The Legal Cheek View
Mason Hayes & Curran (MHC) is the fastest-growing “Big Six” firm in Dublin, boasting over 120 partners and around 320 lawyers. Founded in 1970 after a merger between two long-standing Dublin practices – Walker Mason & Curran (led by Dermot Mason and the Curran family) and Michael Hayes & Co – MHC has grown dramatically, absorbing more firms along the way. Notable heritage clients include major names like Allied Irish Banks and Kerry Group. This legacy of serving key domestic institutions set the stage for MHC’s evolution into a full-service outfit with global reach. Though Dublin is very much the mothership, MHC has planted flags abroad with offices in London, New York, and San Francisco. Through this growth, MHC remains independent and Irish-owned.
While known for corporate and tech work, Mason Hayes & Curran is full-service, with expertise spanning real estate, commercial litigation, employment, financial services, and more. This includes data privacy, healthcare, energy, and financial regulation. MHC advised Citibank and Bank of America on a $28.5 billion financing for Amgen’s acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics, and advised Goldman Sachs on a high-value Irish property portfolio sale. The firm has also acted on private equity fund 3i’s €145 million investment into WaterWipes and on LetsGetChecked’s acquisition of digital pharmacy Truepill. On the disputes side, MHC lawyers have litigated novel points of law – for instance, a Supreme Court of Ireland case handled by the firm reshaped the law on contempt of court for public bodies. MHC’s client list is correspondingly blue-chip. The firm counts Meta (previous Facebook), The Carlyle Group, Kerry Group, and public entities like Science Foundation Ireland among its key clients. This blend means rookies could be working on anything from a tech M&A deal or data privacy advice for a Silicon Valley player, to a renewable energy project or a high-profile court case for an Irish regulator.
MHC’s modern Dublin headquarters on Barrow Street features a distinctive glass façade and central atrium. For 36 years it operated out of a Georgian premises on leafy Fitzwilliam Square before relocating the purpose-built Docklands HQ in 2006. The nine-storey glass-and-limestone building offers nearly 6,000 m² of slick office space with Google’s European HQ right next door. The location bridges traditional corporate Dublin (Baggot Street) and the rejuvenated Docklands: take a seat on the public yellow swivel chairs and look out over the canal, just next to the refurbed wharf warehouses, fit with bike storage, modern spaces, and playful water features. Inside, the office is open-plan and contemporary. The firm gutted and incorporated a mid-19th-century warehouse adjacent to create a unique blend of old and new: exposed steel beams and high ceilings alongside 112 open-plan desks, 10 meeting room pods, breakout areas, a generous staff canteen, and lockers and showers for those cycling in.
The open-plan design means trainees and partners sit in proximity, fostering a collaborative atmosphere where even the most junior rookies can learn from experienced colleagues. One standout feature is MHC’s impressive art collection. The office walls double as a gallery, displaying nearly 200 pieces of contemporary Irish and international art. In fact, the firm has one of the most important private corporate art collections in Dublin – a passion that started in the 1990s and ramped up after the move to Barrow Street. The collection (overseen by an internal art committee) includes paintings, sculpture and a commissioned Corban Walker sculpture in the atrium. It’s not uncommon for the firm to host art exhibitions and events in-house!
The firm takes a somewhat unique approach to recruitment: instead of direct training contract applications, the firm runs a three-week paid Summer Internship Programme each June and July, and hires trainees “primarily” from interns on this programme – plus interns are reported to have a positive conversion rate (almost 95%) into a training contract offer. These coveted intern spots are open to those who have completed at least one year of undergraduate or graduate study in any discipline, giving a realistic preview of life at the firm, excellent experience, whilst getting paid! On the internship, you’ll rotate through a couple of departments, shadowing associates and attending skills sessions. Impressing with your performance during the internship is key to snagging a traineeship to begin after you finish your degree/FE-1 exams. MHC typically keeps its annual trainee intake relatively small – exact numbers vary, but Legal Cheek understands this to be circa 15 trainees per year. Impressively, the firm retains over 90% of its trainees upon qualification – reflecting as well on the firm as on the trainees! Those who are offered a traineeship also have their Blackhall fees paid for, alongside a salary. MHC does not, however, refund FE1 fees – but you do get over a month off after finishing at Blackhall.
Over the two-year training contract, trainees rotate through five departments. These relate to the firm’s expertise, but previous trainees have sat in construction, real estate, PRI, banking, corporate, commercial litigation, and employment – getting a breadth of experience. Some may have the chance to do a client secondment or an international seat (for example, a few trainees might spend a stint in London or with a key client). MHC is a member of the World Law Group, and it offers select secondment opportunities – both international and client-based, depending on firm needs. The firm’s partners reflect a “grow your own” philosophy – many of the current partners joined as trainees. There’s structured training (including a robust “NQ Bootcamp” for newly qualified solicitors) and ongoing CPD, but also an ethos of learning by doing, thanks to that open office setup. Junior lawyers get significant responsibility early, with support as needed. The firm has an “enviable track record” of promoting internally – many associates who started at MHC have risen to partner in recent years. MHC offers a competitive package, though it doesn’t publish exact trainee salary figures. Legal Cheek understands this to mean trainees should expect a salary in the €40,000s. As you qualify, the earnings jump significantly; a newly qualified solicitor’s salary at MHC is reputedly competitive with other big firms, meaning €70k+. Additional perks include an annual bonus scheme for staff, pension contributions, private health insurance, and various allowances (e.g. for further education or gym membership).
There’s an active sports & social committee ensuring a calendar filled with tag rugby to firm-wide parties. The on-site facilities include a modern café/canteen and various breakout zones where you might find interns and trainees brainstorming together. Wellness is a focus: MHC supports for employees’ physical and mental health and encourages activities like firm fitness challenges and charity runs. As part of its sustainability and ESG commitments, the firm has initiatives to reduce waste and energy usage (the building’s modern design helps with energy efficiency), with a “cycle to work” scheme and secure bike parking to promote green commuting. MHC’s culture is often described as down-to-earth and friendly by its people. The firm emphasises diversity, inclusion, and CSR in its core values. It has active committees driving pro bono efforts, community volunteering, and sustainability projects. On the social side, pop to the nearby Marker Hotel rooftop bar or The Ferryman pub by the river, which are popular Docklands haunts, whilst the Lincoln’s Inn by Trinity serves cosy pints. The Docklands location means trainees can enjoy the best of the city. The station is a two-minute walk, making it easy to commute from across Dublin, but area is extremely walkable and cycle-friendly – with waterfront paths along the Grand Canal Basin and dublinbikes aplenty. For lunch or after-work dining, options range from trendy cafés and health-food spots like Herbstreet or Charlotte Quay for a sit-down meal by the water.
You can apply to Mason Hayes & Curran’s Summer Internship Programme with a CV and cover letter. There is no strict dress code – in general, smart casual is a safe option, with formal dress if you are going to court or attending client meetings.