The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Ireland > Construction

‘A heavy-hitting team, with excellent technical skills backed up by a commercial outlook.’ 

‘Associate Conall McLoughlin is tenacious, hardworking and personable.’

‘Kevin Feeney is a bastion in construction law. He is supremely able and someone you definitely want on your side.’

‘The construction law department of A&L Goodbody is outstanding and rightfully placed as a market leader.’

‘Eamonn Conlon is outstanding and the go-to lawyer for construction law. His knowledge is unrivalled and, combined with a pragmatic, results-driven approach, makes him a formidable operator.’

‘Robert Rooney is a very good construction lawyer, giving clients clear and practical advice on the most complex of matters.’

‘The team is very commercial and solution focused.’

‘Kevin Feeney and associate Jamie Rattigan are excellent in their field and the best construction lawyers in the market. Jamie in particular is a rising star and is very sharp and a strong negotiator.’

‘Great support and knowledge’

‘Eamonn Gill is exceptional in his field, always available with sound advice and great commercial acumen.’

‘An excellent construction practice with a wide range of experience and industry knowledge.’

‘Kevin Feeney understands risk, understands our business, and is experienced, responsive and dedicated.’

‘The unique quality which this team possesses is the ability to communicate in simple English with clients and thereafter communicate in legal terms the key points as required to various stakeholders – there is a very open and approachable manner within this legal construction practice which ensures repeat business.’

‘Conor Owens has a great practical knowledge of the construction industry and also a thorough understanding of how construction businesses works, and can hone in on these specifies in order to reach swift, successful conclusions to legal issues as and when possible.’

‘The construction team work very well as a unit and support each other when the need arises. The team have an excellent knowledge of the current commercial issues in construction and provide practical advice. The team tackle issues head on and have respect within the industry, which allows them to deal with issues in an efficient manner. ALG provides commercially sound, practical advice to its clients.’

‘I have worked with both Kevin Feeney and Jamie Rattigan. Both are excellent examples of the ALG ethos of providing accurate and commercially sound advice in a timely manner. Both are always available when needed and take a personal interest in your project.’

‘Niav O’Higgins is a pleasure to work with, and very capable and assured in her handling of complex and high-pressure dispute resolution proceedings.’

‘A well-organised team with great knowledge of the on-the-ground issues and how to navigate them. The team is hands-on and always available.’

‘A cohesive team, always available regardless of the time of day.’

‘Karen Killoran is a class act. She is into the detail, has a phenomenally retentive mind, and is knowledgeable, flexible and great fun. She leads her team from the front and has a band of very capable associates which she is moulding in her image. Highly recommended.’

‘The individuals I work with in Arthur Cox’s construction team are extremely approachable and always offer succinct legal advice under tight deadlines.’

‘I would characterise my experience of working with the team as very constructive, supportive and positive, leading to a much improved understanding of the client’s position on often complex contractual and regulatory issues.’

‘The construction team in Arthur Cox is second to none. They have incredible industry experience and market knowledge. Their legal advice and support is phenomenal and I cannot emphasise enough the extent of their expertise and understanding of complex construction law matters.’

‘Arthur Cox has a great construction practice which complements the real estate practice well. They are commercial and know what it takes to get a deal done.’

‘Karen Killoran is excellent to deal with and provides clear, pragmatic, commercially focused advice. While our transactions are also staffed with associates, Karen takes a hands-on approach and is fully involved in all parts of the transaction. Karen’s legal and commercial knowledge has helped to guide us through a number of tricky situations with very little fuss and ensured the best possible outcome. I would highly recommend Karen for any construction projects.‘

‘We find the team very easy to deal with, providing excellent service and fast turnarounds on complicated issues. Coxs also provide a wealth of experience in other areas associated with a construction project, which can be drawn on as required to ensure you are getting the best available advice at all times.‘

‘It is a user-friendly and experienced team with good depth in personnel numbers; highly professional and able to problem-solve and find solutions; well regarded in the market; and market-facing, commercial and pragmatic with its advice on construction-related matters. Arthur Cox stands out as being in the top three of domestic law firms in Dublin.‘

‘Karen Killoran is always available to provide advice and solutions, and has a huge level of experience in construction-related matters. I would thoroughly recommend using the Arthur Cox construction team, and specifically Karen as a partner.‘

‘Niav O’Higgins is excellent and very commercial in how she works through complicated issues. We rely heavily on her knowledge of market practice and market standards. Her communication style is superb and she is well liked by opposing counsel. She is thorough and efficient.‘

‘Niav O’Higgins’ strength is her breadth of knowledge and experience in the Irish construction sector and in public sector contract matters.‘

‘The team has a wealth of knowledge and experience of current acceptable contract conditions and letters of appointment for design teams. They have the depth of resources to deal efficiently with queries and find acceptable solutions to legal differences.‘

‘Niav O’Higgins has an excellent knowledge of building contracts and design team appointments, and the ability to provide clear advice when negotiating contracts and appointments.’

‘Arthur Cox is a multi-disciplinary practice – the partners are all highly experienced and skilled professionals who are highly dependable.‘

‘I have worked with Niav O’Higgins for many years and she is an extremely talented, dependable and experienced lawyer.‘

‘Niav O’Higgins is an exceptional construction lawyer with an incredible ability to negotiate and agree complex legal documents in a fair and reasonable manner.‘

‘Mary Liz Mahony is a fantastic lawyer. She is very responsive and has a very pragmatic approach to the issues at play. She has the ability to independently, quickly and accurately assess the legal, practical and business risks in a fast-paced environment.‘

‘The team stands out for its availability and responsiveness, detailed knowledge and understanding, and pragmatic approach.‘

‘The team adopts a progressive approach and has an understanding of the intersection of cultural and legal issues. The level of transparency and client service is second to none. They are efficient, with a positive sense of urgency, delivering everything in a timely manner. They are incredibly proactive and great at minimising risk.‘

‘The construction disputes team is highly recommended, Their way of advising their clients is excellent and the communication between lawyers and non-lawyers is very easy.‘

‘A great combination of construction and legal professionals providing relevant contractual advice.’

‘They have the ability to take a legal challenge and simplify it, making each stage of the legal process comprehensible, with huge ambitions for us to succeed. Their expertise and recommendations go beyond the legal requirements, factoring in the social challenges as well as advising on the law and looking at the impact on the bigger picture.‘

‘Our professional relationship with Enda O’Keefe is exceptional. He represents us as if he is part of our company. He is very flexible in meeting our deadlines, even when we ask for something very urgent. His knowledge in construction matters is very impressive, making communication very easy.‘

‘An extremely strong team led by Rory Kirrane. Each member of the team, from Rory down, is very responsive and provides tremendous support for our business.’

‘Rory Kirrane responds promptly to queries and provides clear and comprehensive advice on the spot. He’s great with clients and has a brilliant manner. This is clearly something that he’s fed down to his team.’

‘Senior associate Hannah Devoy is an excellent lawyer. Her drafting is to a consistently high standard and she provides very clear and readily intelligible advice.’

‘The team appears to have a solid ability to turn around matters within an agreed timeframe, even if that timeframe is tight. Their ability to stay within budget and achieve an outcome within set parameters was appreciated.’

‘Hannah Devoy worked on the majority of our files and there was little in the way of a need for hand holding. Queries raised by her were well thought out and to the point.’

‘Practical and focused on the best interests of the client.’

‘Susan Bryson and Padraig Godfrey are standout individuals in the efficient management of complex construction litigation, with an ability to advise on related issues such as insolvency and insurance cover issues.’

‘MHC’s construction practice is very highly regarded within the industry. They are a joy to work with and I like seeing them involved whether I am on their side of the table or not. The primary reason is that they know construction; they are incredibly efficient and know how to get a deal done. They bring a lot of sense to the picture.’

‘Shane Dolan is a skilled negotiator and I would highly recommend him to my developer clients and other industry professionals. Shane knows the development market inside out and brings commercial sense to a transaction – he has a way of making the most complex development transactions straightforward. His advice is always commercial and to the point. He has an unusual ability in terms of anticipating the other side’s next move and often the complex legal consequences of clients taking particular positions during negotiations or structuring. His legal knowledge in areas outside construction often comes to the fore in negotiations too, as he also has a strong background in insurance, litigation and insolvency.’

‘Senior associate Paul Bassett in particular is worthy of mention. Paul is incredibly smart and very highly regarded.’

‘The team are incredibly professional in every way, and they combine their professionalism with the ability to give the client a fantastic service. Nothing is a problem and all the members of the team are very approachable and generous with their time and information. They are my go-to team for construction contracts and construction-related issues.’

‘Shane Dolan and Paul Bassett are both at the top of their game. They are professional and competent in all our dealings. What sets them apart is that they have a very good manner in dealing with clients and that, backed up by their vast knowledge, makes them ideal representatives.’

‘Mason Hayes & Curran are the only firm I would go to for construction-related queries.’

‘MHC are straight talking and quickly identify and resolve matters in a practical and commercial way for clients. Their strength in numbers means they are always in a position to provide a good level of support, which makes them attractive.’

‘Rory Kirrane is a standout individual. He is practical and commercial in equal measures and is always available when required.’

‘Paul Bassett is also recommended. He is quick to identify issues and provide practical solutions.’

‘They stand out for their attention to detail, their ability to convey information in a clear, concise and logical way, and their ability to draw reasonable, logical conclusions or assumptions from limited information.’

‘Rory Kirrane, Hannah Devoy and the team provide excellent services, demonstrating professionalism as well as a high level of integrity and attention to detail at all times. They are highly knowledgeable in their field, get results and deliver everything in a very confident, professional manner. They are efficient in their time management without sacrificing quality.’

‘Up-to-date, technically literate, combative when necessary.’

‘It is better to have Rory Kirrane on your side than off. Susan Bryson is a skilled facilitator.’

‘We’ve received very good advice, very efficiently. No job is too small… or too large. We can trust their judgement.’

‘Our go-to person is Susan Bryson for all construction matters, and indeed issues beyond but related to construction, such as licences for use of properties and transfer of ownership. She is very knowledgeable, decisive in her advice and inspires confidence.’

‘I find this practice to be well versed in the subject matter and, probably more importantly, they are very responsive. I have on a number of occasions needed their input and assistance on an urgent basis, and they have always responded very quickly.’

‘The Matheson team have a huge amount of experience on large-scale construction projects. The overall team is well resourced and every individual makes a significant contribution in providing an excellent service to our company.’

‘The team are very proactive and always make great efforts to respond promptly and clearly.’

‘The Matheson team had an excellent knowledge of construction, with many lawyers with degrees in construction professions. The team were always available at short notice to assist or meet on contractual matters. They integrated as part of the team and looked at thing in a pragmatic way to best achieve the desired outcome. They looked for solutions as opposed to taking stances and getting bogged down in legal conflicts. They instilled an atmosphere of confidence not only in their service but in the team in general.’

‘I deal with Rhona Henry and Kimberley Masuda. Both are very approachable and pleasant to deal with. I find their attention to detail, promptness of reply and general willingness to go the extra mile for their clients to be excceptional.’

‘Rhona Henry is responsive, clear thinking, objective and always shows lateral thinking. She is quick to grasp key issues, engages well with complex stakeholder groups and retains focus on the critical issues.’

‘Associate Eva Baumgart is very knowledgeable and responsive.’

‘A very high-standard, professional approach is always forthcoming.’

‘The service provided by Matheson is of the best quality and we have found them to be reliable, practical and solution driven. Our queries are always answered promptly, their advice has always been commercially focused and efficiently delivered, and their vast knowledge and skills have been extremely helpful in all real estate and construction law matters. Matheson is a top-tier law firm. Their attention to detail, diligence, dedication, and knowledge of real estate and construction law is exemplary. The quality of their work and high-class level of communication is also excellent.’

‘Rhona Henry is invaluable to us in helping us through the legal process. She is practical and savvy, very hardworking and client friendly. She has a strong attention to detail and always delivers. She is sharp and a great negotiator. The service we receive from her is swift, professional and complete.’

‘Matheson very quickly and competently were able to convert UK standard industry texts for use in Ireland. This is clearly an experienced and competent construction practice team.’

‘Matheson’s ability to turn around construction industry standard documents and localise them on short notice was excellent.’

‘Personal attention to detail’

‘Rhona Henry and Eva Baumgart are efficient, responsive and proactive.’

‘We value the attention to detail and clear identification of the risks that cause issues and concerns for our business, and the timely response to queries raised and commitment to us as a client even during times when it proves difficult to respond.’

‘Our experience with Matheson was characterised by distilled, clear thinking and focus on key issues; a high degree of responsiveness; and a willingness to engage with the opinions and suggestions of various stakeholders.’

‘We value their knowledge of the sector and the latest contractual trends in the market, the high level of attention to detail, and the strong team of associates.’

‘Rhona Henry and Eva Baumgart from the construction team have been exceptional in their service delivery and support to me. Their attention to detail and the quick turnaround of queries and documentation is always exemplary.’

‘Matheson are my go-to firm for construction matters in Ireland. I have always found their advice to be prompt, comprehensive and commercial in nature. They are also adept at relaying complex concepts in an easily understandable manner.’

‘Stephen Proctor understands the client’s needs and works very well as part of a team.’

‘Our experience has been very good with McCann Fitzgerald. Their main strength for us is in taking very complicated contractual issues and explaining them in terms we can understand.’

‘The standout person for us is Barrett Chapman. We have worked with him for many years as he progressed through the firm. As he has grown a team with him we have found they provide a similarly comprehensive service.’

‘In-depth knowledge of the client’

‘I worked closely with Jarleth Heneghan. His attention to detail, responsiveness and ability to change strategy due to the issues thrown at us  was remarkable. He doesn’t quit or take the easy route, but he continues to fight for what’s right for the client.’

‘Very pleasant to work with and extremely conscientious.’

‘Their key strengths were their detailed knowledge of not only the contract documentation, legislation and regulations, but also of the industry and the commercial market, coupled with clear, sound advice on the legal implications of the commercial arrangement to be agreed and implemented.’

‘Jarleth Heneghan stands out for his knowledge of the market, responsiveness, and clear, sound advice on the legal implications of commercial discussions.’

‘Cassandra Byrne demonstrated detailed and careful drafting, responsiveness, and recognition of the commercial reality and the requirement to put this into a legal framework.’

‘Very professional, very commercial, great depth in the team, quick to respond to matters and good broad experience’

‘The standouts are Jarleth Heneghan and Cassandra Byrne, who are professional and dedicated, with good commercial experience.’

‘William Fry are an excellent legal practice, with in-house experts across every market. We have used William Fry for a variety of purposes over the years and have always found them approachable, understanding of our requirements, and keen to advise and develop a solution. We would strongly recommend William Fry to our colleagues.’

‘Jarleth Heneghan is our key construction partner, with an in-depth knowledge of construction law, contracts and the market. Jarleth’s depth of knowledge, commercial outlook and ability to look round corners have been invaluable to us over the years and will continue to be so into to the future.’

‘The construction team that we work with in William Fry are a trusted partner and have an intimate knowledge of construction on every level. They understand our requirements as a client extremely well and adopt a commercial and practical approach to all matters, whether complex or not.’

‘Jarleth Heneghan is our principal point of contact on construction and a trusted adviser, providing complex technical advice in a straightforward manner. His attention to detail combined with a strong market understanding and commercial nous has ensured that he has delivered on highly complex projects in an expedient manner. His level of service delivery is top class.’

‘Cassandra Byrne has a pragmatic and efficient approach.’

‘Liam McCabe:- Probably the standout RE transaction legal expert in Ireland. A man on top of his game professionally but also a great coach and mentor to his team and also clients.‘

‘Byrne Wallace adopt a commercially common-sense approach to all matters. Their approach considers all legal issues and positions through careful analysis and detailed understanding of construction disputes.’ 

‘There are a large number of law firms practising construction law in Ireland, however, Byrne Wallace is one of a handful that actually does have the in-house expertise to provide a service of the highest standard in the construction industry.’

‘Martin Cooney and his team keep their focus entirely on the potential commercial outcome and tailor their services to suit. Martin’s knowledge of construction disputes and the appropriate tactics to pursue whether in adjudication, arbitration or litigation is second to none in the Irish market.’

‘Martin Cooney and senior associate Deirdre Hennessy are excellent and provide thorough explanations. They made themselves available as and when required and were a constant source of support when responses were required on pending issues.’

‘The responsiveness and efficiency of Dermot McEvoy has been most impressive.’

‘Dermot McEvoy has been very diligent and responsive, and has provided clear advice on complex matters.’

‘Dermot McEvoy has been excellent to deal with in every way. I especially value his efficiency, availability and directness.’

‘Mark Varian goes the extra yard when prevailed upon.’

‘Strong, in-depth knowledge of construction law and the construction business in general’

‘Margaret Austin is a strong leader of a team covering complex construction cases, involving Commercial Court, High Court and ADR matters. The team has a good, positive and pragmatic approach to dispute resolution.’ 

‘The key strength of Philip Lee is the access and knowledge of the people. Any time I have a query, they contact me within a short time period with an answer or view. They are engaging at all times.’

‘I deal a lot with Clare Cashin, who stands out due to the qualities mentioned above.’

‘The team has a good understanding of our industry sector and is made up of knowledgeable individuals who show good engagement, honest dealings and good interpretation of our issues, offer clear, concise advice, and go the distance to get the results we require.’

‘The team is very competent, experienced and wise. They are strong on interpersonal skills and solutions orientated.’

‘They are attentive, processing documents and queries quickly. They are accessible and eager to get the job done.’

‘In the construction law field, RDJ are one of the best practices in the country and have a very good practical grasp of the construction process as well.’

‘Finola McCarthy is cool, confident and disarmingly effective. She is very strong on procurement law matters and has a quite non-ruffled approach to construction dispute resolution. She plays the long game.’

‘Good, bankable advice and good humoured.’

‘We mainly work with Finola McCarthy and apart from being a true professional who is very well versed in construction and procurement law, Finola has a personality which enables her to deal comfortably with even the most confrontational of situations.’

‘The expertise displayed by the team with their specialism in construction shines through.’

‘The team at Beale’s has provided us with an excellent, professional service in the area of construction-related claims.’

‘Strengths of the team include its availability and engagement, together with the appropriate levels of resourcing and overall case management.’

‘They are responsive and can be trusted to do what is required to get the job done.’

‘Tara Cosgrove is a confident and clear expert in the field.’

‘Niamh Loughran is a superstar – she is calm, totally focused and knows her jurisdiction. She is personable and a pleasure to work with. She is also very responsive to the particular needs of her client.’

‘The individuals have a practical and pragmatic approach to resolving problems.’

‘Tara Cosgrove, Niamh Loughran and Sarah Conroy have been invaluable to us over the last number of years.’

‘Ahead of the pack in terms of the quality of their advice and service.’

‘LK Shields are a practical and progressive legal practice.’

‘Strong expertise and strategic advice.’

‘Very responsive’

‘A strong team with the unique ability to simplify complex legal issues with a commercial approach.’

‘Associate Jamie Ritchie has a thorough understanding of construction contracts and his knowledge and expertise shines through when he is working on transactions.’

‘Jamie Ritchie is quickly becoming a go-to lawyer in Dublin for contentious and non-contentious construction issues.’

‘Richard Curran is a projects lawyer who has the ability to provide clear, intelligent and commercial advice on construction projects. An excellent lawyer.’