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"A premier and dynamic firm providing client-focused, practical, timely, cost-effective and innovative legal solutions. Founded in 1988, the firm is ranked among the leading law firms in Ireland. The firm has acted in some of the most complex and high-profile legal transactions and proceeding..." read more
"Maples and Calder is an international law firm which advises on the laws of low tax jurisdictions (the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Ireland). The firm has offices in seven jurisdictions around the world – the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Dubai, Dublin, Hong K..." read more

Overview

It takes a downturn to separate the main firms from the chasing pack; as clients retrench, it becomes clear which firms are winning the lion share of the dwindling mandates. The Big Five ( A&L Goodbody, Arthur Cox, McCann FitzGerald William Fry, Matheson Ormsby Prentice) are the gold standard in this market. These firms set themselves apart on the basis of experience, size and ability to specialise, and so inevitably those firms continue to garner a steady flow of instructions at the expense of the mid-tier. However, smaller firms remain upbeat, expecting that as the recession bites, clients will be re-evaluating legal counsel and opportunities to lure work away from the traditional choices will create a more open market.

Maples and Calder’s recent hiring spree is the headline news of the past year. The firm hired corporate partner Edward Miller from Matheson Ormsby Prentice, funds specialist Barry McGrath and leading finance partner Nollaig Murphy, both from A&L Goodbody. The firm is expected to make significant inroads into the domestic funds and corporate finance markets in 2009.

Mason Hayes+Curran has also positioned itself well. A timely merger with healthcare, education and charity specialist Arthur O’Hagan 

in October 2008 appears to demonstrate excellent foresight in the current market. More consolidation is predicted as the work dries up, but so far the only other notable merger was Ronan Daly Jermyn’s acquisition of William Glynn Solicitors towards the end of 2007.

In July 2008 A&L Goodbody boosted its IT/IP team with the hire of John Cahir as partner from Matheson Ormsby Prentice. It also hired litigator Mark Traynor from Maples and Calder. The firm’s recently opened Belfast office adds to an existing network of international offices in London, New York, Brussels and Boston.

Arthur Cox had a good year; in particular its outstanding banking and finance reputation was further strengthened by the Irish Government’s decision to instruct it on its controversial bank guarantee scheme. The firm also has offices in Belfast, London and New York.

Investment funds head Máire O’Connor stood down from the partnership at McCann FitzGerald to become a consultant and Mark White takes up the mantle. The firm maintains its North South Legal Alliance with L’Estrange & Brett and has offices in London and Brussels.

William Fry bolstered its corporate team with the hire of new partners Adam Synnott from Slaughter and May and Shane Kelleher from Amnesty International. North of the border the firm retains excellent links with Tughans in Northern Ireland and it also has an office in New York.

Matheson Ormsby Prentice has welcomed three new hires over the past twelve months: banking partner Ken Rush from Clifford Chance; consultant Gráinne Ní Dhubhghaill, formerly of Denton Wilde Sapte LLP; and shipping specialist Helen Noble from Mason Hayes+Curran. In addition to Dublin, the firm has offices in London, New York and Palo Alto as well as an All Island Legal Alliance with Cleaver Fulton Rankin.

BCM Hanby Wallace responded with vigour to the financial slump by hiring Gavin Simons from Eugene F. Collins to establish (and lead) the firm’s insolvency practice.

In a major coup for public sector heavyweight Philip Lee, it hired litigation specialist Anne Bateman from A&L Goodbody. In line with its strong EU and competition slant, the firm also has an office in Brussels.

Hayes Solicitors received a boost to its employment ambitions with the arrival of Breda O’Malley, who recently joined from McCann FitzGerald.

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

Legal Developments in Ireland

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • REDUNDANCY PAYMENTS - RIGHTS & OBLIGATIONS

    (1) Redundancy – What are my entitlements/obligations?  (2) Is the redundancy legitimate?  (3) What can I do if my employer is insolvent?
    - Duncan Grehan & Partners
  • Frozen Embryos Are Not The ‘unborn’

    The Supreme Court made headlines this week when it considered the age old question of when life begins. The case arose out of an appeal by a mother of two, Mrs. Roche, against the High Court’s refusal to order a Dublin Clinic to release three frozen embryos to her with a view to becoming pregnant against the wishes of her estranged husband. Our firm looked after the interests of two Consultant Gynaecologists and Directors of the Clinic involved in the case.
    - Hayes Solicitors
  • The Case for Advance Care Directives

    Strap - There has been a good deal of publicity on the topic recently following publication of the Law Reform Commission’s September 2009 report on Bioethics: Advance Care Directives. Louise O’Rourke of Hayes Solicitors looks at where and how they apply to the current regime.
    - Hayes Solicitors
  • LANDWELL Bulletin: Managing in a Downturn

    As we are all well aware this is the most turbulent climate for business both nationally and internationally, that any of us have experienced. We have therefore focused this bulletin on areas where we believe we can help you take decisive steps to manage the issues that are required to get through the downturn and be properly prepared for the future.
    - Landwell
  • The Companies (Amendment) Act 2009

    The Companies (Amendment) Act, 2009 (the “Act”) was signed into law on 12 July 2009. The Act provides for signifi cant changes to company law compliance and enforcement. It gives increased powers of search and seizure to the Offi ce of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (“ODCE”) and expands disclosure obligations with regard to transactions between a company and its directors (including specifi c changes for licensed banks). The Act also relaxes the requirement that at least one director of an Irish company must be resident in the State.
    - Landwell
  • New Rules for Acquiring Transactions in the Financial Sector

    In line with EU-mandated requirements, Ireland has introduced new rules governing acquisitions, in whole or in part, of certain regulated financial institutions.
    - McCann FitzGerald
  • Looking East: Irish Investors in a Changing China

    There appears to be no end to the hyperbole surrounding the emergence of China as an economic powerhouse. Everywhere one looks there are references to the Chinese miracle; the most protracted and significant period of economic growth ever witnessed. China, we are told, is the next superpower, the ‘Big Tiger’, the ‘Awakening Dragon’. For western investors, it is said to represent the ‘not to be missed opportunity of a lifetime’.
    - WhitneyMoore
  • Irish Merger Control: Review of Key Developments in 2008

    A 47% Year-on-Year Drop in the Number of Deals Notified: Reflecting the global decline in merger activity, the number of deals notified to the Competition Authority fell to 38 in 2008, a 47% decrease from 2007, when 72 deals were notified, and a more than 60% decrease from the 2006 peak of 98 notified deals.
    - McCann FitzGerald
  • European Communities (Takeover Bids (Directive 2004/25/EC)) Regulations 2006

    The EU Takeovers Directive (2004/25/EC) (the “Takeovers Directive”) has been transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Takeover Bids (Directive 2004/25/EC)) Regulations, 2006 (S. I. No. 255 of 2006) (the “Takeovers Regulations”). The stated aim of the Takeovers Directive is to strengthen the Single Market in financial services by facilitating cross-border restructuring and enhancing minority shareholder protection. Many of the provisions of the Directive are already contained in the existing Irish regime for the supervision of takeovers set out in the Irish Takeover Panel Act, 1997 (the “Act”), the Takeover Rules, 2001 (the “Rules”) and the Companies Acts 1963 – 2005, which will continue to apply. The Takeovers Regulations cater for those areas not already dealt with in the existing regime or areas of the regime that needed to be adjusted as a result of the requirements of the Takeovers Directive.
    - Dillon Eustace
  • Establishing a Retail Fund in Ireland for sale in Japan Fund Structures and Features

    The issuing of securities of offshore funds for public sale into Japan is governed by a combination of the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan (the "SEL") which is enforced by the Japanese Ministry of Finance ("MOF"), the Law Concerning Investment Trust and Investment Company of Japan (the "Investment Funds Law") which is enforced by the Financial Services Agency of Japan ("FSA").Establishing a Retail Fund in Ireland for sale in Japan Fund Structures and Features
    - Dillon Eustace

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
  • Three new partners and shareholders in Andreas Neocleous & Co LLC

    We are pleased to announce the election of three new partners and shareholders in Andreas Neocleous & Co LLC with effect from 1 January 2010
    Andreas Neocleous & Co
  • Salans Advises Renaissance-Amstar JV on €60m financing of green shopping complex in Russia

    International law firm Salans has advised SibStroyInvest, a joint venture between Renaissance, one of the leading shopping mall development companies, and Amstar Global Partners, a private equity real estate fund active in emerging markets including Russia, on a €60m debt financing consisting of a €40m senior loan from the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development and UniCredit Bank Austria as 50% participant and €20m subordinate loan from the EBRD for the new Aura Shopping Centre in the city centre of Novosibirsk, Russia.
    Salans
  • Ogier to offer Guernsey and Jersey legal and fiduciary services in Asia

    Ogier, one of the leading offshore legal and fiduciary firms, has announced plans to offer Guernsey and Jersey services in Asia. In May, Guernsey and Jersey lawyers will be relocating to the firm’s Hong Kong office, where the firm has an established BVI and Cayman legal practice. This latest move comes in response to increased client demand for Channel Islands legal and fiduciary services in the Asian time zone. This is yet another first for Ogier as it will be the first time that Guernsey and Jersey lawyers will operate in this region.
    Ogier
  • Hassans ‘treble’ called to the Gibraltar Bar

    Hassans is delighted to announce that three associates (pictured from left to right, Lizanne Noguera, Grahame Jackson and Joelle Hernandez) were called to the Gibraltar Bar/ Admitted to the Role of Solicitors last week.
    Hassans
  • Mourant and Ozannes to merge creating offshore law firm leader

    Mourant du Feu & Jeune and Ozannes, two of the leading law firms in the Channel Islands, have announced their intention to merge.
    Mourant du Feu & Jeune
  • Hengeler Mueller advises AudioNova on proposed acquisition of GEERS Group

    AudioNova International - the hearing aid retail subsidiary of the Dutch investment company HAL Investments - and shareholders of GEERS Hörakustik have reached an agreement in principle on the acquisition by AudioNova of a 75% stake in GEERS, the Dortmund-based hearing aid retailer.
    Hengeler Mueller
  • Sarrau Thomas Couderc a conseillé Air Liquide dans le cadre de l’acquisition de DinnoSanté

    Paris, le 3 février 2010. Le cabinet Sarrau Thomas Couderc a conseillé Air Liquide, 1er acteur européen des soins à domicile, dans le cadre de l’acquisition de la société DinnoSanté entreprise spécialisée dans les prestations médico-techniques pour le diabète.
    Sarrau Thomas Couderc
  • Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen Assists Ford in a New Complex Transaction

    Bucharest, January 21st - Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen (NNDKP) provided assistance to Ford with respect to the negotiation and conclusion of the guarantee agreement and of the movable and immovable security agreements for the purpose of securing a EUR 320 million guarantee from the Romanian state.
    Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen
  • A first on the Romanian insolvency market

    Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen lays the foundation for a permanent collaboration with Casa de Insolventa Transilvania
    Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen
  • New Partners at AFR Advocates

    AFR Advocates has appointed two new partners, Advocates Sara Mallett and Simon Geall
    AFR Advocates