The Legal 500

Arthur Cox provides clients with ‘very competent and professional service’ across regulatory and transactional mandates. It advised RTE Networks on the procurement of equipment supplies and handles technology work for Paddy Power, the Pensions Board, and Fáilte Ireland. John Menton, Patrick McGovern and Colin Kavanagh lead the technology, telecoms and media teams respectively.

Matheson Ormsby Prentice has one of the more complete TMT practice groups in the market. It advised Hutchinson 3G Ireland on a ComReg investigation, and also acts for Microsoft and Google. James Hickey was appointed chief executive of the Irish Film Board in 2011 but remains a consultant at the firm. Media group head Ruth Hunter is ‘very impressive’, and Helen Kelly is recommended for telecoms work. John O’Connor leads the technology team.

McCann FitzGerald advises Telefónica O2 on data protection and e-commerce and TV3 on the full gamut of media and broadcasting issues. Media expert Karyn Harty has ‘a proactive style’ and is recommended, as are Annette Hogan and Paul Lavery, who is a market leader on the technology side.

William Fry’s experienced team is ‘affable and insightful’. David Cullen is ‘one of the best in the business’; Leo Moore is ‘a breath of fresh air’; and Ken Casey is also noteworthy. The firm has built an enviable tech client list including BiancaMed and Samsung and is one of the leading practices for cloud computing. Media clients include ESPN, BSkyB and HMV.

A&L Goodbody continued to build its team in 2011 with the addition of five associates to support key partners. Practice head John Whelan gives ‘excellent and pragmatic advice to get the desired result’, and John Cahir is outstanding. The firm advised Telefónica O2 on a ten-year deal to create Ireland’s first mobile network sharing arrangement. AIB and Certus are also clients.

Mason Hayes & Curran has ‘a good, earnest, helpful attitude’, combined with ‘deep subject matter and industry knowledge’, and regulatory expertise. Technology and telecoms expert Philip Nolan is particularly noted for his ‘unfailing professionalism, attention to detail and courtesy’. The firm regularly advises ComReg and Facebook on data privacy and technology law.

Simon McAleese Solicitors remains one of the go-to firms in Dublin for defamation and media litigation. Simon McAleese heads the team, which counts leading publishers such as Independent Newspapers, Johnston Press and Mirror Group Newspapers as core clients. Paula Mullooly is expert in advising media clients on technology issues such as cloud computing.

Eugene F. Collins provides ongoing advice to Vodafone Ireland on a range of technology issues. On the media side, the team successfully defended William Morris Endeavor Entertainment and Associated Newspapers when claims were brought against them. David Hackett and Andrea Martin are recommended.

Deirdre Kilroy’s team of technology and data experts at LK Shields Solicitors advised website designer Terminal4 on agreements dealing with the provision of website design, implementation and data migration, among other matters.

Philip Lee’s Jonathan Kelly leads a team with a strong media and entertainment practice – notably for pre-publication matters – that has acted for Walt Disney and Brown Bag Films. The technology team acts for Ryanair and Amazon.

Beauchamps Solicitors advises the Arts Council on all technology matters and SanDisk on technology and IP law.

Darren Daly heads ByrneWallace’s ICT team, which advises the firm’s substantial following of technology clients on data issues, cloud computing and e-commerce.

Eversheds is ‘fully aware of key and current factors in the marketplace’. Team head Tony McGovern recently led advice to Zamano on the reorganisation of its technology information business.

Hayes Solicitors has strong media team headed by the highly rated Andrew O’Rorke. It advises Irish Times Ltd and has been appointed by Touchpaper Television to give legal advice on a drama series.

DFMG Solicitors advises high-profile clients on IT and data protection issues.

Dillon Eustace is noted for advising media clients on pre and post publication matters. Independent Star is a key client.

Ronan Daly Jermyn acts for the TCH Group, publisher of The Sunday Business Post. Richard Martin heads the team.