Expertise
Clients say the lawyers in the team have "excellent technical knowledge" and are "practical and commercial".
IFLR1000
Matheson’s corporate restructuring and insolvency lawyers provide specialist advice on both contentious and non-contentious corporate restructuring and insolvency mandates. The team has unrivalled strength, expertise and experience that has seen us deal with Ireland’s most significant and complex domestic and cross-border insolvency and restructuring matters over many years.
The team regularly deals with complex Irish and multi-jurisdictional distressed situations, having acted for many of the world’s largest banks, investment funds as well as Ireland’s leading insolvency practitioners. The team had been heavily involved in a number of significant assignments arising from the impact of Covid-19 on the aviation and retail sectors.
The team works hand in glove with other specialist teams, including the corporate real estate, finance and capital markets, tax and corporate teams, to deliver a seamless service and provide practical and innovative solutions for our clients.
The Group provides advice on the full range of corporate recovery and restructuring assignments including:
- Domestic and cross-border insolvencies involving Irish companies.
- Solvent and insolvent restructurings and schemes of arrangement.
- Complex and novel litigation arising from and in connection with the sale of loan portfolios by divesting financial institutions to speciality funds and alternative acquiring entities.
- Examinerships.
- Receiverships and pre-packs.
- Loan to own strategies.
- Distressed loan sales and purchases.
- Out of court rescheduling and debt restructurings.
- Bankruptcy and voluntary schemes of arrangements.
- Asset and debt recovery in Ireland and internationally.
- Security reviews and enforcement actions.
- All associated litigation.
Our Team
- Advising Weatherford International plc in relation to the global restructuring of the debtors’ balance sheets using parallel procedures of Chapter 11 restructuring process in the US, an examinership process in Ireland and a provisional liquidation in Bermuda.
- Advising BNY Mellon in its capacity as indenture trustee in the cross border restructuring of the debts of Ballantyne Re plc by way of an Irish scheme of arrangement of US$1.65 bn of liabilities and subsequent recognition by way of Chapter 15 in the United States.
- Advising in relation to the examinership of CityJet.
- Advising the liquidator of Debenhams.
- Advising the examiner of Cara Pharmacy Group.
- Advising a major creditor in relation the restructuring of the liabilities of Nordic Aviation by way of Irish scheme of arrangement.
- Advising Vision Built Manufacturing Limited in relation to the successful appointment of an examiner over a related company in the group registered in England with its centre of main interests in Ireland. Notwithstanding that a creditor in England had sought to petition the English courts to wind up the related company in the UK, we were successful in dealing with the winding up petition and ensuring the related company entered into examinership under Irish law.
- Advising Ulster Bank, as the petitioner and one of the largest creditors of Sean Dunne, in relation to having him adjudicated a bankrupt in Ireland resulting in the first ever dual bankruptcy in Ireland and the United States. This matter went to the Supreme Court in a precedent-setting judgment. The bankrupt’s estate comprises of assets located across a multitude of jurisdictions.
"Very experienced team. Large practice depth to call upon."
Restructuring & Insolvency: The European Legal 500 2024
"Matheson has what appears to me to be the largest and best international legal practice in Ireland, it therefore has some of the best lawyers and great depth and size to its practice."
Restructuring & Insolvency: The European Legal 500 2024
“The partner I am dealing with is very experienced in litigation matters generally and is very proactive in dealing with issues as they arise.”
Restructuring/Insolvency: Chambers Europe 2024
"Excellent firm, responsive and a broad practice to draw expert advice from."
Insolvency: IFLR1000 33rd edition 2023
"Large practice with good resources. Excellent restructuring knowledge and sector expertise."
Insolvency & Corporate Restructuring: The Legal 500 2023
"Matheson is a top legal firm. Having worked with many of their solicitors and teams over the years, I can safely say that their quality of service is consistently high across the entire firm."
Insolvency & Corporate Restructuring: The Legal 500 2023
"The team has strong technical expertise as well as commercial and practical strength in achieving optimal outcomes."
Restructuring & Insolvency: Chambers Europe 2023
"Matheson is really strong in the restructuring and insolvency space. The firm is commercial and proactive."
Restructuring & Insolvency: Chambers Europe 2023
"The firm always bring a collegiate approach to engagements. They are highly responsive, practical and commercial in their advice, helping navigate their clients through challenging restructuring assignments. "
Restructuring: IFLR1000 2022
"Very good firm with a range of experienced solicitors and various sub-service lines and sector specialisms."
Restructuring: IFLR1000 2022
"Commercial and client-focused."
Restructuring: IFLR1000 2022
"Very strong on real estate – good bench strength, very knowledgeable of the market, strong technically."
Restructuring: IFLR1000 2022
"Very experienced and professional firm. Provide practical solutions to complex matters. Very reassuring considering the pressurised industry we work in. Always feel in safe hands. Have engaged Matheson on numerous insolvency assignments and will continue
to do so."
The Legal 500 2022
"The Matheson team has very strong commercial acumen, deep legal expertise and a continuity of key people that Tony O’Grady ensures consistently high standards."
The Legal 500 2022
"Matheson is the best among all in the country and I value the team very much."
Chambers
Europe 2022
“Large firm with great expertise.”
IFLR1000 2021
IFLR1000 2021
“Very pragmatic, commercial and solution focused.”
IFLR1000 2021
"Turnaround times, commercialism and access to key people."
Restructuring & Insolvency: Chambers Europe 2021
"Relationship driven partners, balance excellent technical knowledge with commercial advice, bring in other expertise from around the firm as required."
Restructuring & Insolvency: European Legal 500 2021
"In the restructuring and insolvency team, the breath of the team is a key strength. Technically the team is very strong across various positions"
Restructuring & Insolvency: European Legal 500 2021
"Good availability, engagement and technical knowledge."
Restructuring & Insolvency: European Legal 500 2021
"A very strong team with a wealth of insolvency knowledge."
Restructuring & Insolvency: European Legal 500 2021
“They have great depth in their team and many resources to deal with difficult and challenging situations.”
European Legal 500 2020
“The team I deal with in Matheson are very capable and professional.”
European Legal 500 2020
“The Matheson team provide strong, practical, and commercial advice in the area of insolvency and corporate restructuring with a strong team skilled in all areas.”
European Legal 500 2020
“We have used Matheson’s insolvency team for many years and we have been consistently impressed with their commerciality, service and professionalism. Clearly expert in the legal field they also bring real practically and tactical nous to
every piece of advice.”
European Legal 500 2020
“The Matheson team act in a very collegiate manner, which results in a collaborative approach between individuals and teams within the firm and provides a very positive experience to me as a client.”
European Legal 500 2020
“We deal with Brendan Colgan and Tony O’Grady. Brendan is extremely technically proficient and effective, whilst Tony has unrivalled experience and respect in this field.”
European Legal 500 2020
"Matheson’s insolvency and corporate restructuring team are approachable and deliver excellent customer service in their engagements. Senior associates and partners are always available to deal with client queries and provide strong and reliable
advice throughout engagements.”
European Legal 500 2020
Matheson is very strong in “dealing with complex issues in a commercial manner”.
European Legal 500 2019
"Efficient, helpful, knowledgeable and exceptionally reliable."
IFLR1000 2019
Matheson provides "proactive, thought-through advice".
European Legal 500 2018
The team stands out for its "huge depth and breadth of knowledge".
European Legal 500 2018
"Strong firm with good resources".
Chambers Europe 2018
“Excellent client service which is next to none in Dublin.”
IFLR1000 2018
"The partners I deal with in Matheson - Brendan Colgan, Julie Murphy O'Connor, Tony O'Grady and Karen Reynolds - are extremely responsive, demonstrate deep commercial knowledge, give practical advice and have a very strong focus on building enduring
long-term relationships. Matheson appear to have a collegiate response to dealing with issues and seem to work better across different departments than some of their peers.”
IFLR1000 2018
"They provide an excellent service, generally a very quick turnaround time on legal advice, extremely competent and provide specialist knowledge. We can highly recommend the firm."
IFLR1000 2017
"Depth of quality in
the team" .
Chambers Europe 2017