Fielding an team showcasing a ‘genuine interest in the client’s business goals and objectives and the broader client industry’, Matheson LLP is well-placed to act on a range of high-profile transactions, including public M&A and private capital work; the practice also has an established financial institutions group which maintains a strong reputation with regulated financial clients. The group is jointly spearheaded by David Fitzgibbon, who is an expert in corporate and securities law, and leading practitioner Darren Maher. Fergus Bolster is a key contact for a range of public and private companies, financial sponsors, state bodies and investment banks, and Susanne McMenamin frequently handles M&A, equity capital markets transactions and capital raisings. Caroline Kearns draws on deep experience across the full spectrum of international and domestic corporate transactions, while Patrick Spicer is a seasoned professional within the market. Further key practitioners within the team are the ’first-class’ Sandie Lord, cross-border private M&A specialist Robert Barrett, George Brady, Enda Garvey, who acts for energy investors and private equity funds, and Brian McCloskey, who handles M&A and private equity deals.
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Profile
Work Department
Partner and Co-Head of the Corporate Department and Head of the M&A Group
Position
David is a partner and Co-Head of the Firm’s Corporate Department and Head of the M&A Group advising private and public companies on corporate and securities laws, including mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets transactions. He has extensive experience advising international clients on doing business in and from Ireland including advising on acquisitions/disposals, compliance and governance rules, corporate migrations, cross-border mergers, joint ventures and reorganisations. He has worked extensively with listed companies (Euronext Dublin/LSE, NASDAQ and NYSE) providing ongoing strategic and compliance advice on matters of Irish company law and securities regulation.
He has a broad-based practice reflecting his considerable experience across the agri-food, financial services, healthcare / life sciences and manufacturing sectors.
Prior to joining Matheson, David was a partner at another Irish law firm for over a decade. He has advised on many of Ireland’s headline transactions and regularly acts for well-known Irish and international companies on domestic and cross-border transactions.
Education
Trinity College Dublin (LLB with German)
Law Society of Ireland, admitted as a solicitor
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Knowledge of the business, commercial approach to transaction and understanding of real needs.'
‘The Matheson team are one of the best teams we have worked with in Ireland. Their legal and sector knowledge is excellent, and they have a genuine private capital focus within the team (understanding the key drivers and structures for PE clients and how these overlay within the Irish regulatory and legal framework). Their financial services sector expertise is excellent, and we think they offer great value for money.’
‘Rory Mullarkey and Sandie Lord are first class, with excellent market knowledge. They are commercial and their attention to detail and responsiveness is fantastic. These qualities are also evident in the wider team - in terms of associates, Rachel Toland-Burke stands out for producing consistently great work on tight timescales.’
‘The deal involved a team from many countries. The Matheson team were always available to take call and to cope with multi timezone challenges. During the process, they faced all the legal challenges by focusing on the solution. Working as one team was part of the success and despite the project challenges, everyone was keen to collaborate and cooperate.’
‘Dedication and willingness to move, besides surprises and complexities. We highly appreciated working with Sandie Lord and her very talented team.’
‘A very genuine interest in the client's business goals and objectives and the broader client industry. Very approachable and responsive. Clear communication.'
‘Sandie Lord is highly engaging and had tremendous client communication skills. She maintains strong client relationships even if there are no current matters and build a high level of trust with clients. She is responsive and very helpful, and sourcing the different teams within the firm where necessary.'
‘Sandie Lord is highly responsive to client needs and establishes valuable and trusted relationships with clients. Adaptability to subject matter and industry.'
Key clients
- Advent International Corporation AIB AMP Capital (now known as Infrabridge) AmTrust An Post Apax Partners LLP Arcus Infrastructure Arena Pharmaceuticals Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. Authentic Brands Group LLC Axa Group Bain Capital Private Equity Bank of Ireland Barclays Bank plc Battery Ventures Bauer Media Group BBC Birds Eye Food Limited Blackbee Investments Blackrock Bregal Milestone BSO Group CA Ventures Carbon Crowley Carne Group Cellnex Telecom, S.A. CGI Inc. Chemocentryx Constellation Cold Logistics Circle Internet Financial Limited Citadel Citi Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA CSG Systems International Inc CVC Daily Mail/DMGT Dawn Capital Dell Technologies DIF CIF II Disney DMS Governance Draycott SCR Dropbox Dunelm Group Plc Druggability Eaton Corporation plc Encavis AM Management GmbH Emerson Electric Co Equilend Equinix Inc. EQT Ethypharm F-Prime Capital Felicis Ventures Fexco GAM Investment Management Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions Limited General Secure Logistics Limited Genesys Gemini Investments LP Glanbia Co-Operative Society Limited Goldman Sachs International Goode Partners LLP Governor and Company of Bank of Ireland Horizon Therapeutics HP Inc HPS IFG Group plc ILHAWK Limited (Irish Life) Independent News & Media Insight Venture Partners LLC Irish Distillers IQ-EQ Group Itron Irving Oil John Barron Environmental Limited JP Morgan Kargo Capital LLC Kastus Kohlberg & Company LLC Lead Edge Capital Left Lane Capital Liffey Meats LinkedIn Macquarie Asset Management Macquarie Capital Majesco MariaDB Corporation Ab / MariaDB plc Mcquarrie Wayward Memjet group Mercer Mergon Group Limited Metaverse Technologies Limited Michael Dixon International Transport Monaghan Mushrooms Monument Life Insurance Designated Activity Company MTM Engineering nAperte Designated Activity Company Nauta Capital VC Partners Netwatch Nomad Foods Novo Nordisk Healthcare Novartis Pharma AG NTR Ireland Investments 2 DAC One Peak Partners Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust Orpea SA Panelto Foods Pandox A.B Pernod Ricard S.A Paysafe Planet Riverside Partners Rubrik S2G Ventures Secret Escapes Shutterstock Inc Singapore Biotech Sitecore Smurfit Kappa Group plc. Sofina Foods Inc Spencer Stuart SPP Pension & Försäkring AB (publ) STAR Capital State Street STERIS plc Stride Venture Capital Tapestry Inc Tirlán.Co-operative Society Limited (formerly known as Glanbia Co-operative Society Limited) Vermillion Energy Inc Vertex Inc Vertiv Waterland Private Equity Waystone Group Weatherford International plc Weight Watchers International Inc Western Union Yum! Brands Inc
Work highlights
Advised Cellnex Telecom, S.A. on the sale of its Irish business (circa 1,900 towers) to Phoenix Tower International.