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Practice Areas


EU & Competition

Our EU, Competition and Antitrust department is tailored to our clients sophisticated needs in this complex area. We have established a strong team, which has been centrally involved in securing the right outcomes and establishing new precedent in Irish competition law.

This is an experienced team with diverse backgrounds and an acute understanding of how the anti-trust regulatory processes impinges on the concerns of corporate clients and how it fits in, particularly on merger control and cartel work.

Increasing regulation, EU mandates and standard harmonization creates an additional burden for business.  Our goal is to minimise the impact on our client’s business.

We advise Government, first movers and new entrants on creating new markets in energy, broadcasting and telecoms.  We frequently advise corporate and government clients on:

  • Merger notifications under the Irish Competition Act, 2002;
  • EU mergers;
  • Competition Compliance Programmes
  • Joint ventures; and
  • State Aid

Recommendations:

Chambers Global - EU & Competition UK, Chambers and Partners, 2012.
Within the rankings of 'Competition/European Law’ in the UK jurisdiction, John Kettle is recommended as a foreign expert. John Kettle is responsible for the output of Mason Hayes & Curran's London office and co-leads the firm's competition group. He acts for clients from heavily regulated industries before both European and Irish competition authorities. Kettle is celebrated for his “fantastic knowledge, practical application to the case" and the way in which he"communicates his points clearly."

Chambers & Partners Europe, Europes Leading Lawyers, 2011
This firm handles all aspects of competition law including merger control, public procurement and regulatory advice. Sources say that the team "fosters strong relationships with clients and develops in-depth knowledge of their business."

Chambers & Partners, Europe's Leading Lawyers, Chambers Europe, 2010
The Competition group's workload includes diverse areas such as EU law, state aid and public procurement. In addition, the team has a strong regulated industries practice, recently advising on the continuing liberalisation of the gas and electricity markets, and on the rollout of digital terrestrial television. Clients say: "The firm provides extremely comprehensive and thorough advice."

GCR 100, Global Competition Review, 12th Edition
Mason Hayes & Curran continues to grow its team at an impressive pace, reflecting an increasing demand for its competition specialists. Tony Burke in Dublin co-heads the practice with partner John Kettle, who is based in London. Partner Robert McDonagh is a public procurement specialist, and well-regarded senior associate Niall Collins joined the firm in March from Latham & Watkins. The firm’s recent merger work speaks to its increasing success. Mason Hayes & Curran is also lead counsel in a high-profile insurance merger, and it is acting for several international companies in transactional matters. The firm also remains busy on regulatory and behavioural work, most notably working on telecoms licensing and deregulation of Ireland’s gas industry.

Global Competition Review, Top 100 Global Law Firms 2010
Over the past two or three years, no competition team in the Irish market has improved more than the three-lawyer group at Mason Hayes & Curran. Led by Dublin partner Tony Burke and John Kettle, who recently moved to London, the team has been at the forefront of two of the decade's most high-profile competition cases in the Irish market.

Legal 500, 2011
Mason Hayes & Curran, led by London head John Kettle and Tony Burke, advised on the merger control issues in the private equity acquisition of Skillsoft.

Legal 500, 2010
Mason Hayes & Curran possesses a 'wide breath of knowledge and experience' with John Kettle and Tony Burke providing 'timely and efficient service'.

Should you wish to find out more about how we can assist you and your business, please do not hesitate to contact one of the team members listed adjacent.

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  • Ireland

    t +353 1 614 5000
    f +353 1 614 5001
    e mail@mhc.ie

    South Bank House,
    Barrow Street,
    Dublin 4 Ireland.

  • UK

    t +44 20 3178 3368
    f +44 20 3178 3367
    e mail@mhcldn.com

    60 Lombard Street,
    London EC3V 9EA,
    UK.

  • USA

    t +1 212 786 7376
    f +1 212 786 7316
    e mail@mhcny.com

    330 Madison Avenue,6th Floor,
    New York NY 10017 ,
    USA.