Donnacha O’Connor

Donnacha O'Connor held the post of Managing Partner at Dillon Eustace for six years, departing on 1 August 2026 to return to full-time practice. He is returning to full-time practice in Dillon Eustace's asset-management and investment-funds, and financial-regulation teams, where he serves as Partner in the Asset Management and Investment Funds team.

O'Connor specialises in advice on regulatory and structural issues relating to the establishment and management of all types of investment fund structures. He has over 20 years' experience in structuring, establishing and advising Irish regulated investment funds and in providing regulatory advice to financial services firms operating in Ireland. His clients include privately-owned and institutional investment managers representing a wide range of asset classes – including fixed income, equity, credit, hedge, managed futures, real estate, private equity, commodities and insurance linked securities. O'Connor is a market-leading practitioner who advises clients on a wide array of mandates including the establishment of AIF and ESG funds.

O'Connor was in-house counsel to an institutional hedge fund for four years before joining Dillon Eustace in 2001. He is educated at University College Dublin and the Law Society of Ireland.

Career history

• Managing Partner, Dillon Eustace (2020–2026)
• Partner, Asset Management and Investment Funds team, Dillon Eustace (2001–present)
• In-house counsel, institutional hedge fund (prior to 2001)

What Donnacha O'Connor could bring to his continued role in asset management and financial regulation: His extensive experience managing a major commercial law firm, combined with deep expertise in investment fund structuring and regulatory compliance, positions him to drive sophisticated counsel to increasingly complex institutional fund sponsors and financial services firms. His transition away from management signals a focus on high-level client advisory work in markets where his technical mastery—particularly around UCITS, alternative funds, and ESG structures—remains highly valued across institutional asset management.