As we continue to return to or create a new societal and business normality following the impact of Covid-19, this year is a significant one for Matheson, especially in Cork, a place in which we are proud to have been firmly established since 2018, writes Gráinne Callanan, Head of Matheson in Cork.

As Ireland’s largest law firm, and the first large Irish law firm to open a second Irish office outside of Dublin, our decision to locate in Cork was a recognition of the importance of the region — a destination for international businesses and home to some of the best legal talent in the country. This is something we still strongly believe. In May this year we reaffirmed our commitment to Cork with the opening of new Matheson offices at Penrose Dock by Taoiseach Micheál Martin. This investment is a statement of our intent to continue to serve our clients and to grow our firm here.

GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
Looking at the broader economy and business environment, there are opportunities not only in Cork, but across Munster, especially for businesses that compete on the national and international stage. We work with over 60% of the American Chamber of Commerce’s Cork-based FDI member companies, which gives us an important perspective that informs our work and that of the clients we support. At a national level, there are obvious economic uncertainties at the moment.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has created significant cross-sectoral volatility, especially in the energy and food sectors. The ongoing economic recovery following two years of a pandemic, and the uncertainty created by Brexit are also factors. However, emerging trends, the creation and adoption of new technologies, and new ways of working, all present opportunities for businesses in Cork and the Munster region.

We see a growing emphasis across all sectors on ESG. In 2021 Matheson became one of the first Irish law firms to establish a dedicated and partner-led ESG Advisory Group, assisting companies to navigate and respond to the rapidly evolving ESG landscape.

The Group advises on areas such as renewable energy procurement, corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and ESG reporting, and its services are a strong and increasing source of interest to organisations throughout the country.

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WHY CORK?
In Cork, we continue to see an increased demand for legal services from multinational and domestic Munster-based clients, across the ICT, life sciences, med-tech, financial services, and cyber security industries, and we continue to see new jobs and growth announcements from international companies and indigenous businesses across several sectors, companies that recognise the opportunities afforded by Cork.

Looking at our own business, the experiences of the past few years and our investment in Penrose Dock give us the opportunity to be located conveniently for our clients, but also to facilitate a flexible work/life balance for our employees as part of our hybrid working model.

Looking to the future it is obvious that Cork is a well-connected and positive business environment, actively investing in its commercial, residential and infrastructural future. Cork is set to become the fastest growing city in Ireland over the next 20 years, with its population set to increase by 50%, and the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 strategy already recognises its potential, estimating that three quarters of all new growth will be outside of Dublin, much of that in Cork.

Reflecting on the growth of our business, our investment in our Cork facilities and in the services to our FDI and indigenous clients, we are optimistic about the potential for the city and broader region and we look forward to playing our part in driving its future success.