WEALTH May 4, 2026 0 Comments

Unlocking Tech Success: Why Half-Measures in Integration Are Killing Your Growth—Darren Maher Reveals the Game-Changer Most Entrepreneurs Miss

Ever wonder how a single firm weaves its expertise across technology, financial services, infrastructure, hospitality—and still manages to stay ahead when the market throws curveballs? That’s exactly the puzzle Darren Maher and his team at Matheson LLP cracked in 2025. Despite a tougher economic landscape, their deep-rooted client bonds and razor-sharp reputation kept them in the thick of Ireland’s most headline-grabbing, complex deals. From the fintech boom to calming tariff jitters in food and beverage, they didn’t just weather the storm—they found windows to thrive. And talk about dance partners: with regulators stepping up their game, dynamic policy tweaks opened doors to fresh opportunities in private capital and digital assets. Intrigued how they weave innovation with tried-and-true legal mastery—and why the future’s all about blending AI while keeping the human touch? You’ll want to dive in here. LEARN MORE

Deal activity spanned technology, services, financial services, infrastructure and hospitality sectors – Darren Maher, Managing Partner, Matheson LLP

ACTIVITY

Whilst 2025 presented a more challenging market environment compared to recent years, our established client relationships and market-leading reputation meant we continued to be instructed on the most significant and complex matters in the Irish market.

This positioned us well to capitalise on opportunities as market conditions improved through the year.

The financial services sector entered another growth phase, characterised by much greater certainty.

The regulator demonstrated strong engagement with industry, showing increased willingness to make appropriate regulatory and policy adjustments where frameworks fell out of line with international changes – a shift that fostered very positive client regulator interaction.

Activity accelerated particularly around private capital, whilst fintech and digital assets gained prominence, with growing sophistication in cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital-asset regulatory frameworks.

Deal activity spanned technology, services, financial services, infrastructure and hospitality sectors.

Notably, sectors most impacted by tariff uncertainty – including food and beverage – experienced greater deal flow as uncertainty abated.

Commercial real estate demand continued throughout the year, particularly in logistics and life sciences infrastructure, reflecting sustained confidence in Ireland’s long-term economic fundamentals.

NOTABLE TRANSACTIONS

There were many transactions for Matheson that I could single out from the past year, but just a very small number of the leading ones include: advising Pandox AB and Eiendomsspar on the Dalata Hotel deal – the biggest public transaction of 2025 – advising Ardian Infrastructure on its acquisition of Energia Group and advising Workday on its EMEA HQ letting, the largest in Europe.

In financial services, we advised HSBC Asset Management on the first-of-its-kind launch of ETF share classes in money market funds and M&G on the establishment of its first active ETF range.

Both of these transactions reflect the growing sophistication and innovation in the Irish funds sector.

We also advised Tirlán Co-operative Society on two of the largest capital markets transactions in Ireland in recent times.

In disputes, we acted for software company Rippling in a high-profile corporate espionage case with a technology aspect and on the first representative action against a client.

In tax, we acted for a multinational taxpayer in the first Irish transfer pricing appeal heard by the Tax Appeals Commission, successfully winning the appeal and having all assessments set aside.

This is notable as no transfer pricing-specific appeal had been heard since transfer pricing rules were introduced in Ireland in 2010.

We also advised a syndicate of lenders on the refinancing of existing debt facilities for Irish Residential Properties REIT plc, Graham Partners on its acquisition of Smithstown Light Engineering, and Grafton Street Boulevard DAC and other sellers on the sale of AA Ireland Group.

IMPACT OF AI

Technology integration calls for substantial commitment.

Matheson is actively embedding AI tools across our practice, ensuring comprehensive staff training and identifying the most impactful use cases. Critically, we’re also adapting our training programmes to ensure younger lawyers continue to develop the fundamental skills that are increasingly being automated.

The challenge lies not merely in adopting technology, but in thoughtfully integrating it whilst preserving the core professional competencies that define excellent legal practice.

Christian Donagh, Co-Head of the Finance and Capital Markets Department; Joe Beashel and Caroline Kearns, Co-Heads of the Financial Institutions Group; Ciaran O’Boyle, partner, Financial Institutions Group; Darren Maher, Managing Partner; Maireadh Dale, Co-Head of the Finance and Capital Markets Department; and David Fitzgibbon, Head of the Corporate Department.

Equally critical is maintaining the right working environment – focusing on work-life balance and employee wellbeing to retain talent by creating conditions where lawyers feel supported, valued, respected and genuinely motivated to perform at their highest level.

In a competitive market, firms must balance demanding client expectations with sustainable practices that attract and retain exceptional people.