Full coverage: Arthur Cox

Europe's role as a super regulator has created a bounty for the disputes teams in Ireland's major law firms. The partners give The Currency the lowdown on a year of complex court battles, big data and white collar investigations.

Chinese businessman Yuzhu Kang emerged victorious from a Commercial Court settlement confirming he was the owner of the 500-acre five-star hotel resort in Co Cork. Now he is being pursued by Arthur Cox in newly filed proceedings.

Business disputes end up in court less frequently, but this does not mean lawyers are less busy. From Central Bank or Data Protection investigations to mediation and arbitration, alternatives to formal litigation have grown into a major part of law firms' work.

On paper, 2022 was a bear year for litigation. But behind the figures were blockbuster lawsuits, private negotiations, and meaty investigative work. In the first of a two-part survey, The Currency meets the country's top law firms to discuss what has been happening in and out of court.

With around half their work originating overseas, satellite offices in New York, London and San Francisco have become increasingly essential for corporate law firms such as McCann Fitzgerald and Arthur Cox.

Former Arthur Cox boss Eugene McCague was a top corporate insolvency lawyer during the recession of the 1980s and the financial crash a decade ago. He believes the current crisis will leave deep scars, particularly in retail, hospitality, and travel.

Figures show the volume of High Court litigation is shrinking among Ireland’s top-flight law firms like Arthur Cox and McCann Fitzgerald. Should they be concerned?