Matheson LLP has maintained its significant market share of M&A transactions, which often involve Irish targets and acquirers. It remains at the forefront of transatlantic deals, including advising takeovers of Irish-listed companies. The firm has a sizeable client portfolio of international businesses, including Fortune 100 companies and a high number of top global technology brands. Recent areas of instruction include multi-billion dollar cross-border deals and pharmaceutical transactions; the group also fields expertise in handling M&A in the financial services and food sectors. George Brady, Patrick Spicer and David Fitzgibbon are seasoned practitioners, with established expertise in handling cross-border deals and Irish takeovers. Fergus Bolster is well versed in advising on cross-border transactions, including SPAC matters. Madeline McDonnell and Brian McCloskey are notable names for M&A and private equity. Robert Barrett and Enda Garvey are singled out for their contributions. Susan Carroll Chrysostomou was promoted to partner in January 2024. Eoin Shiel has left the firm.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'The practice is unique in how it aligns with the in-house legal teams, and is always alert to risks, and looks beyond that which is specifically raised with them. Very reliable, excellent negotiators and very good availability.'
‘Caroline Kearns is a stand out individual, always identifying and addressing issues and risks other than those raised specifically with her. Excellent negotiator. Excellent response times and availability. ’
‘Patrick Spicer is an exceptional lawyer.’
‘David Fitzgibbon is exceptional in his practice area.’
‘Brian McCloskey is dynamic, clever, charming and utterly persuasive. This makes him the guy you want in your corner while all the other lawyers squabble over the meaningless minutiae of deals. He sees the bigger picture.’
‘Fergus Bolster is a highly sophisticated, but also user-friendly, M&A and general corporate lawyer. Fergus deeply engages with his matters but also interfaces with high quality associates, as appropriate. ’
‘We regularly work with Caroline Kearns who is adept at advising on legal risk but putting this into the commercial context - clients (and we as other legal counsel) value this highly. Darren Maher is also market leading in his technical expertise but also market/industry knowledge and deal experience. ’
‘Enda Garvey - very good commercial acumen and negotiation skills.'
Key clients
- Advent International Corporation
- AdvancedAdvT Limited
- AIB
- AIG
- AMP Capital
- AmTrust
- An Post
- Arena Pharmaceuticals
- Astrix Technology
- Aston Lark Group Limited
- Aviva
- Axa Group
- Baader
- Bain Capital Private Equity
- Bank of Ireland
- Barclays Bank plc
- Battery Ventures
- Bauer Media Group
- BC8 S.P.R.L.
- BioIq Inc
- Birds Eye Food Limited
- Blackbee Investments
- Blackrock
- BNY Mellon
- Booking Holdings Financial Services
- Bord na Mona
- Bregal Milestone
- BSO Group
- bOpen Innovation Holding GmbH
- CA Ventures
- Canada Life Group Services Limited
- Carbon Crowley
- Carne Group
- Carrier Global Corporation
- CGI Inc.
- Circle Internet Financial Limited
- Citadel
- Citi
- Coinbase
- Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA
- CSG Systems International Inc
- Daily Mail/DMGT
- Dawn Capital
- Dell Technologies
- DIF CIF II
- Disney
- DMS Governance
- Dropbox
- Druggability
- Eaton Corporation plc
- Encavis AM Management GmbH
- Emerald Buyer Limited
- Emerson Electric Co
- Energia Renewables
- Equilend
- Ethypharm
- FBD
- FBG Enterprises Opco LLC
- F-Prime Capital
- Felicis Ventures
- Fexco
- Fidelity Investments
- Fiserv
- Franklin Templeton Investments
- Freemantlemedia Group Limited
- GAM Investment Management
- Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions Limited
- General Secure Logistics Limited
- Genesys
- Gemini Investments LP
- Goldman Sachs International
- Goode Partners LLP
- Governor and Company of Bank of Ireland
- Hanwha Energy
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Horizon Therapeutics
- ib vogt
- IFG Group plc
- ILHAWK Limited (Irish Life)
- Impulse Dynamics plc
- Independent News & Media
- Insight Venture Partners LLC
- Irish Distillers
- IQ-EQ Group
- ITBMed Group / Zelarion Group
- Itron
- Irving Oil
- John Barron Environmental Limited
- Johnson Hana International Limited
- JP Morgan
- Kargo Capital LLC
- Kitman Labs
- Kohlberg & Company LLC
- LaSalle
- Lead Edge Capital
- Left Lane Capital
- Liffey Meats
- Linnaeus
- LGT Group
- Macquarie Bank Europe plc
- Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 6
- Majesco
- MariaDB Corporation Ab / MariaDB plc
- Mcquarrie Wayward
- Memjet group
- Mercer
- Mergon Group Limited
- Metaverse Technologies Limited
- Monaghan Mushrooms
- Monument Life Insurance Designated Activity Company
- Munich Re
- nAperte Designated Activity Company
- Nauta Capital VC Partners
- Netwatch
- Nomad Foods
- Novo Nordisk A/S
- Novo Holdings A/S
- Novartis Pharma AG
- NTR Ireland Investments 2 DAC
- OASIS Group
- Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust
- One Peak Partners
- Orpea SA
- Paysafe
- Planet
- Polaris Scientific (Ireland) Limited
- ProKidney LP
- Ricoh
- Riverside Partners
- Royal Bank of Canada
- Rubrik
- Savvy Games Group
- Scandy Standard
- Secret Escapes
- Shutterstock Inc
- Singapore Biotech
- Sitecore
- Skymetrix
- Smurfit Kappa Group plc.
- Société Générale
- Sofina Foods Inc
- Speed Fibre Group
- Spencer Stuart
- SPP Pension & Försäkring AB (publ)
- STAR Capital
- State Street
- STERIS plc
- Stripe
- Swift Spraoi Holdings Limited
- S2G Ventures
- Taoglas
- Tapestry Inc
- Tirlán.Co-operative Society Limited (formerly known as Glanbia Co-operative Society Limited)
- Trinity Biotech plc
- Unicredit
- Unmind
- Utmost Group
- UtilityInnovation Group
- Valeo Foods
- Ventiga Capital Partners
- Vermillion Energy Inc
- Vertex Inc
- Vertiv
- Waterland Private Equity
- Waystone Group
- Weatherford International plc
- Weight Watchers International Inc
- Western Union
- Willis Towers Watson plc
- Zoom Video Communications, Inc.
Work highlights
- Advised Horizon Therapeutics on all aspects of its proposed acquisition by Pillartree Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Amgen Inc.), to be implemented as an Irish High Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement.
- Advised Circle Internet Financial Limited on its announced transaction to go public through a business combination with Concord Acquisition Corp.
- Advised AXA Group on its €650m agreement to acquire Laya Healthcare Limited from Corebridge Financial, a subsidiary of AIG.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Enda Garvey
Matheson LLP
Robert Barrett
Matheson LLPLeading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Madeline McDonnell
Matheson LLP
Susan Carroll Chrysostomou
Matheson LLPPractice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
David Fitzgibbon, Darren Maher