What We Do

Matheson Ormsby Prentice has perhaps the most significant PPP/PFI experience of any Irish firm, and sources confirm that the group is “commercially minded, diligent and precise in their advice.”
Chambers Europe 2010

Our Infrastructure,Project Finance and PPP/PFI team has extensive experience in helping clients to finance and develop infrastructure projects in all major industries throughout the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. We specialise in advising clients from both the public and private sectors - including government bodies, sponsors, financial institutions, contractors and developers.

We have been involved in PPP in Ireland from the start and have a multi-disciplinary team of lawyers who can structure, negotiate and document the full array of project and financing agreements to suit your specific needs.

Many of our project finance/PPP lawyers are dual qualified in Ireland and the UK and have in-depth experience of the UK PFI market. We are able to offer a deal-orientated and integrated Project Finance/PPP service advising on the full breadth of legal aspects relating to the structuring, financing, construction and operation of projects.

We will work closely with you to understand your business, your objectives and your approach to the deal. We can provide the in-depth industry knowledge, local market expertise and practical solutions necessary to make your deal work.

Health Sector

Through our detailed knowledge and experience of the UK Health PFI and the NHS LIFT market, we can bring an informed approach to this area as the Health PPP market in Ireland continues to develop. Examples of some of the current or completed transactions that we have advised on are: 

Co-Location of Private Hospital Facility

Advising short-listed bidders on the financing and development of six co-located private hospital facilities and provision of medical services on the sites.

Beacon Hospital

Advised a syndicate of investors in relation to the finance and construction of the €167 million Beacon Hospital, a 183 bed state of the art facility in Sandyford, County Dublin.

Advising a syndicate of investors in relation to the finance and construction of a 260 – bed acute hospital adjacent to an existing private hospital.

Education Sector

We have in-depth knowledge of this sector in Ireland. As well as experience of UK schools PFI projects, our team comprises lawyers with experience of the UK’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Programme. We have been actively involved in all of the schools projects that have come to the PPP market to date and can offer efficient and practical solutions – from straightforward turnkey contracts to more challenging multi-site projects.

Examples of some of the current or completed transactions that our project finance/PPP lawyers have advised on are:

• Schools Bundle 2 PPP - Advised the preferred bidder in relation to the design, build, finance and operation of 6 schools at Abbeyfeale, Athboy, Bantry, Kildare and Wicklow from pre-qualification through to financial close
• Schools Bundle 1 PPP - Advised the preferred bidder in relation to the design, build, finance and operation of 4 new post-primary schools at Portlaoise, Banagher and Ferbane in Ireland from pre-qualification through to financial close .
• Schools Bundle Pilot PPP - Advised John Sisk and Son as the main contractor to the preferred bidder in relation to the first schools PPP project to achieve financial close.
• Schools Bundle Pilot PPP - Advised a bidder in relation to the pilot schools bundle PPP.
• Cork School of Music PPP - Advised John Sisk and Son as the main contractor to the preferred bidder in relation to the Cork School of Music PPP.
• National Maritime College of Ireland PPP - Advised a bidder in relation to the design, build, finance and operation of a college for nautical training at Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, Ireland.
  

Accommodation Sector

This sector covers a broad spectrum of transactions ranging from office accommodation schemes, through to prisons, leisure facilities, courts, harbours and ports. We are able to draw on both our PPP experience and on the experience of our property finance practice to meet the needs of this sector.

Examples of some of the current or completed PPP transactions that we have advised on are:

Greystones Harbour PPP

Advising the preferred bidder (Sispar Ltd) in relation to the redevelopment of the harbour area of Greystones which will include the development of residential and commercial units, redevelopment of the harbour, provision of a marina, sea defences on the south beach and other social infrastructure. 

National Conference Centre PPP

Advised John Sisk and Son as the main contractor to the preferred bidder in relation to the design, build, finance and operation of a National Conference Centre, Dublin, Ireland.

Decentralisation PPP

Advised the preferred bidder in relation to the provision of office accommodation for the Government’s Decentralisation PPP Programme in Portlaoise, Mullingar and Carlow in Ireland.

Fatima Mansions PPP

Advised a bidder in relation to the redevelopment of Fatima Mansions in Dublin’s inner city. 

Croke Villas PPP

Advising a bidder in relation to the redevelopment of Croke Villas in Dublin’s inner city.

Beacon Court

Advised the senior funders on the €40 million financing of the construction of Phase II Beacon Court, Sandyford Industrial Estate, Dublin.

Hanover Quay Development

Advised the developer in relation to a major residential and commercial office development of 295 apartments, 4500 sq.m of office space, 500 sq.m of retail space, a crèche and a pub/restaurant. 

Commercial Office Premises

Advised senior funders in relation to a €39.3 million development/construction finance project for commercial office premises.

Courts Service

Criminal Courts Complex PPP

Advised the main contractor to the preferred bidder in relation to the delivery of a new 22 room Criminal Courts Complex in Dublin.

Defence Sector

Procurement of Training Planes

Advised the successful bidder in relation to the €60 million procurement of armed training planes by the Irish Department of Defence.

Ports

Deep Water Port – Bremore

Advising Drogheda Port Company on all aspects of international competition to select a strategic partner for the development of a new deep water port at Bremore, North Co Dublin.

Airports

Advised the Irish Department of Transport in relation to the re-organisation of Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airport operating arrangements.

Rail

We are fully equipped to deal with the regulatory and commercial environment that this sector brings. We are able to respond quickly and effectively to all legal issues that may arise in the PPP rail sector. Please also visit our Transport page for the full range of services we are able to offer in this area.

Dublin: Metro North PPP

Advised a bidder in relation to the proposed Dublin Metro North PPP project which is to run from St Stephen’s Green to Swords via Dublin Airport.

LUAS – Operations

Advised bidder for LUAS Operating Contract.

LUAS – Construction

Advised a contractor in relation to LUAS construction contracts.

LUAS Extension Project

Advised Rathdown Light Rail in relation to the LUAS extension from Sandywood to Cherrywood.

Roads

The National Roads Authority’s road development programme has been the most active PPP area in Ireland to date. We have been involved in this sector from the start and can provide you with an informed approach, balancing the efficiencies of following previous experience against the benefits of analysing each project on its merits.

Examples of some of the current or completed transactions that we have advised on are:

N4 Kilcock-Kinnegad PPP

Advising the operator of the NRA Kilcock to Kinnegad Motorway PPP.

M3 Clonee-Kells PPP

Advising the operator of the M3 Clonee-Kells Motorway. 

N25 Waterford Bypass PPP

Advised a bidder in relation to a by-pass of Waterford City including a new river crossing and cable stay bridge.

N6 Galway to Ballinasloe PPP

Advised a bidder in relation to the Galway to East Ballinasloe PPP scheme comprising 56 Km of dual carriageway and 1.6 Km of single carriageway.

M7/M8 Portlaoise PPP project

Advised lenders on all Irish law aspects in relation to the M7/M8 Portlaoise PPP project.

Hotels

Our project finance/PPP lawyers have advised hotel owners and hotel operators on all aspects of the construction, financing and operation of hotels located in Ireland, Europe and the Middle East.

Recent experience includes advising:

• TVC Holdings and private clients of Davy Stockbrokers on the acquisition of 11 Comfort Inns and quality Hotels in Ireland for a total investment of €46.5 million from Choice Hotels Ireland.
• AIB on financing and security arrangements relating to a hotel. 
• Irish development company in relation to management agreements for a suite of hotels in Austria. 
• third party investors on equity participation in a 4 star hotel. 
• owner on change of operator for 3 star hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin. 
• Marriott International, Inc. on the operation of the 5 star, 190 room Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin. 
• Precinct Investments/Gresham on a suite of hotel management and technical services agreements with Park Inn. 
• leading Irish entrepreneur on the development and management of a private luxury five star hotel. 
• Twinlite Developments Limited on the branding and operation of the 4 star deluxe, 155 room, Park Plaza Tyrrelstown Hotel. 
• owners on the development, financing and operation of the 5 star, 394 room Fairmont Hotel, Dubai. 
• Qatar National Hotels Company on its contractual relationships with Sheraton in relation to the 5 star, 363 room Sheraton Doha Hotel and Resort. 
• Qatar National Hotels Company on its negotiations with Marriott International, Inc. in relation to the 5 star, 362 room Marriott Doha Hotel. 
• Millennium and Copthorne in relation to its branding and operation of its 5 star Millennium Airport Hotels in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
  

Waste/Water and Energy

We have advised on the deals listed below. Please also visit our Energy and Natural Resources page or our Waste and Water page for the full range of services we are able to offer in this area.

Dublin Waste to Energy Scheme

Advised a bidder in relation this PPP scheme which is to generate electricity from the thermal treatment of municipal waste.

LNG

Advising the developer on all aspects of a Liquefied Natural Gas project.

Gas Spur Pipeline

Advised the lead arranger and lender in relation to project financing facilities of €46m to fund financing of Bord Gáis sponsored Isle of Man Gas Spur Pipeline.

400MW CCGT Power Plant 

Advised the developer in relation to all aspects of the development, construction and financing and subsequent refinancing of a 400MW CCGT Power Plant.

343MW CCGT Power Plant

Advised lenders in relation to the project financing of a 343MW CCGT Power Plant.

Off-Shore Gas Development

Advised lenders in relation to the £71 million project financing of an off-shore gas development at Seven Heads Gas Field, Celtic Sea.

Mount Eagle Windfarm

Advised the lender in relation to the project financing, construction and development of Mount Eagle Windfarm.

Tursillagh Windfarm

Advised Saorgus Energy Ltd in relation to the project financing of an extension to Tursillagh Windfarm.

26MW Windfarm

Advised senior lenders on project financing facilities in connection with a 26MW Windfarm in Northern Ireland.

"A progressive firm whose lawyers are commercially minded, diligent and precise in their advice."
Projects: 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

At Matheson Ormsby Prentice, team head Michael O'Connor is singled out as "responsive, hard-working and commercially minded". 
Projects, Energy and Natural Resources: European Legal 500 2010

Matheson Ormsby Prentice has perhaps the most significant UK PFIPPP experience of any Irish firm, and sources confirm that the group is “great at linking with the top UK outfits.”
Projects: Chambers Europe 2010

"They go the extra mile for their clients".
Projects, Energy and Natural Resources: European Legal 500 2009

Michael O'Connor has “experience and knowledge of the local market and local precedents and is proactive in identifying additional opportunities,” remark clients. He stands out for his energy expertise but also garners praise for his considerable project and project finance experience, both in Ireland and internationally.
Projects: Chambers Europe 2008

Working closely with the banking and construction teams, this respected projects practice advises on the full gamut of projects, project finance and PPP work, and has experience of working in the transport, infrastructure, education and energy sectors. Clients praised the lawyers' “quality advice” and work ethic: “They worked as if they were on the battleground”.
Projects: Chambers Europe 2008

The team is “very sensitive and responsive to our needs and is able to turn around advice within very tight timeframes,” commended clients.
Energy and Natural Resources: Chambers 2008