The ABA M&A committee is the world’s largest forum for M&A lawyers with more than 5,000 members, and is the leading forum for ABA members to discuss legal issues, best practice and emerging trends in domestic and cross-border M&A transactions.

The committee works with law schools, the judiciary, investment banking, private equity, corporate and other professionals and includes M&A practitioners from the USA and Canada and more than 40 different countries.

Mr McSharry is the first Irish vice-chair of the international M&A committee, where American and non-US lawyers working on cross-border M&A transactions share issues of common interest and examine the latest legal developments, and best practice for international transactions and country-specific issues.

The leadership team includes M&A partners from some of America’s most prestigious law firms including Skadden, Sullivan Cromwell, Weil Gotshal, Morrisson & Foerster, McDermott Will & Emery, Greenberg Traurig, Covington & Burling, Hogan Lovells and K&L Gates.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr McSharry said: “This is a tremendous honour for me personally and professionally, but also for McCann FitzGerald and the firm’s reputation in the American market and at home.

“I have been involved with the ABA for a number of years and it is great to receive this opportunity to play a role in helping the ABA achieve its objectives and in sharing learnings, developments and best practice through our extensive experience of international transactions.”

Mr McSharry advises on complex corporate transactions including public and private M&A, private equity, reorganisations, corporate governance and joint ventures. As head of McCann FitzGerald’s US office, he has also developed particular expertise in advising US and international clients on M&A, private equity and the establishment of operations in Ireland.