The Legal 500

A&L Goodbody’s ‘strong and broad team’ provides an ‘exceptional level of service’. The team advised the Industrial Development Authority on a project to reform Ireland’s IP laws, and is defending KRKA against a patent infringement claim by AstraZeneca. John Cahir and John Whelan are recommended, and Mark Rasdale is the third partner, having joined from Matheson Ormsby Prentice in late 2010.

The highly rated Alistair Payne leads Matheson Ormsby Prentice’s group, which represented Dunnes Stores in a Commercial Court case concerning unregistered designs, the first of its kind in Ireland. Other clients include Resmed and ECI Partners. The team is praised for the strength of its advice and strategic input.

McCann Fitzgerald’s five-partner practice has broad quality across trade marks, patents, copyright and design matters. Rosaleen Byrne heads the contentious team, which acted for Ciba Vision in Irish proceedings against Johnson & Johnson in a high-profile patent case. Paul Lavery leads the non-contentious side.

William Fry has extensive experience and David Cullen is ‘one of the best in the business’. Carol Plunkett leads the contentious team, which advised Associated Newspapers (Ireland) in a Commercial Court case concerning passing off and breach of copyright claims brought by the receiver of Tribune Newspapers plc against The Irish Mail on Sunday. Ann Henry and Leo Moore are also recommended.

Arthur Cox advised Skype on the transfer of Qik’s intellectual property to Ireland and also advises Paddy Power on all its IP protection and enforcement. Team head John Menton is highly recommended.

DFMG Solicitors has a formidable reputation and provides ‘high standards of client service’. The ‘outstanding’ Patricia McGovern heads the team, which acted for Kohler Mira in a patent litigation case. Northern & Shell is also a client.

Eugene F. Collins has a strong showing in all three areas but particularly in technology and telecoms. It handles all Johnson & Johnson’s trade mark filing and prosecution work in Ireland and also provides wide-ranging advice to Truvo Ireland. David Hackett is ‘particularly good’.

Mason Hayes & Curran’s ‘commercially sound’ group has ‘good strength in depth’, and practice head Richard Woulfe is ‘of the highest standard’. Peter Bolger is also recommended. The team is able to advise on large and complex patent portfolio issues, and has multijurisdictional experience.

Philip Lee’s contentious-oriented practice picked up Warner Chilcott and Lundbeck as new clients. Anne Bateman has ‘expertise and practical commercial awareness’.

WhitneyMoore is particularly strong for patent advice and recently advised Medinol in a patent infringement case against Abbott Laboratories. The highly respected Aoife Murphy ‘keeps her nerve in tense situations’.

The ‘responsive and knowledgeable’ Maureen Daly heads the team at Beauchamps Solicitors, which advises the National Library of Ireland on all IP matters.

ByrneWallace counts Lidl Ireland as a key client and advised C&F Automotive on a technology licensing agreement. Darren Daly heads the team.

Deirdre Kilroy’s team at LK Shields Solicitors is ‘a one-stop shop’ for IP and includes four registered trade mark attorneys. Eoin Cunneen manages the international trade mark portfolio for Critical Path.

‘Consummate professional’ Kate Colleary heads Eversheds’ practice alongside Tony McGovern, and is advising Samsung on a pan-European advertising campaign.

Simon McAleese Solicitors’ Paula Mullooly is defending a well-known newspaper columnist in an IP infringement claim.