"Truly incredible lawyers who are highly intelligent, approachable, down to earth and overall a breath of fresh air to deal with."
European Legal 500 2011
The Asset Management and Investment Funds Group at Matheson Ormsby Prentice comprises nine partners and 40 fund professionals in total. Our lawyers have legal and regulatory expertise in all aspects of Irish UCITS and non-UCITS investments funds, with specialised knowledge of UCITS III products, including UCITS structured as ETFs, and UCITS IV transition. Our alternative investment funds arm is dedicated to hedge funds and alternative asset management, and our client portfolio includes a number of Europe's largest hedge fund managers. We provide regular updates for our clients on the progress of the implementation of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers' Directive ("AIFMD"). Our practice also incorporates a regulatory risk management and compliance unit, and a specialist outsourcing group.
We act on behalf of clients representing approximately 28 per cent by net asset value of all Irish domiciled funds as at 30 June 2011. Our asset management and investment funds practice is ranked as a tier one practice group by Chambers Europe, the European Legal 500 and PLC 2010 and we were the first Irish law firm to receive the award of European Law Firm of the Year from The Hedge Fund Journal, reflecting the international recognition of our contribution to the European hedge fund sector. Our practice received the award of European Advisor of the Year from Funds Europe in 2011, having been shortlisted for the award in 2010.
The reputation of the Asset Management and Investment Funds Group amongst industry professionals and our involvement with the development of the industry is reflected by the election of partner Michael Jackson to the position of chairman of the Irish Funds Industry Association (“IFIA”) in 2009/2010 and his current chairmanship of the International Financial Services Centre (“IFSC”) Funds Group Legislative Committee. Michael is also a member of the UCITS IV Competitiveness Review Sub-Group of the IFSC Funds Group and of the IFIA’s Corporate Governance Steering Group. Our partners Dualta Counihan, Tara Doyle, Anne-Marie Bohan and Shay Lydon are all active members of IFIA committees and sub-groups, specifically in the areas of legal and regulatory, alternative investments and valuations, marketing and trustee issues.
All of our partners are regular speakers at industry events and regular contributors to European consultations on the development of asset management and funds regulation. On the domestic front, submissions and contributions have been made by the Asset Management and Investment Funds Group on behalf of clients towards the development of the Central Bank’s policy in a number of areas, including multi-manager funds and structured UCITS using tailored derivatives at share class level. In terms of important recent Irish legislative developments for investment funds, James Scanlon assisted with the drafting of the Irish Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 which introduces new Irish provisions designed to facilitate the efficient redomiciliation of corporate funds to Ireland.
With our team of asset management legal and regulatory advisers working alongside Matheson Ormsby Prentice’s taxation, structured finance and commercial litigation departments, we offer a comprehensive service for clients. As we are one of the few law firms in Ireland with a specialist derivatives practice, we have an unrivalled capacity to provide combined asset management, tax and derivatives advice to our clients.
This huge investment funds and financial services group is undoubtedly a heavyweight player in the field. It comprises over 40 lawyers and benefits from the firms full-service resources, including a specialist derivatives team, meaning that it has a formidable capacity to advise on the whole range of investment funds and asset management matters. The practice was involved in drafting legislation on redomiciliation, and has a long tradition of sitting on regulatory committees. Clients point to “an excellent team of partners, and many other people of extremely high calibre. The firm is a mature player in this business.”
Investment Funds: Chambers Europe 2011
Matheson Ormsby Prentice has “truly incredible lawyers who are highly intelligent, approachable, down to earth and overall a breath of fresh air to deal with".
Investment Funds: European Legal 500 2011
The firm has good market presence and is a respected practice with experienced lawyers, according to its peers. The firm continues to hold its position in the market as a solid funds practice and is respected by clients and competitors alike.
Investment Funds: IFLR 1000 2011
Matheson Ormsby Prentice is praised for the "excellent depth of its legal and regulatory knowledge", with Michael Jackson singled out as "technically superb", and praised for his "excellent industry knowledge".
Investment Funds: European Legal 500 2010
This firm has a mature asset management and investment funds practice that has grown consistently over the years to become one of the largest in the market. Its prolific practice of late has led sources to describe MOP as “the most impressive law firm at this point in the cycle.” The lawyers act for many of the largest promoters of investment funds in Dublin, and for a majority of Europe's ten largest hedge fund managers. Clients praise the team's “excellent subject-matter expertise, great strength in depth, and responsive, commercially oriented approach.” Sources identify Michael Jackson as the group's leading figure, but are keen to highlight the quality across the entire team, also praising Tara Doyle and James Scanlon. Up-and-coming partner Dualta Counihan has attracted much praise from interviewees as “an accessible lawyer, with all the necessary knowledge at his fingertips.”
Investment Funds: Chambers Europe 2010
The team received widespread praise for its quick turnaround times and practical, precise advice. As investors react to changing market conditions, the team's workload has seen an increase in qualified products, environmentally focused funds and investments in climate futures. Hedge funds are also a source of much work. The group has a large crossover into the asset management and structured finance fields, where its expertise is put to good use when advising funds on regulatory matters and Markets in Financial Instruments Directive MiFID implementation. Clients say: “The lawyers are flexible and commercially oriented – there's nothing you can ask them that they can't do.”
Investment Funds: Chambers Europe 2009
Matheson Ormsby Prentice fields a team that has "good communication and response times" with team head Michael Jackson singled out as being "knowledgeable and on the ball". James Scanlon is also recommended as an "industry leader".
Investment Funds: European Legal 500 2009
This “proactive team offers exceptionally good service”. “The lawyers display a strong commercial awareness in all aspects of their dealings and are very good at making sure things close”.
Banking and Finance: Chambers Europe 2008
Clients commended this expanding funds practice for “understanding the legal and business aspects of what you want to achieve and trying to find a practical solution.”
Investment Funds: Chambers Global 2008
Michael Jackson is “strong technically, understands the business aspects of a deal very well and always looks for solutions,” according to clients. He is also “a good, straightforward person to deal with.”
Investment Funds: Chambers Global 2008
Tara Doyle is “flexible and responsive, and if you have a problem she will come up with a solution.”
Capital Markets: Chambers Europe 2008
Tara Doyle is highly commended broad-based practice covers securitisation, bond repackaging and investment funds.
Investment Funds: Chambers Global 2008
James Scanlon is “responsive, commercial and easy to talk to - not full of legal jargon.”
Investment Funds: Chambers Global 2008
The firm benefits from having an investment funds practice in the London office, allowing it easy access to its London clients. Clients were impressed by the firm, with one describing it as “a very good and very solid practice”.
Investment Funds: IFLR1000 2008
The asset management practice at Matheson Ormsby Prentice continues to witness “record levels of growth”, particularly on the hedge fund side where it acts for six of Europes ten largest hedge fund managers. It also boasts an investment funds presence on the ground in London.
Investment Funds: European Legal 500 2008
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