Part 1: About Mason Hayes & Curran
1. What distinguishes your firm from others in your market?
Our legal services are grounded in deep expertise and informed by practical experience. This allows clients to make good, informed decisions and to anticipate and successfully navigate even the most complex matters. Our working style is versatile and collaborative, creating a shared perspective with clients so that legal solutions are developed together. This approach is how we make a valuable and practical contribution to each client's objectives. Our service is award-winning and innovative.
2. What are three words that describe the culture of your firm?
Progressive. Open. Innovative.
3. How does your firm participate in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and/or Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives?
We believe in the shared value approach, where the success of both our business and the community in which we operate are connected. We feel that we can invest in our society and communities through responsible business practices and contributions of our resources. Our CSR Programme focuses on the following:
- Education
- Pro bono offerings
- Contemporary art
- Environmental responsibility
Our Corporate Social Responsibility Programme is driven by the CSR Committee which includes representatives from across the firm, including partners, lawyers, and professional support staff.
4. Are there any new and exciting initiatives, practice areas, or industry focuses in your firm?
We have profound knowledge and experience in the following sectors:
- Energy
- Technology
- Financial services
- Built environment
- Healthcare and life sciences
As market-leading technology lawyers, we continue to advise on topics at the intersection of law and new technology with a current focus on artificial intelligence (AI). As regulation of the technology industry increases, we are also working with our tech clients to design and implement appropriate and robust technology governance structures to assist them in ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
We work closely with our clients to advise and support them in achieving their ESG goals, through whichever lens of ESG is appropriate, and help them steer their way through the ever-changing and complex issues they face. In providing focused and relevant advice to our clients, we help to prioritize and de-risk decision-making.
Part 2: Doing Business in COUNTRY
1. What is the current business climate in your jurisdiction including major political, economic, and/or legal activities on the horizon in Ireland that could have a big impact on businesses?
Ireland’s resilient economy has made it one of the best-performing advanced economies in the world. Our underlying structural strengths and capital investment plans mean that we are well-positioned for future growth.
Of note is that some 1,700 multinationals call Ireland home. These multinationals make a positive contribution to Irish society and the economy through direct investment, capital expenditure, job creation, and payroll spending. Many of these multinationals have been in Ireland for a decade or more.
Ireland also consistently ranks among the top countries in the world in which to do business. This positions Ireland favorably for continued FDI growth.
See the response to question 4 below for the benefits that Ireland’s legal and tax regimes bring to organizations that choose to do business in and through Ireland.
2. From what countries do you see the most inbound investment? What about outbound?
The United States is the biggest investor in Ireland, accounting for over EUR 900 billion of our inward FDI positions.
3. In what industries/sectors are you seeing the most opportunity for foreign investment?
We are seeing the most opportunity for foreign investment in the technology and life sciences sectors.
4. What advantages and pitfalls should others know about doing business in Ireland?
Ireland is the location of choice for conducting many international business activities and why the world’s largest multinationals have been attracted to Ireland. Advantages include:
- Established business economy, with the required physical and people infrastructure to enable organizations to successfully build substantive business operations.
- Competitive tax platform, including an attractive corporation tax rate and holding company regime, and an extensive double tax treaty network.
- Clear employment laws and access to a young, highly educated, English-speaking workforce.
- Credentials as a world-leading tech industry center, with an internationally respected data protection authority, making it a popular location to benefit from the GDPR’s one-stop-shop.
- Membership in the EU and Eurozone provides easy access to EU markets and protections.
- Common law system, a modern legislative framework based on EU law and its independent and efficient court system.
5. What is one cultural fact or custom about Ireland that others should know when doing business there?
Ireland has a pro-business outlook; we favor green lights over red tape. This is a position which successive governments have maintained.
*Mason Hayes & Curran
