US companies were behind almost 40% of offices bought or leased in Dublin in 2011 and the trend is likely to accelerate this year, according to estate agents.

IRISH businesses’ confidence that they will recruit extra workers in the coming months is growing, separate surveys to be released today indicate.

THE Commercial Court will rule next month whether businessman Philip Lynch and his family have any liability to Allied Irish Banks for a €25 million loan issued to them to buy development lands in Co Waterford.

EIGHT cyclists from east Cork are saddling up to become the first Irish team to compete in one of the world’s toughest cycle races.

BUSINESSMAN Philip Lynch and his family have failed to produce evidence to show Allied Irish Banks misrepresented the nature of a €25 million loan made to them and developer Gerry Conlan, the Commercial Court was told yesterday.

A FORMER senior AIB banker said he is “sceptical” how anyone could have concluded the final terms of an AIB €25 million loan to businessman Philip Lynch, his family and developer Gerry Conlan to buy development lands did not involve full recourse to all borrowers.

A SOLICITOR has denied he “mixed up” the concepts of security and recourse in an email stating Allied Irish Bank “no longer require any legal recourse” against businessman Philip Lynch, developer Gerry Conlan “and the Lynch children” for a €25 million loan to buy development lands in Waterford.

A TEAM of Irish amateur cyclists is set to blaze a fundraising trail across the US thanks to a massive corporate donation.

THE personal assistant to businessman Philip Lynch asked a solicitor, just hours before a €25 million loan was signed by the Lynch family, whether the final terms of that loan meant AIB would have recourse only to lands for repayment, a court has heard.

AIB has told the Commercial Court it is not contending that businessman Philip Lynch and his family are liable for all of the AIB debts of developer Gerry Conlan arising from a mortgage related to a €25 million land deal in Waterford.

A DAUGHTER of Philip Lynch has denied AIB would not have sought a net-worth statement for Mr Lynch, which showed he had assets of more than €48 million in 2007, if a €25m loan to buy lands for development involved no recourse to the One51 investment group chief executive or his family.

Matheson Ormsby Prentice advised on more mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in 2010 than any other law firm according to two surveys.

MATHESON ORMSBY PRENTICE has been named Irish Law Firm of the Year 2010.

TESCO has announced it is to make up to 140 of its head office staff redundant.

BROADCASTER Gerry Ryan and his wife Morah are to separate after 26 years of marriage, their solicitor confirmed yesterday.

PR firm Murray Consultants has appointed Pat Walsh as its new managing director.

SIX firms of private solicitors are expected to recover close to €400 million in unpaid taxes for the Revenue Commissioners as a result of contracts signed yesterday.

21 companies, not-for-profit organisations and charities have been shortlisted for this year’s Published Accounts Awards competition, which is run by the Leinster Society of Chartered Accountants and sponsored by law firm Matheson Ormsby Prentice.

THE Simon Community yesterday urged businesses to help fight homelessness. The ‘House of Cards’ Appeal campaign encourages businesses not to send Christmas cards, but instead make a donation to Simon.

INVESTMENTS by the Irish Venture Capital Association (IVCA) fell by84 million last year — a 60% drop — with the bulk of investments going into technology companies despite the downturn in the sector.