Firms To Watch: Employment

In October 2021, EY Law Ireland opened its Irish practice, which advises multinational employers on issues related to remote working, Covid-19 impact management, and TUPE and GPG reporting matters. Cork-based Deirdre Malone is the name to note.
Boutique employment law firm GQ | LITTLER advises employers on a range of contentious and non-contentious labour matters.

Firms in the Spotlight Employment

Anne O'Connell Solicitors

Anne O'Connell Solicitors logo

Anne O’Connell Solicitors (AOC Solicitors) is a leading and award-winning Irish specialist Employment Law firm which was established in 2017 by our Principal, Anne O’Connell.

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Anne O'Connell Solicitors

Anne O'Connell Solicitors logo

Anne O’Connell Solicitors (AOC Solicitors) is a leading and award-winning Irish specialist Employment Law firm which was established in 2017 by our Principal, Anne O’Connell.

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Employment in Ireland

A&L Goodbody LLP

A&L Goodbody LLP advises on b0th contentious and non-contentious employment and industrial relations matters. The team is equipped to handle whistleblowing and sexual harassment investigations, corporate transactions and litigation, regularly appearing before the Workplace Relations Commission, Labour Court, Circuit Court and High Court. Practice head Duncan Inverarity specialises in crisis management, while Michael Doyle focuses on compliance with legal obligations, internal HR processes and termination of employment. Noeleen Meehan has extensive experience in advising financial services institutions on employment law matters. Rising star Triona Sugrue has vast experience in drafting bespoke employment contracts, agreements and HR policies, and senior associate Brid NicSuibhne supports multinational clients with operations in Ireland.

Practice head(s):

Duncan Inverarity


Other key lawyers:

Michael Doyle; Noeleen Meehan; Triona Sugrue; Brid NicSuibhne


Key clients

Invesco


Bank of America


Permanent TSB Group Holdings Plc


Aviva


UPS


Citibank


Abbvie


CRH Plc


Cairn Homes plc


Novartis


Wells Fargo


DocuSign


Heineken


Viatris


A&F Hollister Ireland Limited


Bidvest Noonan


Glenveagh


Ulster Bank


Dublin Airport Authority


Work highlights


  • Advised NatWest on all the employment aspects related to the transfer of assets to TSB and AIB.
  • Advised Becton Dickinson on the Irish employment law aspects of the spin-off of its diabetes care business into Embecta.
  • Advised Tesco Ireland on the employment law aspects of its acquisition of Joyce’s Supermarkets, a chain of independent supermarkets operating in the west of Ireland.

Arthur Cox

Arthur Cox‘s employment practice is well versed across a broad range of sectors, covering pharmaceutical, energy, manufacturing, financial services, education, agriculture, tourism, construction, retail and telecoms. The team has ‘the ability to give clear, prompt advice and to navigate complexity to do so’, and advises on all contentious and non-contentious matters, including litigation, protected disclosures and whistleblowing, trade disputes, harassment, outsourcing of services and immigration. Practice head Kevin Langford represents clients before the Workplace Relations Commission, Labour Court and the civil courts, while Séamus Given provides ‘an excellent service with clear, solid legal adviceand has a keen focus on crisis management and whistleblowing. Louise O’Byrne specialises in the employment aspects of corporate transactions and outsourcing, and Cian Beecher focuses on employer-trade union relationship issues.

Practice head(s):

Kevin Langford


Other key lawyers:

Séamus Given; Louise O’Byrne; Cian Beecher


Testimonials

‘The team is experienced, responsive and pragmatic.’

‘The employment practice team at Arthur Cox have a wide and diverse range of skills and experience.’

‘Séamus Given is the best in the market – his experience, pragmatism and wise counsel are hugely valued.’

‘Arthur Cox’s team is extremely professional, practical and their strength is extremely broad across all fields.’

‘Kevin Langford is always available and always tries to help a client to adapt that to the client’s situation and always comes up with reasonable solutions.’

‘Louise O’Byrne is an outstanding top-tier employment lawyer. She is very smart and practical. Her response times are very good and she offers the best solution to an issue.’

‘Séamus Given and his team provide unparalleled service every time. They have an excellent reputation for quality service and are a pleasure to work with including in dealing with very challenging and difficult situations.’

‘Séamus Given is an outstanding employment law lawyer. He is pragmatic in problem-solving and pays significant attention to detail. He has a very commercial approach to the resolution of issues. He is appropriately resourced and has an excellent team.’

Key clients

Aer Lingus


Bank of Ireland


Coca-Cola


Ervia/Gas Networks Ireland/Irish Water


Flutter Entertainment


Glanbia plc


Salesforce


Trinity College Dublin


Vodafone


Wayflyer


Work highlights


  • Advised Brookfield Asset Management on the employment aspects of the recommended cash offer from Benedict Real Estate Bidco, a subsidiary of one of Brookfield Asset Management’s real estate private funds.
  • Advised Glanbia on the disposal of its 40% interest in Glanbia Ireland DAC to Glanbia Co-Operative Society.
  • Advised Permanent TSB on the labour aspects of its acquisition of certain elements of the retail, SME and asset finance businesses from Ulster Bank.

ByrneWallace LLP

ByrneWallace LLP‘s employment law practice advises on all contentious and non-contentious matters, with a market-leading offering when it comes to protected disclosures. It is sought out by a diverse range of clients, including private sector employers, government and other public sector authorities, high-profile trade unions and senior executives. The practice is led by Michelle Ní Longáin, offers employment law advice to clients in the public sector. Michael Kennedy specialises in trade disputes and TUPE law, while Lorraine Smyth advises both national and international clients on outsourcing, restructuring and redundancy processes. Loughlin Deegan has extensive experience in representing blue-chip Irish and multinational companies in employment law matters.

Practice head(s):

Michelle Ní Longáin


Other key lawyers:

Michael Kennedy; Lorraine Smyth; Loughlin Deegan; Emmet Whelan


Testimonials

‘Great team, actively engaged and provides timely actionable advice to my team.’

‘Michael Kennedy is a terrifically skilled employment law practitioner and a superb advisor in this space.’

‘The team is honest and provides clear advice.’

‘Loughlin Deegan provides exceptional service and listens to his clients to ensure he understands their current legal issues and the context in which they operate. His background gives him unique expertise and an ability to see things from a wide range of angles. As well as having an exceptional legal mind, he is also extremely practical. He is also trustworthy.’

‘Emmet Whelan is excellent.’

Key clients

The Irish Civil Service


CRH plc


The Irish Times


The Law Society of Ireland


Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland


Local Government Management Agency


Smurfit Kappa


The Central Bank of Ireland


The Irish Prison Service


Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency


Work highlights


  • Advised the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the development of a remote working policy framework for Ireland’s civil service.
  • Advised an Irish government department with regards to the transposition of the EU Whistleblowing Directive.

Mason Hayes & Curran LLP

Mason Hayes & Curran LLP handles complex employment law matters, including employee misconduct investigations, industrial relations disputes and large-scale redundancies. The team has a strong presence in the pensions sector and regularly represents employers in litigation before the High Court and Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). Practice head Melanie Crowley has considerable expertise in the technology sector, where she advises employers on restructuring exercises and entry into the Irish market. Ger Connolly specialises in contentious litigation and TUPE issues, while Elizabeth Ryan acts as the primary employment law advisor to multiple public bodies. Ronnie Neville has a particular focus on the hospitality and retail sectors and offers strategic advice on restructuring.

Practice head(s):

Melanie Crowley


Other key lawyers:

Ger Connolly; Elizabeth Ryan; Ronnie Neville


Testimonials

‘The team consists of very experienced partners, which makes the team as a whole very strong. The associates are provided with top-class training from partners and there is excellent communication between the team. From a work perspective, the team are very knowledgable, they provide clients with excellent legal advice which makes a difficult situation run smoother.’

‘Melanie Crowley and her team are top-notch. They understand the importance of providing legal expertise with a business-minded approach. They are responsive in a timely manner, down-to-earth, and always spot-on with their guidance and support.’

‘The team are experts in their field, they are confident in their advice which always leaves clients at ease.’

‘Melanie Crowley has high business acumen which means her advice is focused on commercial outcomes. She has real empathy with her clients and can understand the pressures that her clients are under. This empathetic understanding means that her advice is keenly nuanced to take account of the real circumstances, not just the theoretical ones. She has built a very strong team that has true strength and depth and has a variety of lawyers with a real diversity of backgrounds and thought.’a

‘Mason Hayes & Curran LLP’s team has the strength and depth. So if clients need detailed technical advice then they have true experts to advise on that specific point, or if clients need a wider team to help drive a multi-workstream project then they can deliver that. The breadth of the team means the MHC team can function like an extension of the client’s in-house legal team. The team is consistent in its practical, commercial viewpoint and focuses on the business outcomes.’

‘Strong counselling on the technicalities of Irish legislation with a willingness to lean into ambiguity and provide clarity to the client.’

‘Melanie Crowley is succinct in her advice and can be relied upon to cut through the complexities to drive a commercial outcome. She has strong knowledge of the tech sector due to her extensive practice in Ireland so can be relied on to give a solid view of what standard market practice is. She is creative in her solutions and purposeful in her communication style enabling her to quickly drive the best result for us as her client.’

‘Mason Hayes & Curran LLP have specialists across all sectors, they are very knowledgeable and always up to date. They respond very quickly and without fail, always respond within a very reasonable timescale.’

Key clients

Masonite


Xerox


DSG – Dixons


News Corp


Children’s Health Ireland


Nike


Board of a Community School


A Second-level Community School


Board of a Special School


Board of a Secondary School


Work highlights


  • Advised Masonite on defending several Circuit Court claims brought by employees, which, if successful, would give rise to significant exposure for Masonite.
  • Advised News Corp on its acquisition and subsequent closure of one of Ireland’s largest printing presses in Co Meath.
  • Represented Xerox in the defence of multiple payment of wages claims arising out its having availed of the government’s Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.

Matheson LLP

The ‘professional and dedicated employment law practice’ at Matheson LLP covers the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious employment, immigration, pensions and benefits issues. The team has a strong presence in the technology, pharmaceutical and financial services sectors and draws on its substantial multi-jurisdictional expertise to assist with issues faced by international employers operating in Ireland. Practice head Bryan Dunne is praised for being ‘very knowledgeable, practical and an excellent communicator’ and has particular expertise in cross-border employment investigations and multi-jurisdictional acquisitions. ‘Incredible lawyerAilbhe Dennehy specialises in crisis management, while Geraldine Carr regularly represents clients before the High Court and WRC. Russell Rochford has an impressive track record in advising on the employment aspects of reorganisations, outsourcing and commercial transactions, and has acted as lead employment advisor on Brexit-related transitions for multiple clients. Senior associates Susan Doris-Obando, Eimear Boyle and Tina O’Sullivan are also noted.

Practice head(s):

Bryan Dunne


Other key lawyers:

Ailbhe Dennehy; Geraldine Carr; Russell Rochford; Susan Doris-Obando; Eimear Boyle; Tina O’Sullivan


Testimonials

‘Working with the Matheson Team is a true partnership. The team always seeks to understand the business perspective before providing multiple solutions and options.’

‘Bryan Dunne is exceptional. He understands the business very well and always provides sound practical guidance and advice.’

‘The firm is at the cutting edge of employment law in Ireland. A very sophisticated team which provides practical advice.’

‘Russell Rochford is an amazing lawyer. He is very intelligent, practical and pragmatic and always has a great sense of industry trends. His practicality is exactly what is needed when advising outside clients who can’t always take the most conservative path. He advises on a range of employment issues, from complex redundancies to individualized issues concerning leave and discipline.’

‘Ailbhe Dennehy is an exceptional lawyer. The knowledge and expertise she has in her field make her an objective and trustworthy lawyer who gives well-rounded advice.’

‘Firstly it is the size and depth of their employment practice. Secondly is their breadth of experience and understanding of advising large employers in the financial services sector and the added dynamic of dealing with regulatory fitness and probity issues. Matheson delivers everything to clients in a trusted and knowledgeable way. They are able to interpret the regulatory landscape and summarize any employment impact, very helpful in connecting the dots.’

‘Unwavering 5 Star Service from both Partners and all associates. Their responsiveness, adaptability, tailored client-focused service, commerciality and consistent availability make them stand out from competitors.’

‘Russell Rochford is a key advisor in the employment realm, and his responsive and timely advice is always commercial and easy to use in day-to-day operations.’

Key clients

Abbvie


Accenture


Adobe Inc


Air Canada


AlienVault


Altera


An Post


Analog Devices


AppLovin Corporation


Aramark


Aviva


Bain Capital Private Equity Europe LLP


Bank of Ireland


Bank of Montreal


BCP Asset Management


Birds Eye Pizza Ltd


Bon Secours Mercy Health, Inc


BT Communications Limited


CarGurus, Inc.


Chartered Accountants Ireland


Crowdstrike


Danske Bank


Deloitte Ireland LLP


Dropbox


Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (formerly AWAS)


Dublin Airport Authority plc


Dyson


Ebay


Equinix Group


Everest Re


EY


Facebook


FINCAD


Fireye


First Data Corporation


Forever 21


General Motors


Goldman Sachs


Hewlett Packard Enterprise


HP Enterprise


HP Inc


HumanScale


IFG Group


Independent News & Media Plc


Irish Breeze


JAS Worldwide Management Inc.


KPMG


Lloyds


L’Oreal


Lufthansa


Macquarie Capital


McAfee


Medtronic


MetLife


Modern Hire, Inc


Michael Kors


Mulberry


Nestle


Norwegian Air


Nokia


OpenTable


Oracle EMEA Ltd.


Paypal


PepsiCo


Radisson Hotels International Inc. t/a Carlson Hospitality Worldwide


Reddit, Inc


SAP


Shire


SonicWall


Stripe


Tech Mahindra


Tokyo Electron


Uber


UnitedHealth Group


Universal Studios


UniCredit


Vertex Inc.


Wincanton


Wells Fargo


WeWork


Wordplay


Xerox


Zendesk


ZeroChaos (Europe) Limited


Zoom Video Communications, Inc.


3M


Work highlights


  • Advised Bank of Ireland on the high-profile acquisition of a portfolio of loans from KBC Bank Ireland.
  • Advised Bain Capital on its purchase of Valeo Foods, a pan-European food business employing over 4,000 employees across 24 facilities.
  • Represented the joint liquidators of Debenhams in the defence of over 1,500 individual complaints before the WRC from over 750 employees employed in stores in Ireland.

McCann FitzGerald LLP

McCann FitzGerald LLP advises on the employment law aspects of domestic and cross-border corporate transactions and assists in high-profile workplace and corporate investigations. In addition to handling complex advisory mandates, the team also has a sizeable contentious practice, which handles various board-level disputes and cases before the WRC, Labour Court, Circuit Court and the High Court, and is praised for having a ‘strong ability to provide holistic and commercially practical advice on all aspects of employment law’. Terence McCrann heads the practice and has vast experience in conducting workplace investigations and mediations. Mary Brassil specialises in employment law issues arising from corporate restructurings, cross-border mergers and redundancies. Stephen Holst and Donal Hamilton are other key contacts.

Practice head(s):

Terence McCrann


Other key lawyers:

Mary Brassil; Stephen Holst; Donal Hamilton; David McCauley


Testimonials

‘McCann FitzGerald LLP’s team is broad-based and collaborative. The team is commercially focused, and advice is clear and succinct.’

‘Stephen Holst is exceptional, and Donal Hamilton is excellent: always focused on outcomes and able to explain often quite complex points extremely clearly, particularly on transactional issues.’

‘Mary Brassil is an excellent lawyer with a keen eye for detail. Extremely responsive and provides helpful solutions.’

‘A highly experienced and dependable team which concisely provides sound advice. Guides clients through a recent employment law case with exceptional professionalism and is available at short notice to deal with any issues.’

‘David McCauley has in-depth knowledge of employment law. He provides practical advice professionally and concisely. Stephen Holst – Hands-on partner involvement, approachable and available at short notice.’

‘The key piece is the practical and pragmatic approach that McCann takes any time when connected for support or advice. They are also always available and understand client’s business very well, they get context, and they understand what is important to the client.’

‘Donal Hamilton is extremely down to earth and is also hugely knowledgable about employment law.’

‘The team are knowledgeable, practical and agile, taking the time to understand company culture to provide the best advice possible. As the team take time to build relationships and understand client needs, a high level of trust is formed with McCann Fitzgerald. Due to the level of commitment from the team, the client experience is second to none. A reliable and outstanding partner.’

Key clients

Aer Lingus


VHI


Roche Pharmaceuticals


Boston Scientific


Transport Infrastructure Ireland


Colgate-Palmolive


Merck Sharpe and Dohme


Sanofi/Genzyme


CHC Ireland Limited


Cardinal Health


National Transport Authority


Science Foundation Ireland


Road Safety Authority


Work highlights


  • Advised Peninsula Business Services (Ireland) on its application to the High Court for an injunction restraining a former employee from acting in breach of a non-solicitation and non-dealing clause.
  • Advised Allied Irish Banks on employment and transfer of undertakings issues arising from the purchase of Ulster Bank’s €4.2bn corporate and commercial and €5.7bn performing tracker mortgage loan books.
  • Advised Aer Lingus on a series of High Court proceedings concerning reduction in pension benefits arising from the restructuring of the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme.

William Fry LLP

William Fry LLP's employment law specialists are 'outstanding in terms of professionalism, responsiveness and expertise'. The department provides advice on a wide range of employment law matters, including TUPE, workplace health and safety, corporate immigration, insolvency and corporate transactions. Other key services include handling corporate restructurings and employment litigation, where the group handles claims related to discrimination, unfair dismissals and senior executive terminations. Catherine O’Flynn heads the practice and advises clients on contracts, bonus payments and immigration-related queries. Alicia Compton has extensive experience in employment law, with particular expertise in managing employment issues in the public, technology and retail sectors. Jeffrey Greene specialises in the labour law aspects of restructurings and outsourcing.

Practice head(s):

Catherine O’Flynn


Other key lawyers:

Nuala Clayton; Jeffrey Greene; Alicia Compton


Testimonials

‘William Fry is exceptionally efficient at responding in a timely manner. The whole employment law team offers sound advice when needed, often at short notice. Their faultless attention to detail has been helpful on a number of occasions allowing the client to make the right commercial decisions.’

‘Catherine O’Flynn’s wealth of experience in employment law can be clearly seen in her valuable advice and guidance.’

‘Jeffrey Greene and Nuala Clayton are leaders in employment. Jeffery is the “go-to” guy for unfair dismissal claims. His approach is without fail focused yet flexible. Nuala always provides pragmatic, commercially and legally sound advice.’

‘Jefferey Green is a great communicator and provides clear and concise advice. He is succinct in his approach to getting to the bottom of the issue and offers sound counsel.’

‘Nuala Clayton takes time to understand the client’s business and ensures all her team similarly know how to work with the client. She leads by example by showing real empathy and insight to complex employment advice and is very helpful at presenting a range of approaches.’

‘The team provides exceptional advice. They are responsive, thoughtful, and accurate and provide a helpful perspective to clients in complex decision-making. They are a totally reliable source of support and advice.’

‘The William Fry employment team are highly experienced, down-to-earth and really care for their clients.’

‘William Fry has highly capable professionals who provide expert advice and guidance in a simple and complete fashion which is easy to comprehend to facilitate informed decision-making. Highly competent, technical people who quickly grasp the issue(s) and clients instantly recognize that they are in “safe hands”.’

Key clients

Integrity360


Corporate Fitness Works Inc


P.S.K Tech America, Inc


Technopath Manufacturing Limited


Laminate Solutions Limited


Safefood 360°


PIPO Europe Limited (TikTok)


Wetherspoons


Krispy Kreme


Tesco


B&Q


Nordic Aviation Capital DAC


Diageo


Affiliates Management Company


Flipdish


IDOM


NAOS


The Irish Times


SOLAS, The Further Education and Training Authority


Boots Retail (Ireland) Limited


Kilsaran Concrete


Glanbia Co-Operative Society Limited


Valeo Foods (Ireland)


Sanofi – Aventis


Mayfair Equity Partners


Edwards Lifesciences


Smurfit Kappa plc


Northgate Public Services


J&E Davy


Uniphar


Sodexo Limited


Fineos


DCC plc


Mincon plc


Sky plc


Lionbridge


Ogletree Deakins


Work highlights


  • Advised the Davy Group on the employment and share incentive aspects of its acquisition by Bank of Ireland/IQ-EQ.
  • Advised Clayton Dubilier & Rice on its takeover of UDG Healthcare, a leading player in healthcare medical affairs, marketing and advisory services.
  • Advised Uniphar on the employment law aspects of its acquisition of the Navi Group.

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard is well known for handling some of the most high-profile and high-value cases before the WRC, Tax Appeals Commission, Labour Court and other Irish courts. In addition to this, the team also assists clients in ongoing employment law matters, covering corporate transactions, employment investigations, pensions and immigration. Maura Connolly has extensive experience in employment law matters arising from mergers and acquisitions, including TUPE issues, and jointly leads the team with immigration specialist David Cantrell, who provides immigration support to major multinational employers in Ireland. Managing associates Kate Field and Edel Flynn advise on the exit of employees, grievances and disciplinary processes.

Practice head(s):

Maura Connolly; David Cantrell


Other key lawyers:

Kate Field; Edel Flynn; David Heneghan


Testimonials

‘The team is extremely capable with excellent general practice knowledge. A high degree of commercial understanding and provides appropriate advice.’

‘The firm provides practical and straight advice. Maura Connolly and her team are very clear in their advice.’

‘David Heneghan is extremely proficient in commercial issues and very knowledgeable about challenging immigration problems. Extremely good people person and has a higher level of understanding of the client’s business.’

‘Maura Connolly deals with the facts, moves the topic forward and provides the advice rounded out quickly.’

‘Addleshaw Goddard’s attorneys provided excellent legal services. This firm has provided legal updates as they evolved during the Covid pandemic, which greatly assisted our clients.’

‘Maura Connolly, extremely mindful of all aspects and clear instructions on complex issues. Kate Field, prompt responses and clear guidance.’

‘David Heneghan always provides several options for clients and worked consistently to assist with a seamless transfer of employees to Ireland.’

‘The team has a very strong knowledge base with considerable experience.’

Key clients

Karshan (Midlands) Limited


dnata Catering Ireland Limited


Tifco Group


Emovis


Marks & Spencer (Ireland) Ltd


Welocalize Limited


SITA


Colas Teoranta


Dow Chemicals


Teleperformance


Danish Embassy


Canadian Embassy


Finnish Embassy


B. Braun Medical Limited


Q-Park Ireland Limited


Manulife


Investec


Work highlights


  • Represented Karshan (Midlands), the appellant in an appeal to the Court of Appeal of a decision of the High Court.
  • Advised the HR team of Marks & Spencer (Ireland) on different employment law issues as they arise.
  • Advised Tifco Hotel Group on the management of its employee relations across a wide range of hospitality venues.

Anne O'Connell Solicitors

Anne O'Connell Solicitors is a boutique employment law firm offering advice to a variety of clients, including multinational companies, semi-state companies, and small and start-up businesses. The team assists across the full range of contentious and non-contentious labour law issues and regularly represents its clients before the WRC, Labour Court and High Court, and is well known for ‘providing pragmatic, timely and concise advice under time pressure’. Founding partner Anne O’Connell heads the practice and has particular expertise in whistleblowing and protected disclosure law matters and is praised for ‘providing robust and practical advice to clients’. Laura Killelea advises both private and public sector clients on employment contracts, complaints and investigations, exit negotiations and severance agreements and is 'able to navigate clients through complex situations’. Jenny Wakely specialises in contentious employment law disputes, including unfair dismissal, equality and equal status claims, and redundancy payments.

Practice head(s):

Anne O’Connell


Other key lawyers:

Laura Killelea; Jenny Wakely


Testimonials

‘The team is extremely helpful. Big or small queries are treated with care and priority, and delivered thoroughly and thoughtfully, even when there are tight turnaround times. The team is compassionate and communicative.’

‘Anne O’Connell and Laura Killelea are tremendously helpful. They are always willing to hop on a call with little notice and provide consultative services and approaches. They have been tremendously helpful in assisting with questions specifically related to employment law.’

‘The practice is always available at short notice & provides a prompt & efficient service with access to further expertise when necessary.’

‘Anne O’Connell Solicitors are a specialist law firm that is an expert in employment law. Anne O’Connell is very knowledgeable and the staff is very able that can handle most issues confidently.’

‘Anne O’Connell is always available to give advice. She has the experience and is an expert in employment law.’

‘Anne O’Connell and her team are so diligent in trying to protect their clients and give all of the possible scenarios so everyone is aware of the right action to take. She is extremely proactive and her quick responsiveness goes above and beyond. The team of people that Anne has working for her is second to none and will always keep abreast of what is going on with your case so if Anne is unavailable due to court hearings, her team are able to step right in.’

‘The team at Anne O’Connell solicitors provides an experienced and personal approach for clients. They communicate and work through employment issues with clients in a clear and concise manner. They make time to discuss queries and provide solutions and options in a timely manner with the needs of the client in mind.’

‘Anne O’Connell offers an unrivalled level of service in the area of HR Legal guidance and support. She has vast knowledge in the area of employment law and provides a service that is second to none.’

Key clients

ESB Group


CALC Global Leasing Ltd


Mitie Facilities Management Ltd


Doyle Collection Hotel Group


MyMoneyJar Ltd t/a Money Jar


Belfield Emergency Veterinary Hospital Ltd


Horizon Graphics Ltd


Emo Oil Ltd


Brock Delappe Ltd


SoftCo


Writech Industrial Services Ltd


Glenpatrick Natural Mineral Water Coolers Ltd


The Sporting Emporium


S G Guarding Ltd (SecuriGroup)


Sonoma Valley Ltd t/a GSLS


Northdoc Medical Services CLG (D Doc & E Doc)


Dunraven Arms Hotel


James McMahon Ltd t/a McMahons Builders Providers


Joseph Ltd


Pirate Studios Ltd


MCOH Architects


McNally Handy & Partners Ltd


The Naked Collective Ltd


Voltedge Management Ltd


Affirma Consulting Ireland Ltd


KMCS Ltd


Italicatessen Ltd


Fingal Harriers Hunt Club


Kilimagh Post Office


Hawthorn Village Management Ltd


Pioneer Total Abstinence Association


Flender Ireland Ltd


Emerald Nursing Home Ltd


Advocate Consulting Ltd


Baggot Energy Services Ltd t/a Elgin Energy


J E O’Brien & Sons Ltd (O’Brien Ingredients)


Munters Ireland Ltd


Opes Wealth Trust


Castlecomer Credit Union


HR Hub (Ray Ryan)


Winfo Solutions Ireland Ltd


Puratos Crest Foods Ltd


Dense Air Ireland Ltd


Bergins Valuers and Estate Agents Ltd


Work highlights


  • Advised Doyle Shipping Group on a number of contentious and complex employment law issues.
  • Advised ESB Group on all employment law obligations arising from its acquisition of a UK company and the proposed transfer of business to this company.
  • Advised a number of senior executive clients in multinational organisations on employment law matters.

Eversheds Sutherland

The employment law unit at Eversheds Sutherland has a strong contentious and advisory employment practice and is regularly involved in litigation cases, including cases before the WRC. In addition to this, the team also assists with disciplinary matters, staff downsizing, TUPE matters, discrimination issues and data protection. Joanna Hyde heads the team, and her practice includes developing HR policies, procedures and guidelines, devising redundancy strategies and managing large-scale redundancies across Europe. Julie Galbraith has particular expertise in the employment implications of corporate share and asset sales and the transfer of employees. Marie Claire Scullion was a new arrival in early 2024.

Practice head(s):

Joanne Hyde


Other key lawyers:

Julie Galbraith; Marie Claire Scullion


Key clients

PayPal


Microsoft


World Rugby


Intel Corporation


Cook Medical


Eventbrite


Next Retail


Lockton Companies


Health Service Executive


3M


Survey Monkey/Momentive


Eventbrite


Genesys


Teleflex


Netgear


G4S


Pinewood Healthcare (part of Wockhardt Group)


Edwards LifeSciences


UPMC Hospital Group


Parakar


Center Parcs


Verisure


Netlify


Atlantic Technological University Donegal


Work highlights


  • Advised Microsoft on its Irish employment law matters across its 3,000+ workforce, including on all TUPE issues.
  • Advised DFS on its work, including the implementation of new contracts and policies across the driver and sales assistant population.
  • Advised SurveyMonkey/Momentive on all Irish and international employment matters, managing all its employment law needs outside of the US.

Hayes Solicitors LLP

Hayes Solicitors LLP’s employment law group offers legal advice to domestic and multinational businesses from a wide range of sectors, including aviation, retail, logistics, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, education and financial services. Key services include providing advice on crisis management, TUPE issues, outsourcing, whistleblowing, mediation, litigation and corporate transactions. Breda O’Malley heads the practice and is well known for her mediation skills. Anne Lyne has longstanding experience in employment law, with particular experience in whistleblowing and equality claims. Associate solicitors Catherine Jane O’Rourke and Niamh Cassidy advise both employers and employees on contentious and non-contentious employment matters.

Practice head(s):

Breda O’Malley


Other key lawyers:

Anne Lyne; Catherine Jane O’Rourke; Niamh Cassidy


Testimonials

‘Breda O’Malley and her colleagues are very professional, friendly and approachable. They always explain things in a way that the layperson can understand and can always turn a problem into a solution.’

‘The team has a high degree of expertise in Irish employment law. It is adept at working remotely, leveraging remote meeting technology, and use of information-sharing/collaboration tools. It provides very useful advice and a holistic picture of the utility of potential outcomes to the casework. It has very good situational awareness of corporate decision-making processes and drivers.’

‘Anne Lyne has excellent in-depth knowledge of Irish employment law. Excellent strategic advisor when it comes to casework and managing potential outcomes. She provides great access, and a very collaborative work style with straightforward and timely communications, and is a very reassuring professional.’

‘They have taken the time to understand our business requirements. They are very responsive and always make themselves available at short notice. They feel like they are invested in our business. I make specific reference to Breda O’Malley, Anne Lyne, Niamh Cassidy, Jeremy Erwin, Ross Magee and Laura Fannin.’

‘The team at Hayes Solicitors LLP are experts in their field and pragmatic in their approach. They get to know their clients and what advice would work in the context of their own office environment. They offer practical and helpful solutions to a range of employment law issues and are very prompt in their response and guidance.’

‘The team has the ability to provide advice based on the practicalities of the real world and respond quickly.’

‘Hayes Solicitors LLP provide extremely practical, appropriate and professional guidance in the most complex situations. They respond to queries in a very timely manner and are very cognisant of the need for urgency. They have a great ability to grasp the core issues at hand and provide very practical and effective advice. They are very approachable as a firm and never leave their client unsupported in a difficult situation.’

‘Breda O’Malley without fail always offer timely, sensible and practical solutions that are proportionate and workable within the company. Breda O’Malley is extremely approachable, is excellent in her field and without fail has always been able to quickly assess the best way forward in any given situation taking into account the business needs and context.’

Key clients

Primark


Unilever


Novo Nordisk


Capita Consumer Business Solutions


Ladbrokes/Entain


DHL


TK Maxx


Aryzta


BDO


Irish College of General Practitioners


College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland


Royal Institute of Architects Ireland


Sandvik Mining & Construction Logistics Plc.


Balfour Beatty Rail / Balfour Beatty CLG


SISK


Utmost Services Ireland Limited


Breedon Cement Ireland Ltd


Tolmar International Limited


FirstCare Ireland Limited


Talbot Health Group


Taconic


Economic and Social Research Institute


Teagasc State


Irish National Teachers Organisation


Leopardstown Park Hospital


Distilled


Macquarie Air Finance


Interserve


Work highlights


  • Advised Primark on the global transformation of the retail business, terms and conditions of employment, and High Court litigation.
  • Represented Dublin Business School in defending High Court litigation (judicial review and an injunction) involving a former college student and connected with staff of the college.
  • Advised TK Maxx on ad-hoc employment law issues, including in relation to employment equality law, data protection, payment of wages, and policies and procedures.

LK Shields Solicitors LLP

LK Shields Solicitors LLP handles litigation and complex employment law advisory matters for national and multinational clients from a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, retail, technology, media and financial services. Post-Covid, the team has been handling a lot of work related to remote working policies, employee benefits, work permits and corporate immigration. Department head Aoife Bradley’s practice is primarily focused on contentious matters, with extensive experience in disputes involving senior executives, and pension and employee benefits. Jennifer O’Neill focuses on non-contentious matters arising from domestic and international corporate transactions, TUPE transfers, business restructurings and redundancies. Ciara O’Kennedy specialises in matters involving the exit of senior executives in complex shareholder disputes, while senior associate Elizabeth Mara has particular expertise in handling bullying, harassment and whistleblowing investigations.

Practice head(s):

Aoife Bradley


Other key lawyers:

Jennifer O’Neill; Ciara O’Kennedy; Elizabeth Mara


Testimonials

‘Ciara O’Kennedy and her team are true partners. They understand clients’ nuances and provide commercial, practical advice.’

‘Ciara O’Kennedy is professional, very practical and always focuses on resolving a problem with minimum fuss.’

Key clients

Hertz Europe Service Centre Limited


Alexion Pharma International Operations UC and Alexion Inc


Dentsu Aegis Media


Bulgari


Shannon Commercial Enterprises DAC


Centric Health


Irish Relocation Services Limited trading as Dwellworks


SaonGroup Limited t/a irishjobs.ie


News UK & Ireland


Poundland & Pepco


Work highlights


  • Advised Alexion Pharma on complex advisory and contentious matters, including managed service agreements, agency arrangements and transfer of undertaking queries.
  • Assisted Shannon Group with the employment issues arising during due diligence and the drafting and negotiation of corporate documentation.
  • Advising Saongroup on a broad range of ongoing employment law issues.

RDJ LLP

RDJ LLP advises both private and public companies from a wide range of sectors, including medicine, education, pharmaceuticals, retail and construction. The team covers all matters related to hybrid working, recruitment, work permits and equal status claims. Jennifer Cashman heads the practice and regularly represents clients before the WRC, Labour Court and civil courts in contentious matters. David McCarroll specialises in the life sciences sector and has extensive experience in handling protected disclosure claims. Antoinette Vahey has been supporting clients with hybrid working arrangements, while Michelle Ryan specialises in TUPE-related matters. Associates Claire Macken and Alan Devaney are also noted.

Practice head(s):

Jennifer Cashman


Other key lawyers:

David McCarroll; Antoinette Vahey; Michelle Ryan; Claire Macken; Alan Devaney


Testimonials

‘The RDJ LLP employment team have consistently shown the ability to successfully advise on a range of complex matters.’

‘Jennifer Cashman and Michelle Ryan’s assistance and advice plays a crucial part in certain tricky or unprecedented employment situations.’

‘The team provides an excellent and responsive service. The team are go-to lawyers for employment advice.’

‘Jennifer Cashman is a standout employment lawyer and her knowledge of the industry and business is superb.’

‘The team is very professional, approachable and friendly.’

‘The availability of the team is a key one, as the nature of employment issues can need vital legal advice on an urgent basis, and the team is always ready to help.’

‘Antoinette Vahey is extremely knowledgeable in her area of expertise. She is very responsive and always available at short notice.’

‘Alan Devaney has an incredible ability to grasp the commercial reality of a situation and combine this with his legal expertise to guide his clients to the right outcome.’

Key clients

Medtronic


GlaxoSmithKline


Brightwater Recruitment


The Mount Juliet Estate


Hovione


Ferrero Ireland Limited


Xperi


Planet


Telus International (formerly Voxpro)


University College Dublin


Work highlights


  • Represented Cork County Council in the WRC and Labour Court in a TUPE outsourcing claim.
  • Assisted Dublin Meat Company in the simultaneous investment into Dublin Meat Company from UK bank-backed investment fund BGF.
  • Represented NUI Galway in defending a series of equality claims issued before the Circuit Court under the Equal Status Act.

Beauchamps LLP

The employment and benefits team at Beauchamps LLP advises public and private sector clients on all aspects of workplace conflicts, contract drafting, TUPE and governance issues. The team also focuses on other employment matters, including organisation restructuring and redundancies, protected disclosures and whistleblowing, and provides transactional support, including in due diligence processes. Sandra Masterson Power heads the practice and holds vast experience in handling contentious and non-contentious employee, governance and business-related matters. Paul Gough handles employer-side issues, including managing redundancies, dismissal of employees and compliance with Irish employment laws; he was promoted to partner in November 2022.

Practice head(s):

Sandra Masterson Power


Other key lawyers:

Paul Gough; Patrick Watters


Testimonials

‘The team is well rounded with excellent knowledge and expertise.’

‘Sandra Masterson Power is a stand-out employment lawyer. She is hugely knowledgeable, and extraordinarily practical and approachable. She will always strive for the best outcome for her clients.’

‘The team has a breadth of expertise, particularly in resolving complex organisational disputes in public and private sectors. The team brings this wide-ranging experience to each mandate and is most effective in resolving issues at an early stage.’

‘Sandra Masterson Power is a leading individual, a stalwart within the employment lawyers network in Ireland. She is strategic and is one of the most technically excellent, pragmatic, and affable employment lawyers.’

‘The practice has a very strong service ethic which is evident at all levels within the practice. They also ensure that there is at least a second staff member familiar with an issue/case to support the client if a key member is not available.’

‘Beauchamps LLP’s team deliver several key requirements, including being reliable and accessibility. They are very quick to respond to the requests for assistance and are trustworthy.’

‘Patrick Watters is focused on HR advice and related data protection/privacy where appropriate. He is highly accessible with appropriate advice.’

Key clients

Arts Council


Broadcasting Authority of Ireland


Carlow Institute of Technology


Dundalk Institute of Technology


Ergo Services Limited


Flairline Fashion trading as Pamela Scott


Health Information Quality Authority


Hooper Dolan


IBAT College Limited


Joule Group Limited


National Library of Ireland


Pobal


Richardson Insurance DAC


Technological University Dublin


Central Statistics Office


Epona Biotech Limited


CSW Boco


Aviva Stadium


Barnardos


Grafton Group plc


Arago Investments Limited t/a PREM Hotels


Work highlights


  • Advised Carlow Institute of Technology on a range of employment issues, including defamation and personal injury proceedings by an employee.
  • Advised Ergo Services on the employment aspects of its acquisition of Asystec in 2022.
  • Represented Pobal in High Court proceedings relating to the specific performance of an employment contract.

DAC Beachcroft Dublin

DAC Beachcroft Dublin handles contentious and non-contentious issues, such as TUPE projects and reorganisations, unfair dismissal, discrimination and staff migration. The team also advises on risk minimisation strategies and other employment law matters to clients from sectors including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, financial services and technology. Barry Reynolds heads the practice; he has vast experience in negotiating the employment aspects of commercial agreements and draws on previous in-house experience in the financial services sector. Aisling Parkinson departed to join Lewis Silkin in September 2023.

Practice head(s):

Barry Reynolds


Key clients

McDonald’s


JD Wetherspoon


Work highlights


  • Advised a global IT company on all TUPE, contractual and consultation matters arising from a divestiture of the Irish aspects of its business.
  • Advised a large financial institution on grievances, interpersonal complaints and on the resolution of various WRC claims.
  • Advised various regulators and representative bodies on complex internal disciplinary processes.

DLA Piper Ireland LLP

DLA Piper Ireland LLP advises domestic and international companies, in particular those operating in the financial services, technology, life sciences, consumer goods, fashion and retail sectors. Practice head Ciara McLoughlin advises on all employment matters, including transgender discrimination complaints, sexual harassment investigations and senior executive departures, with niche specialisms in providing fitness and probity training to financially regulated entities, along with harassment and anti-bribery training to film crews. Alice Duffy has vast experience in handling employee relations issues, contracts and cross-border M&A and has High Court and WRC experience, including concerning injunctions. Orla O’Leary is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Ciara McLoughlin


Other key lawyers:

Alice Duffy; Orla O’Leary


Testimonials

‘DLA Piper is a commercially focused firm which provides business-driven advice, quick to respond and understands the context of the sector and tailors advice to reflect that context.’

‘Ciara McLoughlin and her team’s approach to a difficult situation is fantastic and gives a huge confidence to the client.’

‘Ciara McLoughlin is always available to brainstorm and tease through practical solutions, a real partner to the business.’

‘Ciara McLoughlin is amazing. She has a wonderful manner of handling difficult times and emotional areas.’

Key clients

Stripe Inc.


Allied Irish Banks PLC


Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Ltd


Superdry PLC


Uber B.V.


London Stock Exchange Group Plc


TikTok Information Technologies UK Ltd.


Keywords Studios


PIB Group Limited


Slate Asset Management


Emergn


Reach Plc


Md7


Menzies Aviation (UK) Limited


Zendesk


SE2


Lululemon Athletica


Finastra


Lufthansa


Accord


The Walt Disney Company


Black and Decker


Datamars


Work highlights


  • Advised PIB Group on the employment aspects of its acquisition of Campion Insurances.
  • Advised international law firm Ogier LLP on its merger with Irish law firm Leman Solicitors LLP.
  • Advised NEC Corporation on its acquisition of Aspire Technologies Unlimited Company.

Fieldfisher

Fieldfisher provides a full range of employment law services to its clients, including organisations from semi-state and highly regulated sectors, with a key focus on pharmaceuticals, insurance and financial services. The team represents clients before the Circuit Court and the WRC and handles a wide range of employment matters spanning corporate transactions, restructurings and boardroom disputes. Practice head Barry Walsh has vast experience advising on industrial relations issues arising from mergers and acquisitions, outsourcing and redundancy situations. Maeve Griffin and David Murphy are also noted.

Practice head(s):

Barry Walsh


Other key lawyers:

Maeve Griffin; David Murphy


Testimonials

‘Fieldfisher provides a personalised professional service. Strong clarity in advice and support.’

‘The team is very personable and practical.’

‘Fieldfisher LLP are very approachable, pragmatic and knowledgable. Their role is always to protect the client in relation to employment law matters.’

Key clients

KPMG


Evros


Bank of Ireland


St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services


Maynooth University


Irving Oil


Sazerac


King/Activision Blizzard


Aon


Anord Mardix


Simply Blue


RTE


EY


Tech Data


Tillotts


Olympus


Zifo Technologies


Figma


Eirgrid PLC


Novartis Ireland Limited


RTE


AIG


Athora


Intertrust


Blackberry Ireland Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised Sazerac on a large-scale transaction involving the share purchase acquisition of Lough Gill Distillery.
  • Represents a major oil distributor in general employment law matters, including TUPE/transfer of undertaking issues.
  • Represented an Irish bank in a series of equality related equal status claims before the Circuit Court and the Workplace Relations Commission.

Philip Lee LLP

Philip Lee LLP assists its clients with contentious and non-contentious matters, such as employment rights, employment contracts, immigration and industrial relations. Patrick Walshe heads the team; he regularly advises and represents public sector clients before the WRC in pension-related issues. Damien Young, Murrough McMahon and Russell Irvine are also names to note.

Practice head(s):

Patrick Walshe


Other key lawyers:

Damien Young; Murrough McMahon; Russell Irvine


Testimonials

‘The team is pragmatic, very focused on practical solutions and extremely calm and competent. They are very responsive and excel at distilling complex information. They work seamlessly with the other departments to help answer client’s queries.’

‘Patrick Walshe is excellent and truly stands out. He carries a pragmatic approach to complex issues and understanding of the technicalities of this sector.’

‘The team are highly responsive and effective and can be relied on to secure the desired result.’

‘Patrick Walshe is the stand-out partner and absolutely my “go-to” man in Dublin. He is commercially savvy and provides sound pragmatic solutions.’

Whitney Moore

Whitney Moore handles matters related to workforce reorganisation, termination arrangements, TUPE, equality and corporate immigration, among other areas. It regularly advises many public sector clients and private employers from the manufacturing, retail and hospitality sectors. Managing partner John Lynch has experience in handling employment terminations of senior executives. Emma Richmond is another name to note. Since publication, Marie Claire Scullion left the firm.

Practice head(s):

Emma Richmond


Other key lawyers:

John Lynch


Key clients

Glen Dimplex Group


Ammega Group


Industrial Development Agency Ireland


Merrion Hotel


Wide Eye Media


Agora Publishing


Best Western Hotels


Independent Vetcare Limited


Motor Distributors Limited


Moss Bros Plc


Richmond Marketing Group


Work highlights


  • Advised Openback on its sale to Twitter.
  • Advised IDA Ireland on the employment law aspects of the establishment of the Advanced Manufacturing Centre (Ireland).
  • Advised a high-growth technology company on employment mediation.

Holmes O'Malley Sexton

Under the leadership of Shane Costelloe, Holmes O'Malley Sexton provides contentious and non-contentious employment advice to its corporate and state clients, covering drafting contracts, WRC hearings, employment injunctions, TUPE matters, regulatory framework interpretation, trade union matters, whistleblowing and corporate immigration. The firm’s client list consists of both public and private clients, SMEs, chief executives, in-house counsels, HR directors and HR professionals.

Practice head(s):

Shane Costelloe; Pat McInerney


Testimonials

‘Shane Costelloe is extremely supportive and gave his clients time and clear explanations on the queries.’

‘Holmes O’Malley Sexton LLP has a very quick response time which has been invaluable for any organisation. The quality of the team is excellent and covers a wide range of specialist subjects.’

‘Holmes O’Malley Sexton LLP has expertise in a wide range of areas and topics.’

Key clients

Atlantic Projects Company


Technological University Dublin


National Gallery of Ireland


Swissport


Go-Ahead Group


Zurich Insurance Ireland


Fireseal Contracts Limited


Channel Advisor Corporation


Ublox


Adhesives Research


Educational Research Centre


Comfortdelgro Irish Citylink


H&MV Engineering


Legal Aid Board


Ingenium


Westair Aviation Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised Atlantic Technological University on a number of WRC litigation matters.
  • Advised H&MV Engineering on a large-scale due diligence project associated with a corporate M&A transaction.
  • Advised Go-Ahead Ireland on a variety of WRC litigation matters.

Lavelle Partners

Lavelle Partners represents clients in disputes concerning bullying, harassment, restraining injunctions, protected disclosure injunctions and equality claims before the High Court, labour courts and WRC. It also assists in a range of employment issues, including policies, whistleblowing, drafting contracts, health and safety, TUPE issues and performance management. Practice head Marc Fitzgibbon acts for domestic and multinational clients from the public and private sectors and has significant expertise in pension law and human resources. Nikita Kelly and Hugh Le Gear provide additional support at the associate level.

Practice head(s):

Marc Fitzgibbon


Other key lawyers:

Nikita Kelly; Hugh Le Gear


Testimonials

‘The Lavelle employment law team is highly responsive, helpful and very well informed. Their attention to detail is very strong and the team’s commitment to their clients is exceptional.’

‘Marc Fitzgibbon is an exemplary solicitor. He is an enormously experienced expert in the field of employment law. He is remarkably thorough, patient and committed. He is also highly respected and well-liked by his colleagues.’

‘One of Lavelle Partners’ key strengths is their engagement process where they assess the client requirements and match this with the appropriate resources and personnel. The interpretation of Irish employment law and how to practically apply this to resolve issues effectively to the client’s satisfaction.’

‘Marc Fitzgibbon excels in all the particular strengths of the employment team of Lavelle Partners. His in-depth knowledge of how employment law works in practice is matched with a thoughtful strategic approach. Coupled with an ability to effectively communicate this to the client, enables a collaborative approach which produces good outcomes.’

‘Marc Fitzgibbon and his team provide exceptional expertise, practical and pragmatic advice to clients.’

‘Marc Fitzgibbon stands out as an expert in his field, providing pragmatic support that goes beyond advice and expertise. He provides guidance with respect and understanding, facilitating decisions in the client’s best interest.’

Key clients

Keyhouse Holdings Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised German company Duetz and its financial advisors, Mazaars Germany, on the acquisition of Kildare-based company Kirkwell.

Lewis Silkin

Lewis Silkin has a ‘strong team, which provides efficient and practical advice’ on matters concerning restructuring and M&A transactions, whistleblowing, immigration, and health and safety law. The firm handles all claims related to unfair dismissal, discrimination and other aspects before the WRC, labour court and civil courts, and has a notable presence in the technology, life sciences, retail, financial services and software sectors. Síobhra Rush has expertise in handling contentious and non-contentious matters for domestic and international clients before all adjudicatory bodies in Ireland, and Linda Hynes specialises in assisting clients with data privacy and business immigration issues. Sean Dempsey is also recommended. Aisling Parkinson joined from DAC Beachcroft Dublin in September 2023.

Practice head(s):

Síobhra Rush; Linda Hynes


Other key lawyers:

Sean Dempsey; Laura Ensor; Catherine Hayes; Aisling Parkinson


Testimonials

‘The team is incredibly proactive, solution-driven, very practical, and appreciates the everyday realities for businesses in applying the law.’

‘Laura Ensor and Síobhra Rush stand out in terms of engagement, ideas and strong quality of legal advice.’

‘The team listens to learn about the business and provide the best, most straightforward solutions.’

‘Siobhra Rush understands clients’ business, values and the way they work. She listens and provides practical solutions that work for the clients.’

‘The firm is responsive, incredibly knowledgeable, sensitive to business needs and works with clients to find creative solutions that reduce risk to key business decisions.’

‘Catherine Hayes is a fantastic lawyer. She will go to bat for her clients and has an excellent grasp of the law.’

‘Siobhra Rush is a stand-out partner. She always makes herself available at short notice to provide urgent advice.’

‘The team is very approachable and very pragmatic.’

Key clients

Airbnb


LinkedIn


Deliveroo


Britvic Ireland


Enterprise Rent a Car


Citadel


Ascential


Globalization Partners


Smartbox


Amdocs


Work highlights


  • Advised a global technology company specialising in digital transformation, robotics and automation on the employment aspects of an acquisition and restructuring project.
  • Advised a networking platform on preparing its upcoming gender pay gap reporting in Ireland.
  • Advised a multinational cloud computing platform on a ramp-up of operations in Ireland to include a 24/7 service desk and on-call operations.

Maples Group

Maples Group regularly represents both domestic and foreign clients in corporate transactions, financial services regulatory matters, benefits, incentives, immigration, workplace investigations, WRC claims and High Court proceedings. Karen Killalea heads the team and handles all matters concerning GDPR, race discrimination claims, redundancy complaints and TUPE matters. Ciara Ni Longaigh is another name to note.

Practice head(s):

Karen Killalea


Other key lawyers:

Ciara Ni Longaigh


Testimonials

‘Karen Killalea is an outstanding employment lawyer – very knowledgeable, commercial and level-headed.’

‘This team is a true legal partner in the best sense. The team exhibits a strong foundation of legal knowledge for employment matters and does an excellent job of thinking through both nuanced and complex issues relevant to the company’s industry that might not be apparent from an employment standpoint. In that way, the team does a great job of connecting clients to other experts within and outside the firm to round out clients’ understanding of issues and options.’

‘Karen Killalea, her quality of being focused, professionalism. She runs her team with obvious ease of practice and experienced mentoring.’

‘Karen Kilalea is emblematic of everything Maples aspires to be. She is singularly and distinctively impressive.’

‘Karen Killalea is excellent at her work. She is highly responsive and meets the deadlines she sets forth. Her turnaround times are surprisingly quick, and come prepared with sample scripts, forms and other advice that advances the matter much further.’

Key clients

Sionnach Limited


Tristan Capital Partners LLP


Francisco Partner Management LP


Heitman Global Real Estate Europe Master Sarl


BGF Investment Management LP


Work highlights


  • Advised vendor Version 1 to Partners Group on a share sale of its entire business across the UK, NI and ROI as part of an auction process.
  • Assisted Tristan Capital Partners in the Irish aspects of the acquisition of a majority shareholding in Raag Hotels.
  • Assisted Francisco Partner Management with the Irish aspects of the acquisition of a part of the International Business Machines Corp business.

Ogier

After a merger with Ogier in March 2022, Leman Solicitors LLP is now known as Ogier. Its employment and corporate immigration team handles a wide range of labour law matters, including disciplinary issues, harassment, employee grievances, TUPE transactions and corporate immigration. On the contentious side, it assists both domestic and international clients from a range of sectors in disputes arising from unfair dismissals and discrimination. Practice head Bláthnaid Evans has a strong background in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors, and focuses on restructurings, protected disclosures and gender pay gap issues.

Practice head(s):

Bláthnaid Evans


Testimonials

‘Bláthnaid Evans leads the exceptional employment law team at Ogier Leman. They are commercially oriented, providing solid and pragmatic employment law advice to businesses, always prioritising the needs of their clients.’

‘Bláthnaid Evans is highly experienced in the area of employment law. She gives clear-headed advice and is very client focused in her approach.’

‘The team is extremely friendly and flexible. Very fast and efficient at turning documentation around and also very accessible.’

‘Bláthnaid Evans gives honest and helpful advice in easy-to-understand language. He is very helpful overall and goes above and beyond in terms of availability.’

‘The Ogier Leman is strong in its commercial knowledge, legal understanding and ability to explain complex issues with clarity.’

‘Bláthnaid Evans is a superb lawyer of the highest quality. An individual who can both command a room and engage with clients directly and in clear comprehensible ways. She is a go-to lawyer in Ireland.’

‘The team is friendly, approachable and knowledgable. They are extremely fast to reply, clear, conscious, straight talking.’

Pinsent Masons LLP

Pinsent Masons LLP acts for domestic and international clients operating in a range of sectors, including energy, real estate, infrastructure, technology and financial services, in multi-jurisdictional employment matters. Jason McMenamin advises on all employment matters, including acquisitions, TUPE, grievances and disciplinary processes, bullying and harassment, restructuring and dismissals. Deirdre Lynch joined the firm in October 2022 from ByrneWallace LLP, further strengthening the team. Helen Corden is another name to note.

Practice head(s):

Helen Corden; Deirdre Lynch


Other key lawyers:

Jason McMenamin


Testimonials

‘Excellent grasp of client requirements and a unique ability to apply and deliver timely and complex legal advice.’

‘Commitment to clients, speed of delivery and an attention to detail which is unmatched.’

Key clients

Payroc World Access LLC


Athora Ireland plc


ISG Central Services Limited


Cathexis Holdings LP


Cosmo Pharmaceuticals


Parcel Connect


Synova Capital


Mohawk Industries


Linnaeus Veterinary Group


ENEA Software AB


Work highlights


  • Assisted the buyer, Cathexis Ireland II, with the purpose of acquiring a target company.
  • Assisted Payroc WorldAccess in drafting and negotiating the core acquisition documents and new service agreements for a transaction.
  • Advised Athora Ireland on the sale of its variable annuity book of insurance business to Monument Life Insurance DAC.

Walkers

Walkers' employment team has vast experience in handling all kinds of employment matters, including internal investigations, redundancies, unfair dismissals, discrimination and harassment claims, whistleblowing and TUPE issues. Practice head Susan Battye specialises in advising on corporate restructurings and redundancies, pay cuts, employment issues in commercial transactions, and transfers of undertakings, and is well known for ‘her sharp focus' and for 'providing clear advice'.

Practice head(s):

Susan Battye


Testimonials

‘The firm is very approachable and knowledgeable.’

‘Susan Battye is excellent. She is diligent in terms of turnaround and always provides commercially sound and strategic advice.’

‘The firm provides excellent commercially focused advice. It has an excellent knowledge of the employment law space which is a minefield and ever-evolving.’

‘Walkers’ employment law team is professional and very responsible and always keeps in touch for any urgent queries and gives the best advice in practice.’

‘Walkers understands the client’s needs and always gives professional advice to help them to solve the problem and follow up to see what’s come out.’

‘The employment team in Walkers (led by Susan Battye) is excellent. They have the right commercial focus and understanding of their client’s specific needs.’

‘Walkers Ireland is an effective organisation with a good professional approach to the business relationship.’

‘The individuals are knowledgeable and competent, proposing practical solutions to complex issues.’

Key clients

International Law Firm


London Law Firm


Global Live Entertainment Company


Supply Chain Solutions Company


International Commercial Bank


Hawksford Group Holdings Limited


Global Institutional Alternative Investment Management Firm


Global Investment Management Firm


Global FinTech Firm


International Law Firm


Work highlights


  • Advised a global corporate on the labour aspects of its acquisition of an Irish corporate and trusts firm.
  • Assisted an Irish corporate with employment law assistance with the proposed carve-out of part of the firm’s client.
  • Advised a fintech firm on employment contracts for a senior pre-approval controlled function role holder and prepared a tailored template contract of employment.

BHSM LLP

The employment and benefits team at BHSM LLP covers all kinds of employment issues such as contracts, workplace investigations, transfers of undertakings, High Court injunctions and discrimination issues, and is praised for its ‘collaborative approach’. It advises both domestic and international corporate clients on contentious and non-contentious matters. Richard Lee is well known for providing ‘sound and pragmatic advice’ and specialises in acting for insolvency practitioners in liquidations, receiverships and examinerships.

Practice head(s):

Richard Lee; Mark Homan


Testimonials

‘The firm has good coverage of all areas, is always willing to assist and is good at explaining Irish law in cross-border transactions.’

‘Richard Lee is flexible and responsive. He can grasp matters quickly and always goes the extra mile.’

‘The team is very efficient and responsive; thorough in their approach, and they bring real commercial nous.’

‘Richard Lee is an excellent solicitor, has very good strategy and also has real expertise in Irish employment law. He is astute and has a superb knowledge of employment law.’

‘Knowledgeable team offering practical and commercial advice.’

‘The team at BHSM have been professional, responsive and flexible like a small firm but with large firm expertise.’

‘Richard Lee has provided expert advice across several employment law areas. He has excellent knowledge of the legislation and also the practical application of the law in complicated situations involving human emotions.’

‘Richard Lee is insightful, knowledgeable and competent in this field.’

Comyn Kelleher Tobin LLP

Comyn Kelleher Tobin LLP's labour law team advises on all matters involved across the life cycle of recruitment to employment termination, with a particular focus on the public sector. The team is led by Diarmuid Cunningham, who has a track record in representing clients before the labour court, employment appeals tribunal, equality tribunal, High Court and Circuit Court. Eamon Harrington and Emily Sexton are also key contacts.

Practice head(s):

Diarmuid Cunningham


Other key lawyers:

Emily Sexton; Eamon Harrington


Key clients

Health Service Executive


University College Cork


National Ambulance Service


Tusla (Child and Family Agency)


Flynn O'Driscoll

Flynn O'Driscoll assists both public and private sector clients on all employment, equality and industrial relations issues, covering issues around harassment, the drafting of HR policies, and labour aspects of M&A transactions. Practice head Caoimhe Heery has vast experience in advising on redundancy, disability, performance management, protected disclosure and corporate immigration matters.

Practice head(s):

Caoimhe Heery


Testimonials

‘Caoimhe Heery’s knowledge of employment law is superior. She thinks creatively and effectively communicates her recommendations.’

‘Flynn O’Driscoll is a great law firm, very professional and responsive.’

‘Caoimhe Heery is very professional and responsive. She is able to assist well with the client’s company approach, mitigation and risk assessment.’

Key clients

Development Capital/Spotlight


CAE Parc Aviation


Naturgy Aprovisionamientos S.A.


Electrical Power Engineering


Longboat Clinical Limited


Elysian Capital


Pharmed Group Accuscience Limited and Medilink Services (NI)


AYESA


Xanadu Consultancy HQ


Atlantic Aviation Group


Work highlights


  • Represented Development Capital Fund II in the labour law aspects of its €12m investment in Spotlight Oral Care.
  • Represented Naturgy Spain in the sale of Naturgy Ireland and certain group companies registered in Ireland and England to Flogas Natural Gas.
  • Advised BiaVest and Development Capital Fund II on their acquisition of Nomadic Dairy.