Rising Stars

Firms in the Spotlight Telecoms

Anne O'Connell Solicitors

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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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Telecoms in Ireland

Mason Hayes & Curran LLP

Mason Hayes & Curran LLP is a go-to firm for domestic and international clients, from both the public and private sectors, seeking advice on commercial and regulatory affairs within the telecommunications sector. The team manages a comprehensive array of contentious and non-contentious matters, including spectrum auctions and licenses, as well as issues related to consumer protection and product safety. Michael Madden heads the practice and works closely with associate Luke Murray to advise on the implications of Irish and EU telecoms regulation. Frank Flanagan is highly active on the contentious side, assisting clients with commercial and regulatory issues.

Practice head(s):

Michael Madden


Other key lawyers:

Frank Flanagan; Luke Murray


Testimonials

‘The core team at Mason Hayes & Curran has an understanding of the regulatory framework and our internal processes, and their advice and assistance continue to reflect this understanding. For example, the MH+C team is highly accessible, pragmatic and solutions-focused in their delivery of services and readily appreciates and responds to the tight time pressures we are constantly under.’

‘The key members bring quite different but, importantly, highly complementary experience, expertise and perspectives in their advice and assistance. Similarly, they are quick to bring in additional and varied expertise should the need arise.’

‘As noted above, Michael Madden and Frank Flanagan bring quite different but, importantly, highly complementary experience, expertise and perspectives. Michael readily understands our objectives and perspective, contributes extremely well to policy discussions, and provides a highly accessible, engaging, responsive and primary point of contact between our teams. Frank readily understands complex, technical issues, has superb attention to detail, and provides invaluable advice and assistance.’

‘The team provides a breath of legal expertise across the different aspects of our projects, for example, regulatory, competition, litigation, data security and procurement. The team is headed up by a lead partner and supported by other partners and associates. The legal advice is solid and evidence-based, provided with a depth of understanding backed up by complimentary disciplines. The team is exceptional and a solid addition to any critical project.’

‘MHC has had a large and renowned TMT team for many years. I encounter them frequently with shared clients and am confident that the project will be handled expertly. Their reputation and quality of work are excellent.’

‘Partners and associates have excellent subject matter expertise and commercial knowledge. Partners relationship with points of contact on the side of demanding clients is impressive and inspiring.’ 

Key clients

Commission for Communications Regulation


Facebook


WhatsApp


Starlink (SpaceX)


Huawei


Comcast


Virgin Media


Tata Communications


Sprint Corporation


RingCentral


Genesys


Work highlights


  • Advised the Commission for Communications Regulation (“ComReg”) on the design and implementation of its auction of the hugely valuable 700 MHz spectrum band.
  • Advised ComReg on its High Court proceedings against Eir in which ComReg sought a restraining order against Eir requiring it to cease breaching rules relating to overcharging customers.
  • Advised Facebook and WhatsApp on the interpretation and application of the European Electronic Communications Code.

Matheson LLP

Matheson LLP continues to maintain a strong presence in the telecommunications sector, advising a multitude of established and new telecom companies on regulations, investigations, and transactions in Ireland. Kate McKenna has extensive experience of assisting regulated companies with regulations brought by ComReg and jointly heads the practice with Niall Collins, Anne-Marie Bohan, and Carlo Salizzo. Simon Shinkwin is another key member of the team.

Practice head(s):

Niall Collins; Kate McKenna; Anne-Marie Bohan; Carlo Salizzo


Other key lawyers:

Simon Shinkwin


Testimonials

‘I enjoy working with the Matheson Telecoms team. In particular, I appreciate their responsiveness and their pragmatism. They are willing to make judgment calls and advise a course of action to short deadlines.’

‘The lawyers I work with at Matheson are, first and foremost, really lovely people. I enjoy their company and look forward to working on new projects with them. I regard Kate McKenna and Simon Shinkwin particularly highly. I always feel like I have their full attention and like my work matters to them.’

‘Expert advice while also being very practical and commercially focused. Understand the needs of the business and the challenging environment in which we operate.’

‘They understand the in-house role and managing internal stakeholders. Kate McKenna is highly recommended.’

‘The commercial knowledge of the industry and sector is exceptional. The Matheson team knows the telecoms sector in Ireland and provides great insight and commercially astute advice.’

‘Kate McKenna and Simon Shinkwin are excellent lawyers. Both are practical, demonstrate excellent commercial awareness and know the telecoms industry. They understand the challenges and provide tailored advice.’

Key clients

Three Ireland & parent CK Hutchison


Sky UK


Sky plc


Sky Ireland


Virgin Media


Liberty Global


Microsoft


AMP Capital


An Post / PostMobile


Speed Fibre Group (Enet, Magnet, Airspeed)


Cisco


Twitter


Meta


Vodafone


Zendesk


MessagerCloud / txtNation


GTT


Warner Bros. Discovery


Cellnex


Asterion Industrial Partners


Raft Technologies


SpaceX


Grain Management


Indeed


Zoom


Amazon Web Services


Revolut


Work highlights


  • Advised Virgin Media on the roll out of its new wholesale network and a number of ongoing ComReg enforcement actions.
  • Advised Three Ireland on the most high profile telecommunications matter.
  • Advised a number of bidders on the acquisition of Eir’s fibre business (joint venture arrangement).

McCann FitzGerald LLP

McCann FitzGerald LLP has a strong reputation for handling contentious, regulatory, and transactional mandates for a broad spectrum of clients, including telecoms regulators, fixed line and mobile network operators, OTT providers, broadcasters, cable TV operators, and telecoms infrastructure companies. Rosaleen Byrne, Amy Brick, and Catherine Derrig head the contentious telecoms practice and regularly represent clients in proceedings before the Commercial Court. David Lydon and Garreth O’Brien are well-known for providing administrative and corporate law advice to domestic and international telecom clients. Laura Treacy is active in the telecoms regulatory landscape and advises on regulatory aspects of telecoms transactions, covering licensing, interconnection, spectrum allocation, and infrastructure access.

Practice head(s):

Rosaleen Byrne; Catherine Derrig; Laura Treacy; David Lydon; Garreth O’Brien; Amy Brick


Other key lawyers:

Gregory Benson


Testimonials

‘The McCanns team are highly proactive and familiar with our sector. We have developed a very close working relationship, ensuring that everyone is comfortable expressing strongly held views on particular cases. Rosaleen Byrne and her team provide exceptional service to the extent that they often feel like an extension of our team. The team are always at hand to contribute advice whenever needed. They have made their technology available to us whenever needed. I cannot recommend them highly enough.’

‘All of the McCanns team are very personable and approachable. Rosaleen Byrne makes herself available, down to earth, approachable, and willing to listen carefully to contributions from everyone, including junior personnel, and will always make a point of seeking the view of everyone. The value of her litigation experience and expertise, the depth of her knowledge, and her ability to consider the broader picture of her client is immeasurable.’

‘Gregory Benson is relentless in ensuring that the lawyers are fully familiar with the complex technical terminology, nuances, and jargon used within our particular industry and ensuring that our position is expressed clearly and accurately. His attention to detail and planning in our cases has ensured that we are ready to react quickly when necessary. Amy Brick brings a thoughtful, balanced, and measured approach to our litigation cases.’

‘Expert advisors in the telecoms sector, a female-led diverse team. Commercial and strategic.’

‘Stand out partners: Catherine Derrig, Rosaleen Byrne and Amy Brick.’

‘Catherine Derrig is an exceptional leader in the telecoms litigation arena in Ireland. She has been involved in the leading cases in this arena and is a true expert. She stands out because she has experience, expertise, professionalism, efficiency and passion for her work.’

Key clients

ComReg


Vodafone


Nostra


AMP Capital Investors (UK) Limited


ESB


Work highlights


  • Advised ComReg on a number of statutory appeals in the commercial list of the High Court.
  • Advised Vodafone on its intervention as a notice party in the statutory appeal brought by Three against a decision by ComReg.
  • Advised AMP Capital Investors (UK) Limited on the sale of Towercom Limited by AMP as infrastructure manager of the IIF.

William Fry LLP

William Fry LLP continues to handle some of the most prominent and high-profile regulation, enforcement, and litigation matters in the Irish and EU telecommunications sectors. The team regularly assists clients with regulatory matters, network build and roll-out projects, corporate transactions, data protection matters, and matters related to competition law and consumer law. Practice head Claire Waterson has extensive knowledge of Irish and EU competition law and advises regulators and private operators on contentious and non-contentious matters related to telecoms law, with support from Garrett Breen, Cormac Little SC, and Sheila Tormey.

Practice head(s):

Claire Waterson


Other key lawyers:

Garrett Breen; Cormac Little SC; Sheila Tormey


Key clients

Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications


Digicel


Towercom


SIRO


Tesco Mobile


Three


Dense Air Ireland


Work highlights


  • Advised the DECC’s procurement, commercial and technical teams on all legal aspects of the National Broadband Plan.
  • Advised Towercom on the structuring, drafting and negotiation of complex transactions and commercial agreements (including licence agreements) in the telecoms sphere.
  • Assisted SIRO with the €620m multi-layered financing it obtained to fund phase 2 of its fibre broadband network roll-out across Ireland.

A&L Goodbody LLP

Clients from a diverse set of industry backgrounds turn to A&L Goodbody LLP for advice on the full range of contentious and non-contentious matters within the telecoms sector, including commercial transactions and litigation cases. John Whelan heads the practice and regularly represents companies before the Commercial Court and the High Court in proceedings brought by regulators. John Cahir, Andrea Lawler, and Sinéad Mitchell King are other key members of the team.

Practice head(s):

John Whelan


Other key lawyers:

John Cahir; Andrea Lawler; Sinéad Mitchell King


Key clients

Eir/ Eircom (UK)


Norton Lifelock Limited


Vertex Inc


Work highlights


  • Advised Eir on Commercial Court proceedings issued by ComReg regarding alleged overcharging of eir’s customers.
  • Advised Norton LifeLock Limited on their global privacy operations to include the implementation of binding corporate rules for controllers and processors with the data protection commission.
  • Advised Vertex Inc and related parties as defendants on proceedings issued by Meridian Global VAT Services Limited in the Irish Commercial Court concerning alleged breach of contract and misuse of confidential information in VAT technology systems.

Arthur Cox

Arthur Cox’s telecoms team handles regulatory, transactional and litigation matters for some of the largest operators, investors and lenders in Ireland. Patrick Horan specialises in telecoms regulation and jointly heads the practice with Aaron Boyle, who regularly handles complex and high-value investment and acquisition transactions in the Irish telecoms sector, with support from Connor Manning and Maeve Moran. Bridget Clinton and Ronan Scanlan are other key contacts.

Practice head(s):

Patrick Horan; Aaron Boyle


Other key lawyers:

Connor Manning; Maeve Moran; Bridget Clinton; Ronan Scanlan


Testimonials

‘The team is very expert, capable and very client-focused.’

‘Patrick Horan is very expert in his respective fields.’

Key clients

Aqua Ventures Limited


Avaya


Brookfield


Cellnex


Cubic Telecom


Digital 9 Infrastructure plc


Eir


Enet / Speed Fibre Group


Granahan McCourt


Imagine Telecommunications


InfraVia Capital Partners


Irish Rail


National Broadband Ireland


Openet


Phoenix Tower International


Strencom


Telus International


Tetra Ireland


Vodafone


Welltel


Work highlights


  • Advised John Laing Group on its acquisition of Towercom.
  • Advised Vodafone on a major wholesale fibre services agreement with Virgin Media Ireland.
  • Advised National Broadband Ireland on all aspects of the sale of the majority stake in the project to Asterion, a Spanish infrastructure investor.