As regulatory regimes become more complex and conflicting, companies across sectors face new legal challenges, prompting a shift towards integrated advice that balances commercial risk and compliance amid an evolving dealmaking landscape.
Will Carmody, managing partner at Mason Hayes & Curran, says clients are being forced to navigate a business environment in which some rules are hardening even as others are being relaxed, a tension that is reshaping legal demand across sectors. In practice, he argues, that means companies need advisers who can interpret regulation alongside commercial risk, rather than treat the two as separate exercises.
The firm says its busiest lines of work remain those where regulation, capital and operational risk overlap, with technology, financial services, energy, infrastructure, healthcare and corporate mergers and acquisitions all staying active. Mason Hayes & Curran also points to a firmer tone in dealmaking in the second half of the year, especially in M&A and financing, as investor sentiment recovered after the market shock caused by early-year US tariff moves began to ease.
That broader pattern fits with what other advisory firms are seeing. KPMG’s mid-year regulatory report said companies are facing a fast-moving wave of rules across data, consumer protection, governance and risk, with overlapping regimes creating uncertainty and making established compliance playbooks harder to use. Mason Hayes & Curran says that pressure is particularly visible where new technology is colliding with older industries: fintech groups are expanding across borders into tougher regulatory terrain, while AI-enabled healthcare tools and wearables are raising fresh questions about data control and accountability.
The firm also sees a sustained push towards simplification in parts of Europe, reflecting concerns that excessive regulation is eroding competitiveness, as highlighted by the Draghi report. That mix of tighter oversight in some areas and looser approaches in others is, in Carmody’s view, creating both risk and opportunity. Looking ahead, Mason Hayes & Curran expects that parallel Irish and EU regimes will continue to shape work in technology, financial services, healthcare and energy, while investment in digital transformation remains a major priority for clients. The firm says its own spending on legal technology and infrastructure is aimed at improving efficiency, collaboration and service delivery as geopolitical uncertainty increasingly feeds into business planning.
Source Reference Map
Inspired by headline at: [1]
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
6
Notes:
The article references recent developments, including Mason Hayes & Curran’s 8% revenue increase to €131.5 million in 2025 ([irishtimes.com](https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/02/03/mason-hayes-currans-revenue-rises-8-to-131m/?utm_source=openai)) and Will Carmody’s re-election as managing partner for a second term starting January 1, 2026 ([irishlegal.com](https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/will-carmody-re-elected-as-head-of-mason-hayes-curran?utm_source=openai)). However, the specific publication date of the article is not provided, making it challenging to assess its freshness accurately. The absence of a clear publication date raises concerns about the timeliness of the information presented.
Quotes check
Score:
5
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Will Carmody, such as: “We are seeing sustained demand for specialist judgement where regulatory risk and commercial outcomes are closely linked.” However, these quotes are not independently verifiable through the provided sources. The lack of verifiable sources for these quotes diminishes their credibility.
Source reliability
Score:
4
Notes:
The article is sourced from Business Plus, a publication that appears to be niche and may not have the same level of credibility as major news organisations. The absence of a clear publication date and the lack of verifiable sources for the quotes further undermine the reliability of the source.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about Mason Hayes & Curran’s revenue increase and Will Carmody’s re-election are plausible and align with other reports. However, the lack of verifiable sources for the quotes and the absence of a clear publication date raise concerns about the overall credibility of the article.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents claims about Mason Hayes & Curran’s financial performance and leadership changes that are plausible and align with other reports. However, the lack of verifiable sources for the quotes, the absence of a clear publication date, and the reliance on a single, potentially less credible source raise significant concerns about the article’s overall credibility.