NOT for the first time this year, Dublin law firm Mason Hayes & Curran (MHC) got one ahead of some of their bigger rivals by acting for US firm Dole in its $26 million (£16.25 million) acquisition of Fyffes' Central American interests. This was the "hat trick" for the firm in terms of major deals this year, as it also acted for Granada in the sale of Budget Travel and Rub icon in its acquisition of Galway-based Higgins Group earlier this year. MHC, of course, acted for Dole three years ago in its unsuccessful attempt to take over Fyffes. Some of the bigger firms round town will no doubt be as green as an unripened dollar banana about it all.