News & Events

Mason Hayes & Curran expands tax practice with appointment of John Gulliver as new Head of Tax

07 January 2010

Mason Hayes & Curran has commenced a strategic initiative to expand its tax offering through the hire of a new head of tax, John Gulliver from a top boutique independent tax practice. 

John’s experience includes advising Vodafone on its original €4bn acquisition of its mobile business in Ireland, advising on the tax consequences of winding up one of the largest licensed captives in Ireland, advising on the tax consequences of numerous structures for blue chip commercial property acquisitions and disposals, advising in respect of various renewable projects and frequently  advising on establishing and expanding business operations in Ireland to minimise foreign tax.

Commenting on the appointment Emer Gilvarry, Managing Partner of Mason Hayes & Curran, said “I’m delighted to welcome John to Mason Hayes & Curran.  While market conditions are extremely challenging and the timeframe for economic recovery is uncertain, standing still is not an option.  We have taken a decision as a firm to build on John’s experience and substantially invest in our tax department through a series of lateral tax specialist hires.  We have followed a very focused growth strategy in recent years which has been based on expanding our range of services and legal expertise,  alignment with growth areas of the economy and  developing our  international credentials to be in a position to advise international businesses establishing  a presence in Ireland.  John’s appointment is a natural progression of this strategy and provides our firm with a focal point to expand its tax offering to service the demands of our international corporate client base for tax services delivered from within a law firm with a distinct international outlook. 

The appointment supports our growth strategy and our ambition to be the most progressive Irish law firm through taking initiatives that benefit our clients and keep us ahead of the market. “

Commenting on his move, John Gulliver noted that “unique amongst many of the full service Irish firms, Mason Hayes & Curran’s growth has been driven by its most respected and established corporate department’s commitment to servicing enterprises that wish to use Ireland as an alternative OECD white listed location to structure transactions.   Clients expect and demand their legal firms to provide front end tax structuring services.   In joining Mason Hayes & Curran, there is a unique opportunity to build a practice that services international clients’ demand for a seamless tax and corporate service.  The recent spate of corporate inversions to Ireland merely shortens the odds of a new high profile cross border merger involving two groups resident in different countries being launched from an Irish Bidco.  The tax technology behind the modus operandi for an inversion would suggest the structures are evolving to use Ireland as a neutral Bidco location”.

Paul Egan, Chairman of Mason Hayes & Curran’s Corporate department and member of the respected Irish Company law review group noted that “the ability of any firm to advise foreign enterprises in respect of Irish company law inevitably requires heavyweight tax input.  The hire of John Gulliver considerably expands the firm’s ability to service the market without outsourcing the tax component of our advice”.