‘There is a sense that investors are in wait and see mode’

ACTIVITY Our trading performance has been solid, and activity levels have grown year-on-year in both the domestic and international markets. Our sectoral approach to our markets continues to serve us well, and we are seeing high levels of activity in our key sectors – Financial Services, Energy, Infrastructure, Real Estate, and Technology, Science and Industry.

In the last year our corporate team has advised clients on major deals in the Irish market, including Ocuco on a €60m equity investment by US-based private equity fund Accel-KKR; and Viotas founders Paddy Finn and Duncan O’Toole on the management buyout of Bord na Móna’s 50% stake in the company. Our litigation teams have advised on complex and contentious matters including representing Teva in four sets of patent proceedings, and advising the SIAC Group in relation to court-appointed liquidators and a creditors voluntary liquidation.

AI Pinsent Masons has been at the forefront of AI for years. This year the firm hired Tracey McDermott as new Chief Technology Officer to lead the delivery of our global technology programmes. We recently launched a Microsoft Co-Pilot trial, with AI champions in each of our 27 offices participating in data product testing. Socialising new technology across our business helps us understand the next phase of the AI evolution and what that means for our business.

OUTLOOK There is certainly a sense that investors are in ‘wait and see’ mode. However, we are still advising on strong transaction activity. Our Corporate Transactions team in Dublin completed 17 deals in the last year and we have a good pipeline of work for the remainder of 2024. As an office we are very fortunate to be able to access both the domestic and international client markets, and in terms of international investment Ireland continues to be attractive.