McCann FitzGerald LLP, one of Ireland's premier law firms, has appointed partner Megan Hooper as head of its litigation and dispute resolution group, effective September 1, 2026. The appointment reflects the Dublin-based firm's expansion amid accelerating growth across its practice areas. Hooper, a highly experienced commercial litigation and white-collar crime solicitor, succeeds Michael Murphy, who led the group since 2020 and will remain as a partner at the firm.
Stephen Holst, managing partner at McCann FitzGerald, said he was delighted to appoint Hooper, noting that she had earned an outstanding reputation as an exceptional lawyer and trusted adviser to clients. Hooper thanked Murphy for his leadership over the past six years. No search firm involvement was disclosed in the announcement. The appointment comes as the firm announced three new partner promotions in May 2026, bringing the total partner count to 101, marking what McCann FitzGerald described as an important milestone. The firm is currently seeking new Dublin office space to accommodate continued expansion, having engaged Cushman & Wakefield to secure between 140,000 and 160,000 square feet ahead of its lease expiration in early 2032.
Hooper joined McCann FitzGerald in 2002 after relocating from Australia and was made partner in 2014. She holds degrees in law, business, and arts from St Peter's College in Brisbane. Her practice focuses on commercial litigation, corporate disputes, internal investigations, regulatory investigations, and statutory inquiries, with particular expertise in white-collar crime matters. Since February 2009, she has served as lead adviser to two financial institutions on regulatory and criminal investigations. She is knowledgeable about procedures of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and regulatory bodies including the Central Bank of Ireland and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. Legal 500 ranks her as a Leading Individual for white-collar crime, noting her superb balance of clarity and insight into clients' commercial realities. She has jointly headed the firm's white-collar crime practice and played central roles in many of the firm's most significant disputes and enforcement matters.
McCann FitzGerald, with approximately 650 people including 400 lawyers and professional staff, is structured across four main groupings: corporate, finance, disputes, and real estate including construction. The firm maintains offices in Dublin, London, Brussels (the only Irish law firm with a dedicated EU base), and New York. It serves international organisations, major domestic companies, emerging Irish businesses, and state and semi-state entities. The disputes group is particularly active in complex restructuring, insolvency, aviation financing, pharmaceutical IP disputes, and infrastructure matters, with recent engagements including advising SMBC Aviation Capital on a US$1.76 billion insurance claim related to aircraft losses from the Ukraine conflict.
Hooper's elevation to group leadership appears calibrated to sustain momentum in McCann FitzGerald's dispute resolution practice at a time of demonstrable expansion. Murphy's shift to a partner role rather than full departure suggests intentional knowledge preservation. The timing coincides with the firm's broader growth trajectory, including three new partners promoted in May and active search for enlarged Dublin headquarters. Hooper's 24-year tenure and deep regulatory expertise position her to manage the group through what appears to be a period of sustained expansion in the Irish legal market, particularly in complex corporate disputes and financial services regulatory matters.
