Matheson is pleased to be advising Smurfit Kappa Group, the FTSE 100 paper-based packaging company, on its proposed combination with US-based WestRock Company, an S&P 500 packaging company, to form Smurfit WestRock.
The Matheson team advising Smurfit Kappa is led by partners based in our Dublin and New York offices, including; David Fitzgibbon (Co-Head of the Corporate Department and Head of Corporate M&A); partners David Jones (New York) and Susanne McMenamin; together with a Corporate M&A team of senior associate, Alan McMullan; associate, Joanna Crowley, with solicitors; Darren Quinn, Leo Collins, Megan Gantly, Kevin Lavin, and Rachel Hodgins, and trainees Peter Holland and Ciara Hayes. They are working alongside a wider Matheson team of John Ryan (Tax principal); partners, Philip Tully, Tomas Bailey, and Matthew Broadstock, with associate Rachel O'Sullivan (Tax); Anti-trust partner Kate McKenna and senior associate Simon Shinkwin; and partners Christian Donagh, Maireadh Dale, supported by senior associate Sherilyn Deane and associate Nicole Burke (Finance).
Matheson is working alongside US counsel, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, and UK counsel, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP.
Commenting on the combination, David Fitzgibbon, Co-Head of Matheson's Corporate practice and Head of M&A, said: "We are delighted to once again be working with Smurfit Kappa and its leadership team. This significant transaction marks an exciting next chapter in Smurfit Kappa's growth story as it combines with WestRock to form Smurfit WestRock. This transaction represents yet another example of our market-leading Corporate M&A practice's long-standing experience working with clients on their complex strategic cross-border transactions."
Corporate M&A at Matheson
Matheson's corporate practice is led by 36 corporate partners and over 120 lawyers. The team consistently advises on the most high-profile and significant transactions in the Irish and international markets. The department has unparalleled experience in managing complex and innovative domestic and international corporate transactions across all industry sectors and regularly works seamlessly with other international law firms to deliver large and complex cross-border transactions.
As a mark of the team's expertise and strong performance, Matheson was ranked as the top Irish law firm for M&A by deal volume during 2022 by leading publication, Mergermarket, and currently has more Corporate M&A lawyers ranked by leading international directories Chambers & Partners and The Legal500 than any other Irish law firm.
For more information about our legal services, please contact a member of the Corporate team or your usual Matheson contact.
