Matheson 200 Years -Expansion - Matheson 200 Year Anniversary

International Expansion: 1989 - 2015

Matheson’s growth and development accelerated further during this period. The firm’s focus, influenced by the Irish economy and the international markets, was on helping indigenous and international clients to navigate the opportunities and risks presented by the rapid growth in international trade globally.

The fiscal and trade policies pursued by successive Irish governments helped Ireland to prosper as an open economy. This period also saw Ireland witness a domestic economic boom which became known as the ‘Celtic Tiger’ and the subsequent lows of the global financial crisis, before the emergence of a period of economic growth and relative stability in the mid 2010s.

Developing the IFSC

One of the government policies which contributed to Ireland’s success during this period was the decision to establish an International Financial Services Centre ("IFSC") in Ireland. The IFSC first emerged in 1987 as a special economic zone with a dedicated 10% tax incentive, evolving over time to enable Ireland to become a major European financial centre.

From its inception, Matheson partners have advised many of the world’s leading financial institutions on the establishment of operations across the island of Ireland and the development and authorisation of products and services with which they service their global client base.

Whether through appointments to advise government departments on key legislation, or their active roles in industry working groups, Matheson lawyers also played an active part in the development of the legislative environment which is critical to the reputation of Ireland as a well-regulated centre for international financial services.

Before and after the construction of the International Financial Services Centre, Dublin. Credits: Tax Justice Network - CC-BY-4.0 and Getty Images

Investing in the firm's footprint

Dublin

In 1988, Matheson moved into a brand new, six-storey office block at 3 Burlington Road, Dublin. This was to be the firm’s headquarters until 1998. The following year, RTÉ Television broadcast this footage, giving viewers a rare look at the inside of a large law firm.

London

After decades commuting between Dublin and London to meet clients, the firm opened its first permanent London office in 1989 in Fleet Street to meet the Irish legal needs of UK-based financial institutions and corporates.

United States

In 1996, Matheson became the first European law firm to establish a presence on the west coast of the United States in Silicon Valley when we opened an office in Palo Alto, California. The office helped us to attract a new wave of tech clients who were investing in Ireland at the time. An office in New York followed in 2003.

Credit: RTÉ News, 1989

Site of Matheson's first London office in Fleet Street, London.

Deirdre Dunne (Silicon Valley Office Lead) and Donal Roche (Managing Partner) on the opening of Matheson's Silicon Valley office in 1996.

New headquarters for a rapidly growing firm

Herbert Street

With over eighty lawyers in the firm, and more expected to join, by the late 1990s the firm had overgrown its Burlington Road premises.

In early 1998, it moved to a new 40,000 sq ft building at 30 Herbert Street, Dublin.

Sir John Rogerson's Quay

In 2007, Matheson relocated its headquarters to 70 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay. Inspired by international best practice, the light-filled building design incorporates a two-person office concept where a partner or senior associate shares their office with a trainee or junior associate to help the education of young lawyers. The eight-storey building was a collaboration between Gensler Architects and MCA Architects.

Growth in practice areas

The changing nature of Ireland’s economy during this period and the firm’s focus on servicing the needs of internationally-focused clients led to the continued development and expansion of its leading practice areas.

Each of the firm's corporate, international tax, financial services, commercial disputes and resolution and commercial real estate practices grew significantly to service the needs of an expanding and sophisticated international client base.

Matheson's Herbert Street Office, Dublin.

Matheson's current headquarters at 70 Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin.

Liam Quirke, Managing Partner of Matheson 2003 - 2015

Credit: RTÉ News, 1997

Assuaging Millennium fears

As the year 2000 approached, the firm advised many clients to prepare for the potential impacts of the "Millennium Bug", a software problem related to dealing with dates of 1 January 2000 or later.

An RTÉ News report broadcast in December 1997, featured Matheson partner Don McAleese outlining the potential legal risks, and advising businesses to act immediately.

Investing in the legal profession

The people of Matheson are the firm’s competitive advantage.

People with positive attitudes, ambition, determination and drive. In the mid-1990s Matheson introduced an internship programme which proactively targeted the best graduate talent in third-level law schools. This created relationships with educational institutions which endure today. As the firm has grown, so too have those links.

For example, in 2013 Matheson developed Ireland’s first specialised funds law course with Maynooth University. This pioneering partnership between industry and academia continues to directly link education and employment opportunities in Ireland.

The firm also has proactive, long-term relationships with Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Dublin and University of Limerick.

Managing Partner, Michael Jackson, former Minister of State for Financial Services, Simon Harris TD and partner and course author Liz Grace at the Department of Finance to present on Ireland’s first funds law course.