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Our History

Our history begins in 1825, when we started as a small legal firm in Dublin’s city centre.  We survived the destruction of our offices during the Easter Rising of 1916, and we grew steadily in size and influence over the course of the following decades.  In line with our strategy of providing expert services to our international clients, we invested heavily in developing an international network.  We were one of the first Irish law firms to open a dedicated office in London in 1989, and were the very first European firm to open an office in Silicon Valley in 1996.

You can read more about our history below.

2024
  • In January, five new partners were appointed in three practice areas: Susan Carroll Chrysostomou and John Coary (Corporate M&A); Raphael Clancy (Tax); Connor Cassidy and Ruadhán Kenny (Litigation)
  • Named Law Firm of the Year Ireland at the Chambers Europe Awards 2024.
  • Matheson appoints Olivia Long as Head of Tax Policy.
  • Matheson made history by becoming the first organisation of any type in Ireland to be accredited with the Investors in Diversity Gold Standard Award from the Irish Centre for Diversity for a third time.  Matheson is the only law firm in Ireland to achieve the Gold Standard.
  • Winner of seven awards at the Women in Business Law EMEA Awards 2024.
  • Announced as new sponsor of 30% Club Ireland Role.
  • Matheson's Asset Management and Investment Funds Department was ranked by the Monterey Insight Ireland Fund Report as Ireland's leading practice by assets under management (“AUM”) for the 13th year in a row.  The Monterey Insight Ireland Fund Report 2023 reveals that Matheson continues to rank: First for Irish domiciled funds based on AUM for the 13th consecutive year First for combined domiciled and non-domiciled funds based on AUM
  • Joe Beashel (partner, FIG) appointed Head of Matheson’s 27-strong London office.
  • Awarded thirteen Deals of the Year by Finance Dublin in its Deals of the Year Awards 2024.
  • Matheson partners with Elephant in the Room to launch mental health initiative.
  • Winner of Excellence in Learning and Development Award at the People in Law Awards 2024.
  • The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) officially opens The Matheson Creativity Hub in Memory of Tim Scanlon.
2023
  • Michael Jackson elected to serve a third term as Matheson's Managing Partner.
  • Matheson named Irish Firm of the Year at the IFLR Europe Awards
  • 14 new partners were appointed in nine practice areas; Hilda Wrixon – Commercial Real Estate; Robert Barrett, Robert Maloney-Derham and Enda Garvey – Corporate M&A; Orlaith Finan and Eunan Hession – Asset Management; Grainne Boyle – Corporate (International Business Group); Conor Blennerhasset – Corporate (Energy & Infrastructure); Ian O'Mara – Corporate (Financial Institutions Group, based in London); Aisling Kavanagh – Litigation (Insurance Litigation); Alan Bunbury – FCM (Structured Finance); Finnbahr Boyle – FCM (Banking & Finance); and Michelle Daly and Dara Higgins - Tax
  • Corporate M&A partner Paddy Spicer elected as the new Chairperson of Matheson.
  • David Fitzgibbon and Darren Maher announced as new co-heads of the Corporate Department, with David also appointed as Head of Corporate M&A, and partner Sally-Anne Stone as Head of the Commercial Real Estate Department.
  • Matheson wins Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year at the Women in Business Law Awards EMEA. At the same awards, Deirdre Crowley won Lawyer of the Year, Privacy & Data Protection; Angela Brennan, won the Aviation - Lawyer of the Year award and April McClements, was named Lawyer of the Year, Insurance and Reinsurance.
  • Matheson’s tax team named Irish Transfer Pricing Team of the Year at the ITR European Tax Awards.
  • Alison Bearpark appointed as partner in Matheson’s Construction team and Lorcan Keenan as partner and Head of Pensions within the Employment, Pensions and Benefits department.
  • Matheson wins the Partnership with Charity (LIC) / Volunteering award at the Chambers Ireland Sustainable Business Impact Awards 2023 for a cross-industry collaboration to support Ukrainian refugees in Ireland.
  • Awarded the Best Energy Achievement in Financial & Professional Services at the Business Energy Achievement Awards 2023. Partner Garret Farrelly received the Energy Leader Award, which recognises and honours outstanding leaders who have made a significant contribution to business energy and advancing sustainable practices. 
  • Awarded eleven Deals of the Year by Finance Dublin in its Deals of the Year Awards 2023. 
  • Recognised as Pro Bono: Outstanding Firm at the Chambers Europe Awards 2023.   
  • Awarded the Net Zero Carbon Award at the Business & Finance ESG Awards 2023 for our innovative energy tracking app – CarbonCal.
  • Awarded the Sustainability in Early Talent Recruitment Award and the Highly Commended Award in the Diversity Recruitment Award category at the gradIreland Graduate Recruitment Awards 2023.
  • Ranked as Ireland’s Leading Funds Practice by assets under management for the twelfth consecutive year by the Monterey Insight Ireland Fund Report.
  • Rory Mullarkey appointed as a senior partner in our corporate department.
  • Matheson's M&A team is recognised as Ireland's leading M&A adviser by deal volume for the past two years by Mergermarket (2021 & 2022) (based on data as at February 2023)
2022
    • Matheson appointed twelve new partners across a range of practice areas.
    • Matheson was announced as the winner of the Law Firm of the Year - Republic of Ireland at The Lawyer European Awards 2022 in London.
    • Matheson invested in new London offices at Octagon Point, beside St Paul's Cathedral in central London.
    • Maireadh Dale appointed as partner in Matheson's Finance and Capital Markets department.
    • Two new partners were appointed in June 2022 -  Niall Collins as partner and head of Matheson's EU, Competition & Regulatory Law Group, and Karen Sheil as a partner in the Commercial Real Estate Department.
    2021
    • Tara Doyle was appointed Chairperson of Matheson
    • Nicola Dunleavy was elected President of Arbitration Ireland
    • Law Society of Ireland ranked Matheson as the Largest Law Firm in Ireland
    • Matheson announced the appointment of eight new partners
    • John Gill was appointed Head of Private Client at Matheson
    • Matheson signed the Law Society of Ireland’s Professional Wellbeing Charter
    • Matheson was ranked as Ireland’s Leading Funds Practice for Tenth Consecutive Year
    • Matheson announced the launch of its ESG Legal Advisory Group
    • Matheson awarded Ireland Law Firm of the Year 2021
    • Matheson awarded Nine Deals of the Year by Finance Dublin
    • Matheson hosts ESG Summit with Keynote Speaker, Minister Eamon Ryan TD
    • Matheson launched its Impactful Business Programme
    • Emma Doherty was recognised at the Women in Business Law Awards Europe.
    • Matheson appointed Niamh Counihan as Pro Bono Partner
    • Five Matheson lawyers recognised for their work in Expert Guides Rising Stars Guide 2021
    • Matheson won two awards at the ITR EMEA Tax Awards for the second consecutive year
    • Matheson won three awards at the Rising Stars Awards EMEA 2021
    • Building Belonging: Matheson and Trinity College Dublin host their second D&I Conference
    • Matheson shortlisted in multiple categories at the Women in Finance Awards 2021
    • Matheson retained its Top Tier IFLR 1000 Ranking with six lawyers recognised as Rising Stars
    • Matheson's Cara Scholarship 2021 was launched in association with Trinity College Dublin
    2020
    • Matheson appointed seven new partners across a range of practice areas.
    • Julie Murphy-O'Connor was named ILO Client Choice Award Winner for Asset Recovery.
    • Matheson announced the 2020 recipient of the Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship in association with Trinity College Dublin (TCD).
    • Matheson was delighted to co-sponsor Dublin's inaugural Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk.
    • Matheson Signs Mindful Business Charter.
    • Matheson Wins Two Awards at the ITR European Tax Awards 2020.
    • Matheson won 13 Finance Dublin Deals of the Year Awards. 
    • Three Matheson partners were recognised at the Women in Business Law Awards Europe.
    • Matheson’s Learning and Development Department launched its first virtual Summer Internship. Programme in partnership with online platform provider, InsideSherpa.
    • Matheson launched its Brexit Blog and Brexit Impact Series.
    • Airline Economics 40 under 40 2020 Announced - Matheson partners Stuart Kennedy, Rory McPhillips and Yvonne McWeeney have been recognised in Airline Economics’ prestigious “40 under 40 2020” .
    • Matheson Welcomes Gender Equality Award for Maynooth University Law Department.
    • Matheson Welcomes Gender Equality Award for the Law School of Trinity College Dublin.
    • Matheson advises on first Irish Green Bond.
    • Matheson Advises on Landmark Avis Auto Loan Securitisation Transaction.
    • Matheson shortlisted for 15 Awards in the European Women in Business Law Awards 2020.
    • Matheson Receives Three Awards by the Women in Business Law Awards Europe 2020.
    2019
    • Matheson appointed ten new partners across a range of practice areas.
    • Matheson launched the Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship in association with Trinity College Dublin.
    • Matheson was awarded a record number of Finance Dublin Deals of the Year.
    • Matheson was awarded the Investors in Diversity Silver Standard from the Irish Centre for Diversity.
    • Sharon Daly was appointed Head of London Office.
    • Yvonne McWeeney was named ‘Best in Aviation’ at the Euromoney Awards 2019.
    • Matheson announced its Agile Working Programme.
    • Tara Doyle was recognised by the IFLR1000 Women Leaders Guide.
    • Steven Gardiner was listed as a Rising Star by Airfinance Journal Magazine.
    • Nicola Dunleavy was announced as a member of the London Court of International Arbitration.
    • Matheson announced the expansion of the Cork office and appointed Deirdre Crowley as partner.
    • Matheson ranked Ireland’s Most Innovative Law Firm at The Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards Europe 2019.
    • Matheson launched its Digital Services Group.
    • Stuart Kennedy was named a ‘Rising Star Ireland’ by Euromoney.
    • Tara Doyle was named ‘Legal Advisor of the Year’ at the Women in Finance Awards Ireland 2019.
    • Matheson was awarded the Investors in Diversity Gold Standard from the Irish Centre for Diversity.
    2018
    • Matheson appointed seven new partners across a range of practice areas.
    • Tara Doyle was named Women in Finance Legal Advisor of the Year.
    • Tim Scanlon was appointed Partnership Chairman of Matheson.
    • Garret Farrelly was recognised in the Top 100 Legal Power List 2018.
    • Matheson opened its Cork office.
    • Yvonne McWeeney was named as an Airfinance Journal Rising Star.
    • Matheson launched its Professional Support Lawyer Faculty.
    • Maria Kennedy and Sharon Daly were named Euromoney Europe Women in Business Law Award Winners.
    2017
    • Matheson moves to new offices in Love Lane EC2, London.
    • Matheson appoints 12 new partners in its largest partner promotions round in over a decade.
    • Matheson Advises on $8.1 Million Investment Round in SilverCloud Health.
    • Three Matheson partners are recognised for their outstanding work and client service in the International Law Office (ILO) Client Choice Awards 2017.
    • Hon Julie Bishop MP, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, attends IACC briefing at Matheson.
    • Matheson Advises Church & Dwight on its $160 Million Acquisition of Viviscal.
    • Matheson sponsor American Bar Association Employment Law International Midyear Meeting, Dublin.
    • Matheson launches second annual Smart Week.
    • Tara Doyle is named Best in Investment Funds at the Euromoney LMG Europe Women in Business Law Awards 2017 for the second consecutive year.
    • Matheson's Asset Management and Investment Funds Group has been ranked by the Monterey Insight Ireland Fund Report, as Ireland's leading practice by assets under management for the seventh year in a row. The 2017 Monterey Insight report reveals that Matheson acts for in excess of 29% of Irish domiciled investment funds by assets under management as at 30 June 2017.
    2016
    • Niall Pelly (Employment), Michelle Ridge (Asset Management and Investment Funds), Rory McPhillips (Aviation Finance and Transportation), Sally Anne Stone (Commercial Real Estate) are appointed to Partner.
    • Tara Doyle is appointed Head of the Asset Management and Investment Funds Group.
    • Corporate Partner Alan Chiswick wins the prestigious International Law Office (ILO) Client Choice Award for Mergers and Acquisitions.
    • Matheson Wins Eight Awards in Finance Dublin’s Deals of the Year 2016.
    • Matheson wins two European Tax Awards for Ireland Tax Firm of the Year and European Mergers and Acquisitions Tax Deal of the Year at the International Tax Review European Awards.
    • International Business Partner Pat English is named as a Transatlantic Rising Star by the American Lawyer.
    • Smart Week is launched in Matheson, a forum to promote innovation and technology in the workplace.
    • Tara Doyle has been named Europe’s Best in Investment Funds 2016 by Euromoney at the Women in Business Law Awards ceremony.
    • Matheson advises on EIB’s First Marketplace Lending Investment.
    • Chairman Liam Quirke is appointed as Head of Specialist Brexit Advisory Group.
    • Matheson is ranked in the Financial Times Top 50 Most Innovative Law Firms in Europe.
    • Matheson advises ElectroRoute on major new partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation.
    • Matheson's Asset Management and Investment Funds Group has been ranked by the Monterey Insight Ireland Fund Report, as Ireland's leading practice by assets under management for the sixth year in a row. The 2016 Monterey Insight report reveals that Matheson acts for in excess of 29% of Irish domiciled investment funds by assets under management as at 30 June 2016.
    2015 - 2011
    • 2015 We win "European Law Firm of the Year 2015" at the Hedge Fund Journal Awards.
    • 2015 We are named Irish Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year by the International Tax Review.
    • 2015 We are ranked as one of the Financial Times' top 10 most innovative law firms in Europe in 2015.
    • 2014 We are ranked as Ireland’s number one funds practice for the fourth consecutive year. Monterey Insight’s 2014 Ireland Fund Survey has revealed that we were acting for 28% of Irish domiciled investment funds by assets under management as at 30 June 2014.
    • 2014 We win five awards in Finance Dublin's Deals of the Year Awards 2014.
    • 2014 We have been ranked amongst the Financial Times’ 50 Most Innovative Law Firms in Europe for the third consecutive year.
    • 2013 We are named 'Irish Tax Firm of the Year' by the International Tax Review. The firm was chosen from a shortlist, which included the country’s largest law and accounting firms.
    • 2013 We win the Client Choice award for Ireland 2013 (International Law Office) for the eighth time.
    • 2013 We launch the first mobile app of its kind in Ireland, allowing our clients to access information about the implementation of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD).
    • 2012 Matheson Ormsby Prentice changes its name to Matheson, announcing the rebrand as an exciting milestone for the firm.
    • 2012 We are named Ireland's most innovative firm in finance law and corporate strategy in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers report
    • 2012 We win the Loans and Financing Deal of the Year award (Finance Dublin Deals of the Year Awards) for advising Rabobank on Ireland's first Reverse Invoice Discounting (RID) facility.
    • 2011 We are named European Advisor of the Year at the Funds Europe Awards.
    • 2011 We win the M&A (Plc) Deal of the Year Award (Finance Dublin and Finance Magazine Deals of the Year Awards) for State Street’s takeover of Bank of Ireland Asset Management.
    2010 - 2007
    • 2010 The firm tops the M&A league tables published by three leading international M&A intelligence agencies. We advised on more M&A transactions in the Irish market during 2010 than any other law firm according to MergerMarket, Thomson Reuters and Experian Corpfin.
    • 2010 We receive the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Irish Institute of Training and Development National Training Awards
    • 2010 We win Irish Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer European Awards.
    • 2010 We win the Client Choice Award (International Law Office) for the fifth time.
    • 2009 The firm wins Irish Law Firm of the Year, Chambers Europe Awards for Excellence
    • 2009 We advise on more Irish M&A transactions than any other law firm in 2009. According to MergerMarket, the firm advised on 30% more Irish M&A deals in 2009 than any other law firm.
    • 2009 The firm is recognised as one of the 50 Best Workplaces in Ireland, and the only law firm to be recognised for three years running.
    • 2008 We are named top law firm in Ireland for advising issuers in debt capital market transactions, Thomson Reuters.
    • 2008 The firm receives the Outstanding Achievement Award, Irish Institute of Training and Development National Training Awards.
    • 2008 The firm is named one of the “50 Best Large Workplaces in Europe 2008”, the first and only Irish law firm to receive this accolade and the highest ranked law firm on the list.
    • 2007 We relocate to 70 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin.
    • 2007 We are named Top Graduate Law Recruiter by Grad Ireland.
    • 2007 We are the first Irish law firm to be selected as one of the 50 Best Companies to Work for in Ireland 2007, Great Place to Work Institute Ireland.
    2006 - 2000
    • 2006 We are named top law firm in Ireland for advising issuers in debt capital market transactions, Thomson Reuters.
    • 2006 Total staff numbers in the firm reaches 500.
    • 2006 We win Irish Tax Firm of the Year, International Tax Review.
    • 2005-2006 Michael Irvine is the third partner from the firm to serve as the President of the Law Society of Ireland
    • 2005 We are named top law firm in Ireland for advising issuers in debt capital market transactions, Thomson Reuters.
    • 2005 We win the inaugural Client Choice Award (International Law Office) for Ireland.
    • 2004 Liam Quirke is appointed as the Managing Partner of the firm.
    • 2003 Our New York office opens on Park Avenue.
    • 2002 We win European Law Firm of the Year (Legal Business), the first Irish law firm to win this award.
    1990's
    • 1999 Total staff numbers in the firm rise to just over 200.
    • 1998 We relocate to 30 Herbert Street, Dublin.
    • 1997 Donal Roche is appointed as Managing Partner of the firm
    • 1996 Our Palo Alto office opens. We are the first European law firm to open an office in Silicon Valley
    • 1992 Total staff numbers in the firm increase to circa 100.
    1980's
    • 1989-1990 Ernest Margetson is the second partner from the firm to serve as the President of the Law Society of Ireland
    • 1989 Our London office opens
    • 1988 We relocate to Burlington Road, Dublin
    • 1980 We embrace the computer age by purchasing our first Wang computer.
    Pre 1980
    • 1977 Matheson joins The Interlex Group, an association of leading law firms around the world that co-operate to provide a complete range of international legal and business services to clients.
    • 1973-1974 Peter Prentice is the first partner from the firm to serve as the President of the Law Society of Ireland.
    • 1954 We move to 20 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin.
    • 1919 Our offices are re-built and re-opened at 16 and 17 Unity Buildings, O’Connell Street, Dublin
    • 1916 Our offices are destroyed during the Irish Easter Rising, a major event in Irish history.
    • 1825 Our firm’s ancestry can be traced back to this date.