Alvarez & Marsal launches its Tax practice in Ireland

Global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal has launched its Tax practice in Ireland, bringing David Smyth and Declan Lavelle on board as Managing Directors to co-lead the new wing.

The addition of the practice is part of Alvarez & Marsal’s strategy to build a substantial tax team in Dublin, following the opening of its office in the city in 2025.

“Dublin is a global hub for a cluster of key sectors including life sciences, technology, financial and professional services, and as the only English-speaking common-law country in the Eurozone, Ireland is seeing growing demand for tax restructuring and advisory services,” said Ernesto “Ernie” Perez, Global Practice Leader of the Tax practice.

The move continues the global expansion of the Tax business, which recently also launched in the Saudi market.

Declan Lavelle joins Alvarez & Marsal from law firm DLA Piper where he was a Tax Partner and previously worked at William Fry and Deloitte specialising in corporate and international tax matters. He advises private equity firms and multinational groups on M&A and international tax structuring.

David Smyth joins from EY where he was a Tax Partner specialising in financial services and the pharmaceuticals sector, having served for over 39 years with the firm. During his tenure at EY, he advised a broad range of clients, including major Irish companies and multinational groups on their international tax affairs.

Marvin Rust, Managing Director and Head of the Tax business in EMEA, said: “David and Declan join at a pivotal time as we expand our Tax practice into Ireland alongside broader growth across the firm in the market. Dublin is a strategic hub for global tax services, and establishing a strong local presence is critical. Their deep local experience makes them the right leaders to grow our business in Ireland.”