment funds including UCITS, hedge funds, property funds and private equity funds. He also represents many leading fund service providers in Ireland, including investment managers, administrators and custodians. Mr. O’Sullivan has advised clients on the rollout of many innovative new products.
Mr. O’Sullivan previously led the alternative investment practice at Dublin firm William Fry. Mr. O'Sullivan served for many years (including a term as Chair) on the Alternative Investments Committee of the Irish Funds Industry Association, as a member of the Irish industry’s task force on the Alternative Investment Funds Managers Directive and as a member of the European Commission Expert Group on Open Ended Real Estate Funds. He currently sits on the Irish Funds working groups dealing with private equity funds and loan funds. He is also a notary public.
Mr. O’Sullivan is ranked as a leading lawyer in his field by the independent legal directories Chambers Europe and Chambers Global. The 2017 editions of Chambers Global and Chambers Europe cite clients as commenting that he "is an expert in the funds business" and states that he possesses significant market experience and a particular knowledge of alternative investment funds. The 2016 edition of Chambers Global states that is a "highly respected investment funds lawyer, who established the firm's funds offering in Ireland" with clients noting that he is "really smart and has a lot of experience. He has obviously counselled enough clients to know what they like and want." The 2015 edition of Chambers Global states that "sources highlight Declan O'Sullivan for his experience and knowledge of the Irish funds market, particularly regulatory matters", with clients noting that: "he is a practical, smart lawyer, who isn't afraid of coming up with solutions to tough problems". Chambers Global 2014 states that he is known for his "brilliant knowledge and contacts" and described as having "his finger on the pulse". He is recommended in The Legal 500 EMEA 2014, which states that "the highly experienced Declan O’Sullivan continues to develop the investment funds practice at Dechert LLP." Mr. O’Sullivan has previously been described in The Legal 500 EMEA as a "leading expert in his field" and in Chambers Europe as "widely esteemed" and praised his "deep understanding of the investment industry – he knows what the financial regulator’s thinking is likely to be." Mr. O'Sullivan is included in the fifth edition of Best Lawyers in Ireland for the area of Private Funds and is recommended as a leading lawyer in The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers - Private Funds 2014.
Mr. O'Sullivan is a regular contributor to and editor of leading financial services and asset management publications and texts. He is a regular speaker at industry events.