All Island Law

A Legal Alliance

Matheson Ormsby Prentice (MOP) and Cleaver Fulton Rankin (CFR) formed an alliance in 2001 - All Island Law - to enable two of the largest law firms in Dublin and Belfast respectively to provide an all-island legal service for existing and prospective clients undertaking business in Ireland.

Whilst the priority of the alliance is to widen the services available to existing clients of both MOP and CFR, both firms believe that All Island Law will create new opportunities to assist their clients in the development of their businesses throughout the island of Ireland.

MOP and CFR have a long tradition of working together and have many clients in common. Whilst not creating a partnership the two firms believe that with greater formal co-operation their clients will receive a more fully integrated service.

Practice Areas of All Island Law

(a) Border Regions / Inward Investment
The physical areas of the island that border each other provide significant opportunities for an all-Ireland legal service to flourish. Infrastructural projects in the future are likely to encompass border regions. Furthermore as the two parts of Ireland become more integrated commercially in accordance with the Belfast Agreement and the European Union, greater opportunities will be present for inward investments to both parts of the island.

(b) All Island Bodies
Both firms aim to promote All Island Law to the newly established cross border bodies so that these bodies can benefit from the co-ordinated approach of All Island Law to the cross border legal issues that they face. Instructions have already been received from Waterways Ireland and the both firms are participating in a series of North South North/South Business Forums sponsored by Inter Trade Ireland, the trade and business development body set up under the Belfast Agreement.

(c) Public Private Partnerships and Private Finance Initiative Projects
The experience and skills of both firms complement each other and will enhance the work undertaken on these projects.

(d) Mergers and Acquisitions
All Island Law will be able to assist where a business based in the Republic of Ireland is acquiring a business, assets or a company in Northern Ireland or vice-versa or where an investor wishes to acquire a business with assets and operations in both jurisdictions.

(e) Corporate Finance Law
Corporate finance law work can be undertaken in larger and more complex transactions, particularly if cross-border transactions are envisaged.

(f) Personal Planning
To assist in the enhancement of wealth creation possibilities for high net worth individuals in both jurisdictions.

(g) Commercial Litigation

All Island Law will allow both firms to develop a deeper understanding of client objectives where litigation occurs in one jurisdiction and involves a party from the other jurisdiction.

About MOP

MOP, one of Ireland's largest corporate law firms, is based in Dublin and has offices in London and Palo Alto California.

MOP provides a comprehensive range of legal services for its domestic and global client base, which includes leading Irish corporations, financial institutions, Irish Government Departments, international financing undertakings and many of the world's largest companies. The firm also acts for many of the major international technology companies as well as regulatory authorities within the Republic of Ireland. MOP regards legal excellence, efficiency, responsiveness and a practical and commercial approach to problem solving as vital to the provision of quality legal advice.

MOP's corporate focus is reflected in the division of the firm into five principal departments - corporate finance and commercial; banking and financial services; commercial property; commercial litigation and dispute resolution and taxation. In recent years, MOP has experienced significant expansion across all principal practice areas. Areas which have experienced particularly strong growth include corporate finance, taxation, information technology, projects, competition, banking and financial services and employment.

About CFR

CFR is one of the largest and most dynamic law firms in Northern Ireland. The firm is based in the heart of Belfast at 50 Bedford Street.

CFR's aim is to provide a world class legal service to clients doing business in Northern Ireland. CFR focuses on helping clients to achieve their business objectives through the provision of legal advice that is imaginative and commercially aware. In addition to its core areas of work CFR has developed recognised specialisms in many other areas of practice including tax planning, intellectual property, construction, planning, environmental, IT law, employment law and public law.

CFR's case load is wide and varied with an emphasis on commercial and company work, acting for high net worth individuals, work for educational and charitable bodies including buildings preservation trusts and other public and institutional authorities.