The new team will work with Canadian companies who need to negotiate through the regulatory landscape and get the full benefit of the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA).

Its goal is to help businesses develop strong trade through the use of CETA and to smoothly manage their way through access to market and regulatory matters. 

Mr Legorburu, who is a council member of the Irish Canadian Business Association, said: “We acknowledge that Canada has exceptional goods and services that would benefit the European Union economies and that both the EU and Canada have a comprehensive free trade arrangement in existence.

“There is a need for greater strategic alliances on trade between Europe and Canada with Ireland as the best gateway.

“Byrne Wallace Shields is well positioned to help Canadian companies navigate this complex regulatory landscape, and has assisted many Canadian companies in relation to setting up in Ireland — as a gateway for the EU — investing in Ireland, and dealing with labour and regulatory requirements.”

The team will be based in the firm’s Dublin office with lawyers in situ in multiple parts of Canada including Toronto and the Maritimes.