Expertise
Ireland Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year
ITR EMEA Tax Awards 2023
Ireland Tax Firm of the Year
ITR EMEA Tax Awards 2022
Our tax department is significantly the largest tax practice group amongst Irish law firms with over 40 lawyers and tax advisers and 19 partners and tax principals. We advise on the tax aspects of transactions as part of a multi-disciplinary team with lawyers from other groups within the firm.
The size of our tax practice provides us with an ability to specialise, which distinguishes us from the tax departments of other Irish law firms. This ability to specialise has become more important in recent years with global and European tax initiatives having a fundamental impact on both our current and future tax laws, increasing the complexity and range of issues that our tax advice has to cover.
We advise many leading domestic and international corporations and financial institutions doing business in and from Ireland. We focus on the timely delivery and implementation of integrated leading-edge tax advice. Our philosophy is ‘can do’ – if there is a solution we will find it.
We were the first Irish law firm to have Irish tax capability on both coasts of the US, having most recently opened a second office on the West Coast of the US in San Francisco. In addition, senior associate, Raphael Clancy recently relocated to our London office.
We are consistently ranked as the leading tax law firm in Ireland by the European Legal 500, Chambers Global, American Lawyer, Directors Tax Handbook, World Tax and International Tax Review.
Our Team
The largest tax practice group amongst Irish law firms with over 40 lawyers and tax advisers and 19 partners and tax principals:
- Caroline Austin
- Tomás Bailey
- Matthew Broadstock
- Raphael Clancy
- Michelle Daly
- Brian Doohan
- Joe Duffy
- Aidan Fahy
- Catherine Galvin
- Turlough Galvin
- Dara Higgins
- Shane Hogan
- Barry McGettrick
- Catherine O'Meara
- Mark O'Sullivan
- John Ryan
- Kevin Smith
- Vahan Tchrakian
- Gerry Thornton
- Philip Tully
Our tax lawyers advise clients across a broad range of sectors, including life sciences, technology, consumer goods, finance and insurance, IT, FinTech, real estate, energy and utilities and manufacturing.
Advising clients on internal reorganisations and restructurings is a core part of our practice. Due to the impact of various recent OECD initiatives, EU measures, US tax reform and changes to Ireland’s corporate residency and transfer pricing rules, we have advised on a large number of reorganisations for our clients in recent years.
We have also advised on the tax aspects of a significant number of both public and private mergers and acquisitions (including certain buy-outs of high-value minority positions and transactions to transfer high-value family-owned businesses to the next generation).
Some of our recent transactions include advising:
AbbVie Inc on the Irish tax aspects of its acquisition of Allergan plc.
Gardner Denver on its business combination with Ingersoll Rand involving a “Reverse Morris Trust” transaction which involved detailed multi-jurisdictional coordination.
STERIS plc on its redomiciliation from the UK to Ireland.
syncreon in a global restructuring of its debt and its corporate reorganisation which involved the first-ever use of an English scheme of arrangement to restructure debt issued by a U.S.-based global enterprise.
Horizon Pharma plc on an underwritten public offering of its NASDAQ ordinary shares.
Irving Oil on its acquisition of Ireland’s only oil refinery at Whitegate, Cork and on its subsequent acquisition of Top Oil.
Nomad Foods on its acquisition of Green Isle Foods Limited (Goodfella’s Pizza).
A number of clients, with our Competition and Litigation colleagues, on stand-alone State aid matters.
Revenue audits and tax controversy matters.
A number of clients who were seeking advance pricing agreements with the Irish Revenue Commissioners and numerous different jurisdictions.
A number of Fortune 500 multinationals including many in the technology, life sciences and food and beverages sectors on IP reorganisations.
"The team provides the highest quality of service. Matheson have a deep understanding of the Irish and international tax landscape and are able to provide sound advice to navigate complex issues."
Tax: The European Legal 500 2023
"Shane Hogan, Brian Doohan and the team have exceptional client service. They are extremely responsive and will gather answers to complex questions in a very time efficient manner. They really understand our business and offer sound solutions when needed"
Tax: The European Legal 500 2023
"Hugely experienced practice with some star individuals. Deep market and commercial knowledge. The top Irish firm in this area"
Tax: The European Legal 500 2022
"The Matheson tax team is exceptionally strong. They are very knowledgeable, with good practical insight and very clear in their communication. Their responsiveness is excellent and always deliver a quality service in short timing."
Tax: The European Legal 500 2022
"Matheson’s tax team is very responsive and provide pragmatic advice aligned with local market practices."
Tax: The European Legal 500 2022
The team "can translate the rules and tax laws and know how they will apply to our business."
Chambers
Europe 2022
Ranked Tier 1
World Tax 2022
Ranked Tier 1
World TP 2022
Ireland Tax Firm of the Year
ITR EMEA Tax Awards 2022
Ireland Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year
ITR EMEA Tax Awards 2021
"The service provided is exceptional. The firm's strength is its ability to provide technically and legally sound arguments and positions in a timely manner."
Tax: Chambers Europe 2021
"A great firm that understands our businesses and provides practical advice and the tax expertise and guidance to run our businesses."
Tax: European Legal 500 2021
"They are very practical, very responsive, provide great solutions and are always available at short notice to support our business."
Tax: European Legal 500 2021
"The firm distinguishes itself from its peers by being consistently responsive, even across time zones, and providing concise and direct advice with a good appreciation for commercial concerns as well as legal ones."
Tax: European Legal 500 2021
"The individuals who I have worked with have set themselves apart by being responsive, concise and pragmatic and having a solid appreciation for commercial considerations. I have worked extensively with Gerry Thornton and am highly satisfied
with the service provided."
Tax: European Legal 500 2021
"They have consistently been able to recommend innovative tax solutions to address our needs and have readily adapted to complex and unique legal structures."
Tax: European Legal 500 2021
Ireland Tax Firm of the Year
International Tax Review European Tax Awards 2020
Ireland Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year
International Tax Review European Tax Awards 2020
Matheson’s Tax team are “excellent” and have “great understanding of tax legislation and practical application of the same to the client’s business”.
Tax: European Legal 500 2019
"They are cognisant of the fact that we are a business and do not lose sight of the fact that we require a solution with practical applications."
Tax: Chambers Europe 2019
Matheson can "identify the risks before we see them and can liaise very quickly with us".
Tax: Chambers Europe 2019
Matheson "give you the legal and tax advice, so you don’t have to go through separate tax advisers and legal advisers. I like that combination".
Tax: Chambers Europe 2019
“Matheson are very, very professional.”
Chambers Europe 2018
“If I have an Irish question, I recommend Matheson.”
Chambers Europe 2018
“They are our go-to firm in Ireland for all things tax.”
Chambers Europe 2018
Matheson have "a formidable team, whose depth of experience is often brought to bear on complex issues".
European Legal 500 2018
"What gives them the edge is that the client service is top-notch".
Chambers Europe 2018
Offering capacity on both US coasts as well as in cross-border transactions, the firm regularly counsels US clients on Irish corporate tax issues, including investment, operational and compliance matters.
Chambers Global 2018
International Firm in the Americas
International Tax Review 2017
European Financial Services Tax Deal of the Year
International Tax Review 2017
Matheson’s substantial team combines "great technical work with a commercial overlay".
European Legal 500 2017