What We Do

Matheson Ormsby Prentice "sets the benchmark for standards in Ireland"
European Legal 500 2011

Our privatisation team comprises a group of senior commercial  partners and lawyers who have extensive experience and skills in providing legal and commercial advice to national and international clients on all aspects of privatisation.

Re-organisation of government entities, legal restructuring, regulatory reform and labour relations are all key features of the privatisation process. Matheson Ormsby Prentice is an acknowledged market leader in these areas by independent legal directories.  Our experience of re-organisation of Government entities includes leading roles in the re-organisation of Aer Rianta plc and the establishment of Dublin Airport Authority, Cork Airport Authority and Shannon Airport Authority and the re-organisation of the National Oil Reserve Agency, as well as specialist roles in the transfer of ESB National Grid employees to Eirgrid and the transfer of employees from a government agency to the Health Service Executive.

Matheson Ormsby Prentice has also been a major player in the electricity and gas liberalisation process, acting for governments, industry participants, financiers and developers.  We advised the regulators in Ireland and Northern Ireland in relation to the establishment of the Single Electricity Market for the Island of Ireland.

Where we have worked on banking privatisations, we have been involved in the licensing of the relevant banks under the Central Bank Acts as well as the liaison with the Central Bank of Ireland in order to obtain approval to privatisations under the acquiring transaction rules. Our expertise has also covered issues relating to the primary supervision of relevant banks moving from the Central Bank of Ireland to outside the State and the Central Bank of Ireland obtaining comfort from international banks regarding the funding of privatised banks within the State.

One of the key stakeholders in any privatisation is the employees and we have extensive experience  in advising on the industrial relations and employment law issues which will arise on the transfer of employees from the public to the private sector, in particular the statutory protections normally afforded to employees and the setting up of Employee Share Ownership Plans and pension arrangements in order to achieve employee agreement to the privatisation.

We have a first rate, established track record of advising the Irish Government and Government  Agencies at all levels on complex, unique and often politically sensitive projects.

We have extensive experience and knowledge of the considerations and tactics of acting on the bidder/ investor side.

We can draw on multidisciplinary teams of specialists who are acknowledged leaders in their field tailored to each project.

Our approachable and responsive partners can offer innovative solutions and have the project management skills to ensure the efficient and timely execution of the project.

Our privatisation team has been involved in some of Ireland’s most significant privatisations in recent years including:

• The sale by the State owned Electricity Supply Board of a portfolio of electricity generation assets to Endesa S.A following a competitive process
• The sale of the State owned Whitegate Oil Refinery and Bantry Oil Storage Terminal and other assets of the Irish National Petroleum Corporation to Tosco Corporation following a competitive process 
• The sale of the State’s 100% shareholding in ACC Bank to Rabobank
• The sale of the State’s 100% shareholding in ICC Bank to Bank of Scotland
  

In these transactions we have provided innovative and commercially focussed advice to both public sector owners and acquirers, financiers and equity investors on all facets of privatisation.  In particular, our team’s national and international strengths in mergers and acquisitions, financing, competition and State aid, utilities and infrastructure have added significant value to our clients in privatisation transactions. 

"The lawyers give you a high level of comfort thanks to their knowledge of the sector and ability to handle complex issues."
Energy and Natural Resources: Chambers Europe 2011

The team at Matheson Ormsby Prentice is “professional and personal with an excellent eye for detail”, and “offers a superior service”.
Projects, Energy and Natural Resources: European Legal 500 2011

"They have a practical approach and are very much client-focused. We were very pleased with their service and will definitely be happy to use them again," says one client.
M&A: IFLR 1000 2011

This firm attracts high-profile clients with complex business needs. Sources say: "It has a broad range of talent and wide knowledge base, and provides excellent client service."
Corporate/M&A: Chambers Global 2011

"It is an outstanding law firm with some first-class corporate lawyers and a great book of clients." "The group is incredibly creative, responsive and attentive."
Corporate: Chambers Europe 2010

Matheson Ormsby Prentice is "dynamic and commercially focused" and importantly "ready availability and responsiveness is a constant feature of service".
Corporate and Commercial: European Legal 500 2009

Commentators label this outfit "absolutely 10 out of 10 – full of enthusiastic people who look at the whole picture and are willing to work late nights and weekends." The international business group continues to bring benefits to the wider team, generating a large amount of inward investment work. Domestically, the practice is developing in the energy and healthcare arenas, where M&A and private equity work is growing. Interviewees referred to the lawyers’ "good grasp of the corporate environment and excellent technical expertise," further highlighting the "excellent continuity between every group."
Corporate / M&A: Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2009