About

Keane McDonald is an international legal recruitment firm. We specialise in the recruitment of legal professionals for private practice clients and in-house legal departments located in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.

Established in 2005, we have been working closely with top-tier, mid-tier and boutique law firms as well as leading domestic and international corporations, financial institutions and consulting firms.


  • We source legal talent at all ranks up to and including Partner and Board level.
  • We possess a wealth of experience and knowledge of the global legal recruitment sector which enables us to provide our clients and candidates with sound, in-depth and up-to-date advice.
  • We recognise that the key to a successful engagement is a deep understanding of client and candidate needs. We invest considerable time in understanding our clients, their organisational culture and their specific requirements.


Clients and candidates alike are assured the utmost confidentiality and discretion when working with us.

Our Services


MEET OUR TEAM

Yvonne (Keane) Kelly

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Yvonne is CEO of Keane McDonald Executive Legal Recruitment. After a number of years working within professional recruitment and recognising the need for a dedicated legal search and selection specialist in Ireland, Yvonne established Keane McDonald in June 2005. She has more recently expanded operations to cover the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Yvonne has a strong track record in managing professional search and selection campaigns for experienced lawyers up to Partner and Director level globally. She consistently manages highly confidential executive assignments for a number of the elite international firms and many of the worlds largest corporations in multiple jurisdictions.

Mia Barry

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

Mia is Commercial Director at Keane McDonald. She specialises in Associate and Partner level appointments for law firms and In-House Counsel opportunities up to and including General Counsel level for Financial Institutions in Ireland. Originally from Sweden, Mia studied and graduated from Sheffield Hallam University before moving to Ireland where she has for the past 15 years, enjoyed a stellar career in executive recruitment. As well as delivering world class search mandates, Mia has built successful recruitment firms taking full responsibility for finances, operations, talent and growth. She is a highly trusted and respected partner who delivers expert advice in a discrete manner, ensuring success for client and candidate alike.

Mared Roberts

commercial DIRECTOR

Mared is Commercial Director at Keane McDonald. Having over 15 years’ experience as a trusted advisor in executive search and selection, Mared leads our In-House Legal Department, managing sophisticated recruitment campaigns for premium clients. Mared is also a key contact for lawyers looking to move within private practice in Ireland. With a first class honours degree in French and German, Mared has recruited for some of the world’s largest companies across numerous market sectors. Prior to returning to Ireland, she worked  in Europe and Hong Kong, for a number of years. Mared brings a wealth of expertise, professionalism and a genuine passion for the people she represents.

Edward Kelly

Director

Edward is Director and Head of Operations at Keane McDonald. He manages the finance function of the firm. Edward oversees the ongoing development of the company locally and internationally. His main focus is ensuring that operating performance and continued business growth is in line with company budgets as well as ensuring that the firm meets the tax, legal, data protection and regulatory requirements across all jurisdictions.

Malwina Kempa

Legal recruiter

Malwina is a Legal Recruiter with Keane McDonald. She has a natural flair for sourcing and matching the ideal candidate with a job. With a Bachelor of Business Degree and extensive client management experience, she has a keen eye for detail and a talent for business-minded solutions that puts clients first. Malwina grew up in Poland complementing Keane McDonald’s multi-cultural and diverse team that keeps us at the forefront of International Legal Recruiting, as we anticipate clients’ and candidates’ every need throughout the process. Malwina is highly proactive, diligent and assertive. She is an excellent communicator making her an outstanding team player.

Barbara Blask

Recruitment Resourcer

Barbara is a Legal Recruitment Resourcer with Keane McDonald. Having worked in a busy client focused role for many years, she has a flair for managing relationships in a demanding professional environment where expectations are high. Her strong research, methodical and organisational skills make her a natural at sourcing and matching talent for the wide variety of legal assignments presented to her. A proud Polish native, Barbara has an incredible work ethic and professional approach which mirrors the exceptional service levels required by our client portfolio. She is a highly valued member of our tight knit team. 

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