Expertise
“The firm has the manpower, offers excellent turnaround times and is technically excellent. There is nothing the lawyers are unable to assist with”.
Commercial Real Estate: Chambers Europe
At Matheson, we have one of the leading commercial property law practices in Ireland. The Commercial Real Estate Group is committed to building stronger and deeper relationships with our clients. We consistently act on the most high profile and significant real estate transactions in Ireland. In doing so, we take time to learn about the business, values and objectives of our clients. Our experience of running sophisticated transactions, our in-depth knowledge of the market in which we operate and our strategic and innovative approach to developing legal structures and products places us in the best position to assist you in achieving your business objectives, most efficiently, every time.
We advise occupiers, landlords, developers, investors, lenders and vendors of all manner of real estate across Ireland, including office, industrial and logistics, retail, hotel, leisure, residential “buy to rent” sectors and large-scale mixed use developments.
Offering the full spectrum of real estate transactions, our Commercial Real Estate Group has a broad and deep knowledge of the Irish property market and is fully equipped to deal with the ever changing and rapidly growing real estate market. We work closely and attentively with our local and international client base, structuring client focused solutions in line with our proven track record, managing all manners of acquisitions, reconstructions, disposals and property financing.
Our aim is to build long lasting relationships such that our clients turn to us for support on their most important projects. We play a key role in supporting new and existing international clients with their ongoing investment into Ireland, with the benefit of our Real Estate specialists across our Tax, Corporate, Finance, Construction and Litigation Groups, who work seamlessly and in tandem to deliver optimum solutions.
Our Team
Our dedicated team is led by eight partners.
- Alison Bearpark
- Brian Doran
- Leonie Dunne
- Rhona Henry
- Cillian O’Boyle
- Karen Sheil
- Sally Anne Stone
- Hilda Wrixon
Experience Highlights
Recent representative transactions include:
- Advising Workday on its new European office headquarters located at College Square in Dublin city centre - expected to be the largest office leasing deal in Europe in 2025 and is the biggest single-office letting deal to have taken place in the European office market since the COVID-19 pandemic
- Advising Goldman Sachs on the sale of Blanchardstown Centre, one of Ireland's leading shopping destinations, to Strategic Value Partners, LLC (the largest real estate deal of the year in 2024)
- Advising Eagle Street Partners Ireland Limited and Arrow Global Adviser Limited on the acquisition of The Square Shopping Centre, Tallaght, Dublin
- Advising Chandos Investments plc (a Värde Partners investment vehicle) in relation to the sale of numerous shopping centres and retail parks in various locations across Ireland
- Advising Park Developments on the forward sale of 207 apartments and a crèche located in 3 blocks in the development at Churchview Road, Killiney, County Dublin (largest reported residential sale in the Irish market in 2024)
- Advising Macquarie Asset Management in relation to its acquisition of the Beacon Hospital in Dublin, one of Ireland’s leading private hospitals
- Advising a global technology company on development of a new data centre campus (value of over €1 billion), which included preparing a bespoke lease agreement linking rent to power usage
- Advising EY on the letting of its new HQ in Dublin 2’s Wilton Park Development
- Advising BNY on the letting of its new HQ at The Shipping Office, Dublin 2
- Advising BlackRock on the lease of its new HQ at Glencar House in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
- Advising BlackRock on the sale of the 412 bed hostel Jacobs Inn, Dublin
- Advising Google Ireland Limited regarding the acquisition, development, fit out and estate management of its Irish real estate portfolio
- Advising Cellnex Telecom, Europe’s largest telecommunications towers and infrastructure operator, on the sale of its Irish business to Phoenix Tower International for €971m
- Advising EirGrid plc on the real estate aspects of Phase 1 of the Government's offshore wind programme and the development of a new template grid connection agreement (and related agreements) to be used for offshore wind farms
- Advising Novo Nordisk A/S, a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company, on its entry into the Irish market via the acquisition of a manufacturing facility located at Monksland Industrial Estate in Athlone, County Roscommon
- Advising Rabobank on the project financing of a facility granted to Highfield Solar Limited / ib vogt GmbH in respect of two solar farm projects in Ireland, Gaskinstown and Rathnaskillogue in County Meath
- Advising the facility agent, security trustee and a syndicate of lenders on the refinancing of the existing debt facilities of Irish Residential Properties REIT plc, Ireland’s largest private rental accommodation provider
- Advising CA Ventures as part of a joint venture with Harrison Street Real Estate in the financing of a development site at Parnell Street, Dublin for the construction of a 240-plus bed student accommodation scheme
- Advising on the first and only district heating scheme established in Ireland
Accolades
"The way the team works is collaboratively, openly and transparently."
Real Estate: The European Legal 500 2025
"Extremely commercial and pragmatic. Goes above and beyond for clients, with excellent communication from lead partners."
Real Estate: The European Legal 500 2025
"The Matheson team take ownership of complex queries, which gives comfort that they are part of our project team and not merely an external adviser."
Real Estate: Chambers Europe 2025
"The team offers a great depth of knowledge and experience, and always responds in a timely manner."
Real Estate: Chambers Europe 2025
"A one-team collaborative approach."
Real Estate: The Legal 500 2024
"Matheson has in-depth knowledge regarding real estate. Their expertise was critical in negotiating key terms and conditions. The individuals within the real estate practice were all professional and knowledgeable."
Real Estate: The Legal 500 2024
"The attitude, personable nature and industry knowledge at partner level and senior associate level is excellent. The team’s strength is certainly their industry knowledge, willingness to understand exactly what the client needs and also their ability to set realistic deadlines to allow themselves to provide quality advice. The team also make themselves available as and when needed at short notice, which is greatly appreciated as urgent, time-sensitive matters arise."
Real Estate: The Legal 500 2024
“Lawyers at the firm work efficiently to ensure work is completed in a timely manner and demonstrate a high level of experience and ability in dealing with complex transactions.”
Real Estate: Chambers Europe 2024
“The Matheson team provides strong advice and clarity on challenging issues.”
Real Estate: Chambers Europe 2024
"Matheson advises on all aspects of real estate and construction law, including lease structures and agreements, sale of commercial property and land and property acquisition. Also, advice and preparation of Contact for Sales – Negotiation of Contracts. The service provided by Matheson is of high quality, and we have found them to be reliable, practical and solution-driven. Answer the queries promptly, provides commercially focused advice, and their vast knowledge & skills have been extremely helpful in all real estate and construction law matters."
Real Estate: European Legal 500 2023
"Matheson’s real estate team provides excellent customer service, knowledge of Irish laws, and sound negotiating advice. They bring a high level of organisation, detailed reasoning, and examples to lead clients’ teams as they progress in the leasing process. They are critical and creative thinkers who look outside the box to solve and foresee problems before they occur."
Real Estate: European Legal 500 2023
"Matheson are an absolute pleasure to deal with, making everything very easy and simple for the client."
Real Estate: Chambers Europe 2023
"They are savvy, responsive and give advice that is not only legally sound but commercially viable."
Real Estate: Chambers Europe 2023
"We have always considered Matheson to be best in class for all real estate and construction matters in Ireland. They have an incredible range and depth of expertise in their team and they always provide comprehensive, coherent and considered legal advice and have never been afraid to provide commercial and practical guidance whenever requested. Some of their key strengths are the quality of their advice and their in-depth knowledge of our business and the issues they know are important to us."
Real Estate: The European Legal 500 2022
"The team is very well versed in all real estate matters: acquisitions, disposals, financing and in particular leasing and pre-lets. The breadth of experience the team has on significant real estate transactions is second to none."
Real Estate: The European Legal 500 2022
"We value the quality of their advice – they strive very hard to get things exactly right and to offer guidance which is both comprehensive and commercial. Responses are always prompt and there is good depth in the team. I have never known them to drop the ball."
Real Estate: The European Legal 500 2022
"Some of Matheson's key strengths are the quality of their advice and their in-depth knowledge of our business and the issues they know are important to us,"
Chambers Europe 2022
The team are "highly skilled real estate experts who are particularly well versed in advising on complex pre-let and construction arrangements. They are responsive and approachable with great communication channels in place."
Chambers Europe 2022
"They are top class"
Real Estate: Chambers Europe 2021
"Eagle-eyed when it comes to contract reviews"
Real Estate: Chambers Europe 2021
"Explaining elements pertaining to what is required in Dublin and how that might differ from other locations"
Real Estate: Chambers Europe 2021
"Matheson have been very good at explaining elements pertaining to what is required in Dublin and how that might differ or translate differently in other office locations. They have been great at navigating through the lease and any other elements thoroughly and to our satisfaction."
Real Estate: Chambers Global 2021
Hugely committed, commercial and overall great fun to work with. Matheson take the time to understand your business so that the advice that they give is tailored to the risk profile and ambitions of the client."
Real Estate: European Legal 500 2021
Matheson are my go-to firm for real estate transactions in Ireland. I consider their legal expertise, market knowledge and responsiveness to be exceptional. From complex site acquisitions through to more routine discrete enquiries, the standard of their support is always of the highest calibre. I work with law firms across a number of different jurisdictions and would consistently class Matheson as amongst the best performers."
Real Estate: European Legal 500 2021
"The Matheson team provided both innovative and creative solutions to a range of complicated property transactions. They proved to be both resilient in getting deals completed but also pragmatic in managing all stakeholders to ensure a cohesive deal."
Real Estate: European Legal 500 2021
“They have a unique and innate understanding of our business and they know what key drivers are fundamental to our real estate needs.”
Real Estate: European Legal 500 2020