Maples and Calder advises on all aspects of corporate, finance, funds, insolvency and restructuring, litigation, tax and commercial property law. The Monterey Insight Report 2017 named Maples and Calder as number one legal adviser to Irish-serviced funds. The firm, led by managing partner Nicholas Butcher (pictured)  was commended in 2017 by the Financial Times as one of the Top 50 law firms and legal service providers. Two recent lateral partner hires from Dublin law firms are Alan O'Sullivan and Aaron McGarry.

How would you describe Maples and Calder’s USP in the legal marketplace?

We are innovative and entrepreneurial, working very closely with our clients to find commercial solutions which are right for their businesses. For example, we liaise very closely with our affiliate MaplesFS. MaplesFS, through its operating divisions Maples Fund Services and Maples Fiduciary, is an independent global provider of specialised fiduciary, corporate formation and administration services. Combining a wide range of financial services expertise, MaplesFS is able to offer professional and comprehensive products which are tailored to client requirements. This relationship with MaplesFS is key for many of our clients as it creates efficiencies in the establishment and operation of new entities in Ireland and gives direct access to management company and funds and fiduciary administration services alongside tier one legal advice.

Over the past year, which aspects of the firm’s development and growth have pleased you most?

Since opening our doors in Dublin in 2006, the Maples group (Maples and Calder and MaplesFS) has seen strong growth and expansion year on year. Last year, in response to continued business growth our affiliate MaplesFS, relocated its Dublin office to Molesworth St. The new location signals that the Maples group is well positioned for continued strong growth in Ireland and underscores our commitment to investing in the resources necessary to support both our clients and our employees.

As well as this, at the end of last year, we established a branch of Maples and Calder, Ireland in London. The Irish Branch in London comprises a cross-departmental team initially providing Irish legal advice in the areas of Asset Finance, Corporate and Investment Funds. New Partners have joined representing our Funds, Corporate, Finance and Litigation groups. Together these developments all show our continued expansion in and commitment to business in Ireland alongside growth right across our international group.

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What growth opportunities have you identified in the coming years?

Alongside our excellent domestic clients, as an international group we have an international client base and referral network which is second to none.  We are constantly looking for ways to promote Irish legal services to our global clients and this is front and centre of our growth strategy. We have opened Irish desks in our Cayman and Hong Kong offices and the latest example of us taking Irish legal services directly to our clients is the launch last year of our Irish Branch in London. We will continue to expand our global offering where there is client demand.

Do you regard Brexit as an opportunity or a threat? 

Brexit certainly provides opportunities and we are advising many clients on Brexit related matters. Indeed, we have assembled a multi-disciplinary team to work with clients and their international advisers on the key legal, regulatory and tax issues, arising from Brexit and we offer a range of these services from our global offices, including our new Irish Branch which opened in London in 2017.  With an increased focus on the international requirements of UK based clients in light of EU developments, as well as a natural evolution of our intention to deliver legal advice on our clients' doorstep, this is a timely move for Maples and Calder.

Our Irish team has a proven track record in advising global clients on all aspects of carrying out business in the EU from Ireland. In the context of Brexit, this experience is now being harnessed for contingency planning or for immediate restructuring. In addition, MaplesFS can assist with the establishment and operation of new entities in Ireland by providing management company services and specialised fiduciary and fund administration services.

Overall though, we are cautious in predicting any significant movement of people as a result of Brexit. Certainly this will be driven by legal and structuring requirements: asset managers and other clients in the regulated space will need to have a physical presence and substance as required by regulators. However, it does not necessarily follow that we will see significant relocations, either to Ireland or to other jurisdictions it is competing with: such as Luxembourg, Germany, France and the Netherlands.

ONE client deal from 2017/18 – which one would you single out and why?

Our Investment Funds team recently acted as counsel to Bank of Ireland Private Banking in the establishment of a unique and highly innovative synthetic investment product for its Irish private wealth investors, offering bespoke indirect exposure to a KKR-managed Irish regulated private equity fund. Maples’ involvement in this project was awarded 2018 "Deal of the Year" for Investment Funds by "Finance Dublin" magazine. It is a great example of the first class transactions we are undertaking for leading international clients who rightly expect the very best in terms of both technical advice and service.