Philip Lee merger with BHK strengthens Cork legal market
Expanded firm to exceed 50 partners as Philip Lee deepens regional presence
15 January 2026 | đŸ“§Â editor@breakingground.news
Philip Lee LLP has announced a strategic merger with Cork-based BHK Solicitors LLP, significantly expanding its presence in Cork and the wider Munster region. From 1 February 2026, the combined practice will trade as Philip Lee LLP.
The merger will see Philip Lee’s partner headcount exceed 50, marking a further step in the firm’s growth and positioning it as a larger player in Ireland’s commercial legal sector. The move is intended to strengthen service delivery for clients in Cork and Munster while supporting the increasing scale and complexity of regional business activity.
Philip Lee said the merger reflects its ambition to better serve a growing client base in the south of the country, while providing BHK’s partners and clients with access to broader resources, specialist expertise and national and international infrastructure. The combined firm will operate as a multi-disciplinary legal practice in Cork, offering a wider range of services locally and reducing reliance on advisers based outside the region.
Jonathan Kelly, managing partner of Philip Lee, said the merger was a natural progression in the firm’s expansion. He said Cork’s economic momentum and international profile made it a strategic priority, and that the combined offering would deliver greater value to clients while creating new opportunities for staff.
BHK Solicitors was founded nine years ago by Patricia O’Brien, Gavin Hinchy and David O’Keeffe and has built a strong reputation as a corporate-focused firm, with particular strengths in real estate, corporate transactions and litigation.
Patricia O’Brien, partner at BHK Solicitors, said joining Philip Lee marked a new chapter for the firm. She said clients would benefit from expanded expertise and resources, while the team would gain access to wider professional development and collaboration opportunities within a larger national firm.
