Turnover at Mason Hayes & Curran (MHC) has exceeded €100m for the second consecutive year after the Dublin firm grew revenue 7% in 2023 to reach €114m.   

The result is in line with 2022, when the firm upped turnover by 8% to €106m after a barnstorming 2021 when it grew its topline by 23% against the background of a record global deals market.  

The firm said that its growth in 2023 had been driven by strong demand across each of its core industry sectors – namely technology, financial services, life sciences and healthcare, energy and built environment.  

Over the course of the year it worked on mandates including acting for software company Workvivo on its sale to Zoom, and Meta on its purchase of the renewable power from two of Ireland’s largest new solar farms.  

It also promoted 11 lawyers to partner internally and hired seven more from domestic and international rivals, including competition law specialist Dorit McCann from Beauchamps and aviation lawyer Julie-Ann Sherry from an in-house role at aviation finance company Avalon.

MHC’s results are the first for the firm with Will Carmody as managing partner; he succeeded Declan Black at the start of last year. The firm more than doubled turnover and headcount during Black’s nine years at the helm and as of 1 January 2024 houses 320 lawyers, including 117 partners. 

The firm said its international activities continued to grow in 2023, prompting the relocation of its London and New York offices to cater for expanding teams. The firm is also actively reviewing its office space in Dublin, with proposals ranging from supplementing its existing three office premises in the city to potentially establishing a new, centralised headquarters. 

Last year also saw the firm increase its investment in emerging practice areas, including ESG, AI and fintech, reflecting growing client demand. It also invested significantly in its tax practice, which it said saw continued demand from both international and domestic clients. 

Carmody commented: “The last 12 months were challenging for businesses and our clients. The continuing increase in the volume and complexity of national and European legal regulation meant that we worked closer than ever with our clients to navigate those challenges. We are keenly aware of the competitive pressures these changes may impose on our clients and we will continue to work hard to support them in growing their businesses in these circumstances. 

“Looking ahead to 2024, the ever-present geopolitical uncertainties will continue to weigh on global trade and economic activity. We hope that a levelling-off of interest rates in the EU, North America and the UK may allow investors to seek out renewed value in the market.”

MHC is notable for its status as the only Irish law firm to reveal its annual revenue, a policy it adopted 20 years ago.