The international firm is reportedly hiring Maree Gallagher to run a life sciences and technology practice in Ireland, which is currently awaiting regulatory clearance from the Law Society of Ireland.

Ms Gallagher is currently an of counsel at Beauchamps and runs her own food and life sciences law firm, Maree Gallagher Associates.

Covington & Burling is reportedly planning to create a new partnership in Ireland, with London-based EU life sciences partner Grant Castle and technology partner Daniel Cooper, who already hold Irish practising certificates, as the founding partners.

The firm has already acted in the Irish courts on behalf of US pharmaceutical firm PTC Therapeutic, which took to the High Court to challenge an HSE decision related to drug funding for rare diseases.

Covington & Burling declined to comment on the Law.com report.