Mr Heylin today joins a team that advises on some of the most complex and high-impact competition and regulatory matters in the market.

He brings deep expertise in Irish and EU competition law, including merger control, foreign investment screening, antitrust investigations, digital regulation and State aid.

His experience includes competition litigation before the Irish courts and advising across the full spectrum of behavioural and regulatory issues such as cartels, abuse of dominance, joint ventures, co-operation agreements and matters relating to the intersection of competition law with digital regulation.

He has previously worked in antitrust practices in Dublin, London and Brussels.

Managing partner Stephen Holst said: “Liam’s appointment reflects our continued focus on building capability in areas where clients face increasing complexity in competition and regulatory matters.

“His experience across competition law and regulated markets bolsters an already strong team and supports our ambition to grow in areas of strategic importance to our clients.

“Alongside recent senior hires, this appointment signals our commitment to investing in talent that drives innovation and delivers results for clients.

“We’re pleased to welcome him to the firm.”

Mr Heylin added: “Competition law is changing rapidly, domestically and internationally, and clients value the expertise that can help them interpret developments, manage risk and engage effectively with regulators.

“McCann FitzGerald has a trusted reputation in this space, advising across multiple sectors.

“I’m looking forward to contributing to that work and helping clients stay ahead of change and respond with confidence.”