BUSINESS LAW firm Mason Hayes+Curran has unveiled plans to merge with long-established Dublin solicitors Arthur O’Hagan, a firm that represents the Catholic hierarchy and a large number of hospitals and educational institutions.

The enlarged company will trade under the Mason Hayes+Curran name from its offices at Barrow Street in Dublin’s south city centre.

No money will change hands in the merger, the first such arrangement between Dublin legal firms for a good many years.

Emer Gilvarry, the managing partner of Mason Hayes+Curran, will retain her position in the new and enlarged practice.

John Gleeson, her counterpart at Arthur O’Hagan, will join the management group in the business when the merger takes effect in October.

Arthur O’Hagan’s 37 staff will join Mason Hayes+Curran, which has 34 partners and 68 other lawyers among its 230 existing staff.

Each of the six partners in Arthur O’Hagan, a practice which has 15 lawyers, will become partners in the enlarged organisation.

Turnover at Mason Hayes+Curran, which features a large number of Irish and international commercial clients in its portfolio, rose 14 per cent last year to €32.4 million.

The firm is the only large Irish practice to declare its annual fee income.

While Arthur O’Hagan’s turnover was not disclosed yesterday, Ms Gilvarry said the enlarged firm will publish its turnover next year.

Arthur O’Hagan’s expertise in education and charities law will enable Mason Hayes+Curran to expand its service offering, she said.

Lawyers in the firm’s medical law practice will join the established healthcare division at Mason Hayes+Curran.

Ms Gilvarry said the two companies had been discussing the merger for some months. “It really developed out of a relationship that we’ve had with them for some time.”

This followed contacts developed during significant litigation involving lawyers from both firms.

The merger supports the firm’s growth strategy, Ms Gilvarry said.

The move will also provide access to areas of the law that are expanding due to new legislation and that are not in decline due to the current economic downturn.

Regulatory approval is not required for the merger, said Mr Gleeson.

However, he said the Law Society would be informed.

He phoned clients yesterday to tell them of the merger.

Clients of Mason Hayes+Curran, which also specialises in commercial and private client law, will have access to a broader range of services as a result of the merger.