Irish law firm Mason Hayes & Curran increased its revenue by 5 per cent in 2012 to €44.4 million, according to figures supplied to The Irish Times.

This is the 10th year in a row that it has achieved increased turnover, a period when the business has doubled in terms of turnover and personnel. In 2011, its revenue rose by 8 per cent to €42.2 million.

No profit figure was provided. Mason Hayes & Curran is one of the few law firms here to release its revenue figures.

'Challenging'
The firm closed the year with 304 staff and 65 partners, and claims to be one of the Big Six law firms in Ireland.

"We were pleased to see continued growth in revenues for 2012," managing partner Emer Gilvarry said. "Although conditions remain challenging, we are experiencing positive growth in sectors such as technology, food, energy and financial services."

These were “challenging times” for law firms in Ireland with clients “understandably seeking more for less”. She added that the firm had made a “strong start” to 2013 and was on target to increase its turnover for the year as a whole.

It had also added to its staff numbers in the first quarter.

Ms Gilvarry said its projects last year included representing the Commission for Communications Regulation on the 4G auction process for the State.

It also advised Kerry Group on its new research and development facility for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

It represented Facebook on its first and second audit by the Data Protection Commission and exploration group Fastnet Oil and Gas on its purchase of the entire issued share capital of Pathfinder Hydrocarbon Venture Ltd.

In dispute resolution, the firm represented non-executive director Paul Connolly in his unprecedented legal action with Independent News & Media on the exit package paid to former chief executive Gavin O’Reilly, and the Ward family in its high-profile dispute regarding Dublin Cinema Group.

'Activity levels'
The firm advised on the sale of the former Bank of Ireland headquarters on Baggot Street to Larry Goodman, the sale of the Gasworks building in Dublin, and a €4.5 million sale of the Sheen Falls Hotel in Kerry.

“Activity levels in commercial property are rising again and there’s a definite uplift in investment in this area,” Ms Gilvarry said.