Mason Hayes & Curran is a Dublin-based firm with additional offices in London, San Francisco and New York.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm has a large banking and finance team which advises on high-value, complex transactions. The firm provides Irish legal advice to local and international companies often working alongside large international firms on cross-border deals.
Key clients
Among its clients in banking are AIB Group, Allied Irish Banks, IAG / Aer Lingus, RBC Europe Limited, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and Royal Bank of Canada.
Among its clients in capital markets are Permanent TSB, DSF Equity, CIX Capital International, ETPCAP2 DAC, ETPX DAC, HFMX DAC and IA Capital Structures.
Among its clients in corporate and M&A are LetsGetChecked, Gem Plastics Limited, Norish, Midwest Holding Group, Surmodics and Kitman Labs.
Among its investment funds clients are Conseq Invest, Fineco Asset Management, Vermeer Investment Management Limited, Vermeer UCITS ICAV, MM Capital and JTC Group.
In financial services regulatory it advised BAWAG, Companjon Insurance, AIB Group, Addition Two, Permanent TSB and Allied Irish Banks.
Among its clients in project development are SSE Renewables Ireland, Torc Sustainable Housing, Fortum eNext Ireland, EirGrid and Statkraft Ireland.
Research period review: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
During the research period the firm was active in all areas of corporate law and project development.
In banking and finance it has a prolific record in advising the borrowing and the lending side on direct financing, acquisition financing, refinancing as well as on asset finance in aviation. In its project financing practice it advised on projects in renewable energy.
In capital markets the firm advised all sides of the table, ranging from issuers and originators to security trustees on mostly debt capital markets transactions such as bond and note issues. It also advised a bookrunner on an IPO, trustees and originators on a secured note programme.
In corporate and M&A it advised on buyers and sellers on NPLs acquisitions, and partial and full acquisitions of companies in various industries, including energy, transport, life sciences, technology and telecommunications and healthcare. It also advised joint-venture partners on joint-ventures in mining and social infrastructure.
In investment funds it advised mostly asset and fund managers and also investors on fund formations, restructurings and regulatory matters related to mostly ICAVs, and also UCITs and Article 9 SFDR funds.
In financial services regulatory it provided regulatory advice to clients in financial services, banking and insurance on M&A transactions, payment and banking services provision, and other banking, electronic money solutions and fin-tech matters.
In project development the firm advised mostly project developer and project companies on EPC-contracts, PPPs and projects in various industries, especially in social infrastructure, utilities and energy.
In restructuring and insolvency it advised creditors and also liquidators, received and insolvent entity on corporate restructuring, insolvency issues and financial restructuring.
Recent staffing changes include the recruitments of Liam Flynn, partner and co-head of financial regulation coming from Matheson. Sara O’Reilly, partner in investment funds joined from Sanlam Asset Management, and John Troute, partner in corporate and M&A. Recent departures include Barry Walsh, partner in financing services who went in
SMBC Aviation, David Ormsby, partner in restructuring and insolvency who went in
Qatar Airways, and Frank O’Flynn, partner in M&A who went in Marcol.
Deal highlights: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Arklow Bank 500MW-800MW wind farm project
CIX Capital International $125 million secured note programme
DCM US Multi-Family Home US $100 million 9.25% fixed rate secured notes issuance
IAG / Aer Lingus $1.8 billion revolving credit facility
LetsGetChecked $150 million Series D Funding round
Minnesota $46.9 million acquisition of Surmodics
Nichirei Corporation £65.7 million acquisition of Norish
Quintain Ireland €85 million financing
Social Housing Bundle 2 PPP in Cork County Council
Willis Lease Finance Corporation $336.7 million securitisation
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
M&A
"Responsive team and enjoyable to work with. "
"Excellent structuring, due diligence, British Financial Conduct Authority and Irish Takeover Panel advice, and drafting of related documents. Liaising with lawyers in Czech Republic and Armenia and other third parties. "
Project finance
"Their expertise as we have a technology startup specialist in Conall Geraghty."
Ron Boucher
"Very strong commercially despite new partner status. "
Conall Geraghty
"Conall is highly experienced in his field and his knowledge of setting up a technology startup is truly amazing. His communication is excellent and he always delivers our asks on time. He is thoughtful and always gives us sound advice that we can action. We would not be where we are today without Conall."
Justin McKenna
"Great communicator, great legal and business knowledge, always available even outside business hours and weekends."
