Name: Stephen Keogh
Age: 46
Lives: Clonlara – a great village and great community
Family: Married to Pippa. We have four children, two in primary school and two in secondary school
Role: Managing Partner of MHP Sellors
Other commitments: Chairman of Truagh Clonlara Camogie Club; sits on Board of Charities Reglator; Adjunct Professor of Law in the University of Limerick
About MHP Sellors: MHP Sellors is the leading law firm in the MidWest with more than 50 people working across their offices in Ennis and Limerick. They provide expertise across all spectrums of law, including private client, residential property, Wills & Probate, family law, dispute resolution, commercial law and more
Q: Tell us about your role.
As managing partner of MHP Sellors, Irish Law Firm of the Year 2025, my role entails two things. One is leading the firm in terms of our overall strategy and also leading the commercial team, which is advising business and companies in a whole range of different areas whether it’s buying and selling companies, mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, commercial agreements, or employment law. I have a particular expertise in advising boards and companies in the whole area of employment and board regulations and director’s duties.
Q: Tell us about your route to becoming managing partner of MHP Sellors.
I originally trained and worked with a commercial firm in Dublin called Eversheds Sutherland, an international law firm and then made a decision for quality of life to come back home and set up our life in Clonlara. From there we started in a small firm in Limerick and grew through a strategic merger about 10 years ago which formed Sellors. Then three years ago we merged with Michael Houlihan and Partners which formed MHP Sellors. Many people will be aware of Michael Houlihan and Partners, long-established at 92 years in business in Co Clare so it was a real pleasure to be able to step into a role where I could lead that firm into the next phase of its life.
Q: What values do you try to instil in MHP Sellors?
There are a number of things that are really important to us, the number one thing is “Openness and Honesty”. We don’t keep secrets in our firm, we share everything and everyone is very open about the work they have on their desk, challenges they may have and then we work together to try to overcome anything that is in front of us.
Q: Should customers choose wisely when deciding on their solicitor?
Absolutely, people should shop around. Firstly, people should consider what is the actual area of expertise and is it particularly specialised? Does the firm that you’re talking to have that speciality?
A hugely important area of practice now is regulation and compliance and how we operate our systems in line with the Law Society regulations. We recently went through an audit process to assess our standards and we came out with 93 per cent and a gold award because of the processes we have in place to deal with our clients instructions.
Q: What do you enjoy most about what you do?
What I enjoy most is the people I work with. I really enjoy working with the team and knowing that they’re enjoying themselves and fulfilled in their role. I also very much enjoy the sense that we are trying to create something together. At MHP Sellors, we’re building a law firm for everybody in Clare and Limerick who can avail of it with the full level of expertise across the two counties. I take huge pride in the fact that it’s a secure business, and that it’s a really positive place and it’s providing employment across Clare and Limerick. It’s also very fulfilling that the business gives back. We do an awful lot of charitable work in Clare and Limerick. We had people running the Dublin Marathon recently for charity, we as a firm came together and raised money for Cliona’s Foundation in September by doing a 5k funrun. That giving back element is really important.
Q: Is there any motto you live by?
There is absolutely no substitute for hard work. I stick by that one quite regularly. There’s no shortcuts in life. If you’re not working hard and something’s not happening for you, maybe you need to work a bit harder.
Q: What are your ambitions for MHP Sellors?
Very much to continue with our plans to fully integrate our Ennis and Limerick offices. I think AI is front and centre for us so making sure we’ve got a really strong strategy behind AI in the next year or two is crucially important and then it’s about attracting talent and really good solicitors to join us.
