Photo L-R: Shane Kelleher, Partner and Co-Head FinTech; Ciara Battigan, Managing Director Heron; Louise McNabola, Partner FinTech; John O’Connor, Partner and Co-Head FinTech
William Fry has won Legal Advisor or Team of the Year at the National FinTech Awards 2026, held last night at The Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin.
This is the third time in four years that William Fry has won at the National FinTech Awards.
The Firm’s Fintech group gives FinTechs and financial institutions practical, solutions-focused advice on all aspects of regulation and compliance in the financial services sector. The team brings together lawyers who specialise in financial regulation, technology, corporate transactions and data protection. William Fry has advised one third of all electronic money institutions (EMIs) and 30% of all crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) authorised in Ireland to date on their successful applications. The team is advising on what is expected to be the first authorised issuer of electronic money tokens in Ireland. It has also developed the William Fry Authorisations AI Agent. The tool uses the firm’s authorisation experience to anticipate Central Bank of Ireland feedback, which helps clients reach market faster.
Shane Kelleher, Co-Chair of William Fry’s FinTech practice, said: “We are delighted to win at the National FinTech Awards for a third time, and for the second year running. It has been a year of significant regulatory change for the sector, and this recognition reflects the joined up service we provide to our clients, the expertise and commitment of our team and the trust our clients place in us. Thank you to our clients and colleagues, and congratulations to all of this year’s winners and finalists.”
Stephen Keogh, Managing Partner at William Fry, said: “I am very proud of our FinTech team. Three wins in four years reflects the consistent quality of their work for clients. The team brings together our financial regulation, technology, corporate and data protection lawyers and this award shows what we can achieve when we work together. We look forward to continuing to support FinTechs and financial institutions as the sector grows.”
