Publications

Ireland

The magic combination of a highly educated workforce and our very low corporate tax rates continues to create the environment for further progress. New job creation continues unabated, and the large numbers of immigrants to our shores are making a significant contribution to our economy’s development.

Ireland’s income per capita of population and our personal wealth statistics clearly demonstrate the transformation which we have undergone as a society since the early 1990s. The next challenges include creating a national transport infrastructure worthy of our economic status, and the transformation of our national health service to world class standards.

Mason Hayes & Curran

Since the last issue of MHC Times we have admitted eight new partners to Mason Hayes & Curran. Six partners were promoted from our senior associate ranks, and two were admitted following lateral moves from other law firms. It is very heartening to see that Mason Hayes & Curran continues to be the career destination of choice for some of Ireland’s best and smartest lawyers.

Our firm is absolutely dedicated to constant analysis and anticipation of changes in Ireland’s legal market. We aim to know well in advance what legal services our old and new clients will require, as Ireland’s economy and society develop. This leads us to frequently create new practice disciplines, and to adjust the offerings of our established departments, to stay ahead of the times.

MH & C Private

During 2006 our market research showed that there is a new requirement for sophisticated private client services for high net worth individuals. As Ireland has been transformed into a wealthy society there has arisen a real need for ultra specialist legal services in the areas of tax efficient wealth transfers, trust creation and family law. In response to this need we have established a new unit within Mason Hayes & Curran called MH & C Private. Although Mason Hayes & Curran is essentially a business law firm we believe that the creation of MH & C Private will provide a much needed service to a sophisticated and demanding segment of Ireland’s population. Recent senior hires to MH & C Private include Donagh McGowan (family law) and Cian O’Sullivan (trusts and estates).

Financial Services

Mason Hayes & Curran’s financial services department is one of the fastest developing in the firm. Led by Kevin Hoy the department’s partners include leading lawyers Fionán Breathnach, Christine O’Donovan and Will Carmody, all laterally recruited to our firm. In this issue of MH & C Times, Fionán Breathnach writes on the topic of Qualifying Investment Funds, and Will Carmody discusses aspects of acquisition finance. We regard financial services as a vibrant growth area for Mason Hayes & Curran, in exact alignment with the importance of the financial sector to Ireland’s economy.

International Research

Any professional services firm operating in an open economy like Ireland’s must have a breadth of international consciousness and experience. Mason Hayes & Curran is carefully positioned to serve the overseas client doing business in Ireland. It is significant that some of our practice areas report that up to 50% of their activity is for foreign corporates coming to transact business in Ireland. As a clear demonstrator of our commitment to the international client, Mason Hayes & Curran maintains representative offices in London and New York. Our lawyers in these locations are available as contact, access and information points for enterprises considering locating or doing other business in Ireland.

South Bank House

One of the joys of occupying our new docklands headquarters is the ability to host a variety of events of all types and sizes. As you’ll see from this issue of MHC Times we have accommodated a wide range of activities over the past few months. These included an exciting series of debates between our staff members and prominent national politicians in the run-up to Ireland’s recent general election. But the most entertaining event we hosted was allowing a production company to use our public spaces as sets for a new television drama piece. Our building proved to be the
star of the show!