Expertise
Ireland Tax Firm of the Year
ITR EMEA Tax Awards 2024
Ireland Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year
ITR EMEA Tax Awards 2023
Our tax department is significantly the largest tax practice group amongst Irish law firms with over 40 lawyers and tax advisers and 20 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.
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 20 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.
Ranked Tier 1
World Tax 2025
Ranked Tier 1
World TP 2025
Ireland Tax Firm of the Year
ITR EMEA Tax Awards 2024
"Knowledgeable, pragmatic, experienced, well informed, available, very easy to work with."
Tax: The Legal 500 2024
"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