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10/07/2026 News We have been ranked the leading legal adviser in Ireland by deal value in Mergermarket’s league tables for the first half of 2026, advising on 26 published deals with an aggregate value of $29.4 billion. This ranking builds on a sustained period of market leadership for Arthur Cox and marks our fourth consecutive number one ranking by deal value in Mergermarket’s half-year league tables.

08/07/2026 Awards We have been shortlisted in the Innovative Lawyers Sustainability category at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards 2026 for our work advising Partners Group and Greenlink on the sale of the Greenlink interconnector.

Below we summarise the material new obligations UCITS management companies and AIFMs (together, “Management Companies”) need to plan for. Management Companies will be required to prevent undue costs from being charged to their funds and investors.

Background Directive (EU) 2023/2673 (DMD II) entered into force in December 2023. It repealed Directive 2002/65/EC (the original Distance Marketing Directive) with effect from 19 June 2026 and integrated updated rules for financial services contracts concluded at a distance into Directive 2011/83/EU (the Consumer Rights Directive).

With a foreword from Colin Kavanagh, Head of our Life Sciences Group, our second edition covers a wide range of critical topics, including: Pharma Regulatory and Compliance Medtech Regulatory and Compliance Data and Digital Mergers and Acquisitions Litigation, Investigations and Privilege Real Estate, Energy and Construction Environment and Planning Among the developments explored in this year’s Outlook is Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which presents an...

01/07/2026 Deals We have advised Theravance Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: TBPH) on its definitive agreement to be acquired by Zymeworks Inc. for US$17.00 per share, representing an equity value of approximately US$929 million, together with a contingent value right (CVR). Under the terms of the transaction, shareholders will also be entitled to 80% of net proceeds from any future licence, divestiture or other monetisation of ampreloxetine over the next ten years.

01/07/2026 The Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union will focus on the following core themes: Competitiveness: Fostering prosperity and wellbeing Values: Upholding the indispensable foundation of our Union Security: Protecting our citizens During the Presidency, Ireland will chair negotiations, facilitate agreement between Member States and drive progress on key legislative and policy initiatives across the European Union.

In this edition, we highlight a range of legal and regulatory developments shaping Ireland’s sustainability landscape. Ongoing regulatory change and sectoral developments continue to bring both complexity and opportunity as ESG considerations evolve. We begin with the announcement of the winners of the 2026 Niamh Burke Renewable Energy Bursary, which recognises and supports students pursuing further study in areas relevant to Ireland’s sustainable future.

A central driver of the DAC Recast is the need to simplify reporting obligations under DAC6. Accordingly, the DAC Recast introduces a range of targeted simplifications that seek to enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the framework. A key simplification is the removal from reporting obligations of around 3,000 multinational groups already subject to the 15% global minimum tax under Pillar Two, delivering estimated annual compliance savings of approximately €300 million.

An Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026 is before Dáil Éireann. It is intended to amend the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (the “1999 Act”) to provide for the permitting and regulation of direct lines. It follows an earlier policy statement which we looked at here: Energy Update: Private Wires Policy Statement.