Comyn Kelleher Tobin LLP > Cork, Ireland > Firm Profile

Comyn Kelleher Tobin LLP
2 George's Quay
Cork
Ireland

Ireland > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

Comyn Kelleher Tobin LLP is a leader in healthcare litigation, acting for major clients such as the State Claims Agency, Health Service Executive (HSE) and Medisec. In the sector, the firm has an outstanding record in catastrophic medical negligence, professional negligence, and product liability. It has handled a series of major disability cases and broader social care matters in recent years. Eamon Harrington is a prominent figure in medical negligence defence, while Patrice O’Keeffe is also rated for medical and professional negligence claims, with an emphasis on alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Alison Kelleher, Yvonne Joyce, Katharine Kelleher and Hilda O’Keeffe are also key partners. Lebeau Jonker is also active in multiple cases.

Practice head(s):

Eamon Harrington

Testimonials

‘Superb strength and depth of team – evidence of a collaborative approach ensuring consistency of advice. Impressive access to partners with excellent response and turnaround times. Have developed a client-friendly in-house structure to written advices which emphasises the key takeaways and recommended next steps, but also provides the detailed reasoning and resources for reference.’

‘Eamonn Harrington, for example, has perhaps the greatest ability I have ever seen to reduce 2000-3000 pages of material down to 1-2 pages of clear and concise analysis. He can predict with stark accuracy the pathway of a case and in the context of indemnity and insurance this is perhaps the most valuable skill one can have.’

‘Katharine Kelleher is a universally acknowledged leader in this area. She is trusted implicitly throughout the national health service, and has access to a range of individuals which allows her to see off what would otherwise be a great deal of very expensive litigation. Cliona Kenny was a standout member of the firm, and that is now recognised in her election to the partnership. She is managing mass litigation in the disability arena exceptionally well. Lebeau Jonker spans mental capacity, secure care of the most at risk children, and disability litigation.’

‘Eamon Harrington, Patrice O’Keeffe, Alison Kelleher, Yvonne Joyce are highly experienced, have standout client management skills and an ability to identify the key tactical issues in complex litigation and bring the client with them to the best solution. They have great people skills and pragmatism based on a ready grasp of complexity.’

‘Eamon Harrington is one of the most experienced and skillful practitioners in this area. He has a wealth of knowledge, and is genuine problem solver even in the most difficult and intractable cases.’

‘Yvonne Joyce is right on top of any case that she handles, offers good sound advice, and listens carefully. Any client is lucky to have her.’

‘Patrice O’Keeffe is a very experienced practitioner, with great insight into both medical law and practice. She has remarkable insight into the main problems in any case, and always finds a solution. But she knows when to fight also.’

‘Alison Kelleher is a rising star in this area of law and practice. Hard working and dedicated, she is a person that any client should be happy to have on their side.’

Key clients

State Claims Agency

Health Service Executive (HSE)

Medisec

Allianz Insurance

Irish Public Bodies Insurance

MedPro

Tusla – the Child and Family Agency

Bon Secours Health System

Work highlights

Ireland > Insurance Tier 3

Comyn Kelleher Tobin LLP has a fully-rounded contentious insurance practice with strong expertise in professional liability, public liability, employer’s liability, personal injuries claims, product liability, property liability and motor claims. Eamon Harrington is noted for professional negligence and medical negligence. Daniel McLoughlin is another senior practitioner in defending employer liability, public liability and motor claims. Patrice O’Keeffe is noted for professional negligence and medical negligence.

Practice head(s):

Eamon Harrington; Daniel McLoughlin

Other key lawyers:

Allison Kelleher; Patrice O’Keeffe; Yvonne Joyce; Nicola Kiely; Diarmuid Cunningham; Barry Kelleher

Testimonials

‘The partners in this firm take a keen interest in the requirements of their clients and adopt a hands on and direct approach in developing the client relationship.’

‘Eamonn Harrington has good oversight over the team and when involved lends a steadying voice. He is ably assisted by Allison Kelleher, Patrice O’Keeffe and Yvonne Joyce. Again I found them all to be highly experienced and do challenge decisions they feel are incorrect. They are not afraid to suggest a course of action to resolve situations.’

‘The insurance team has an obvious focus on and commitment to providing clear and easily digestible legal advice and guidance. It is readily apparent that the firm has a wealth of insurance industry experience both domestically and internationally.’

‘Staff are always personable and friendly – from admin right through to senior partners. However, what truly sets CKT apart from other firms is the depth and breadth of their collective insurance industry experience and knowledge. They are one of the leading firms in representing and advising domestic and international insurance entities and underwriters. Stand out partners include Daniel McLoughlin and Nicola Kiely.’

‘The insurance team in Comyn Kelleher Tobin is unparalleled for their attention to detail. It is the prime example of a medium-sized firm with a small firm attention to detail. The sheer knowledge and industry experience of Daniel McLoughlin partnered with the work ethic of Nicola Kiely makes for a winning combination. ’

‘Daniel McLoughlin’s knowledge of litigation in the market means that each file is dealt with in the most commercially sensitive and expeditious manner possible. ’

‘This firm is extremely personable and very progressive. They also place enormous weight on cyber security and GDPR. Alison Kelleher is extremely efficient and knowledgeable in medical negligence claims. Diarmuid Cunningham is excellent at managing clients and is very adept at setting and managing expectation. Barry Kelleher is a pleasure to work with, always upbeat when faced with challenges. ’

‘Eamon Harrington and Patrice O’ Keeffe are the stand out partners with whom I communicate. Both have extensive experience in this field as well as being excellent negotiators. ’

Key clients

Health Service Executive

State Claims Agency

Allianz insurance

Munich RE

Lloyds Syndicates

KennCo Underwriting Ltd

Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Cork County Council

Uisce Eireann (Irish Water)

Medisec

MedPro

Work highlights

Ireland > Employment Tier 5

Comyn Kelleher Tobin LLP's employment law offering is predominantly made up of contentious work relating to unfair dismissal. discrimination, termination, and disciplinary action. The firm has a strong focus on public sector employment law, regularly advising state bodies, insurers, schools, and universities. Emily Sexton is an expert litigator, with experience in the full gamut of claims, including harassment, personal injury, and public liability claims.

Practice head(s):

Emily Sexton

Testimonials

‘The team work in a highly collaborative manner. They communicate consistently and provide excellent guidance, tailored for the specifics of our sector.’

‘The team we have worked with are highly engaged and approachable.’

‘They are excellent communicators and have taken the time to provide us with an understanding of legal nuance and technicality.’

‘Their expertise in their respective areas is second to none.’

‘A very swift, informed and professional service which is invaluable on difficult cases.’

‘Diverse team of lawyers who are very experience and have excellent knowledge.’

‘Highly expert and experienced lawyers who are very approachable.’

Key clients

Health Service Executive

Tusla – The Child & Family Agency

Work highlights

  • Advised HSE on the proceedings brought by Porter before the WRC alleging discrimination and victimisation.
  • Advised HSE on WRC proceedings brought by former agency workers under unfair dismissal legislation by successfully arguing that dismissal did not take place.
  • Advised the insured party on multiple WRC complaints from a former employee.

The firm:  With a team of more than 81 professionals, Comyn Kelleher Tobin LLP (CKT) is ranked in the top 25 law firms in Ireland. Established in 1982, CKT has offices in Cork and Dublin, and is internationally recognised as a full-service law firm handling work of a quality and scale that places it among the leading firms in the insurance market, employment and healthcare sectors. CKT’s dynamic team of lawyers have a strong reputation of providing strategic legal advice and superb service in litigation and dispute resolution, healthcare and medical law, insurance, commercial, employment, residential and commercial property, and child and family law.

Main areas of practice
Dispute resolution – healthcare litigation: CKT has one of Ireland’s largest healthcare teams and an unsurpassed reputation in the provision of top-class legal services to healthcare clients including the HSE and Tusla – The Child and Family Agency, hospitals, doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, clinics and their indemnifiers. CKT also represents healthcare indemnity organisations, as well as the State Claims Agency. We have a deep understanding of all the legal issues that arise for healthcare clients, as well as a complete knowledge of the real challenges faced by healthcare providers, hospitals, and clinicians. The team actively pursue all avenues of dispute resolution available and advise clients on choosing the method most appropriate to them and the particular matter. Resolving disputes quickly and effectively is central to how we approach any matter. The dispute resolution partners are all CEDR Accredited Mediators.

Insurance/insurance – dispute resolution: CKT provides legal services to insurance and reinsurance companies in the Irish and UK markets. The firm represents leading domestic Irish insurers and intermediaries, for whom the firm undertakes both contentious and non-contentious work. CKT has a proven track record of finding solutions using alternative dispute mechanisms such as mediation, conciliation and arbitration where appropriate. The firm assists and supports clients in the investigation of circumstances which are likely to lead to claims and provide and/or advise on coverage options. The firm ensures no case proceeds to trial or hearing without having first considered alternative methods to resolve even the most contentious of disputes. The firm’s mediators are one of the most sought-after in the country for contentious disputes.

Employment: CKT is a recognised leader in employment law in Ireland. The firm prides itself on the ability to listen and understand its clients’ requirements, and to deliver that service in a timely and cost-effective way. As advisors to state bodies, schools, universities, large corporations and small companies, the firm ensures advice is tailor-made to each individual business’ requirements. While most clients are employers, the firm also represents high-level employees and offers an understanding that allows it to see both sides of every situation. CKT’s employment law team are involved in advising at all stages, from recruitment of employees through to termination. Clients appreciate that the team’s in-depth working knowledge of their business and advice in non-contentious work significantly limits client’s exposure to contentious issues in the workplace. Each member of the employment team is a CEDR Accredited Mediator, and strives to find a practical solution to the most complex of workplace issues. The firm is a regular contributor to Legal Island, a multi-award winning workplace compliance company, frequently providing expert analysis of topical and landmark Judgments.

Child and family law: CKT’s child and family law team, headed by Denise Kirwan, has specialised knowledge in the area of child care and family law. With one of the largest child care legal teams in Ireland, the team comprises of highly experienced solicitor advocates who advise and represent several public bodies on all matters relating to child care, juvenile justice, wardship, mental health issues, capacity and statutory duties and responsibilities. The team advises on regulatory issues, risk management, Codes of Conduct and bring prosecutions on behalf of TUSLA – The Child and Family Agency, and others. The team appears in courts nationwide including District Court, Circuit Court and High Court dealing with complex and sensitive child care cases. The team also delivers extensive client training to TUSLA – The Child and Family Agency and has delivered lectures to the Law Society of Ireland, social workers, Bessborough family support service, Arbour House Addiction Services, HSE and other national counselling services.

Real estate/property: CKT’s property and commercial conveyancing team, headed by Deborah Moore, offers clients the innovation, experience, technical expertise, clarity of advice and commitment to get their deals done efficiently and effectively. The team handle transactions for leading builders, developers, banks, investors, landlords, tenants and businesses. CKT is ideally placed to advise on a range of complex transactions with specialist property capability and excellent skills in finance. The firm advises on development and planning, projects and construction, large loans, mezzanine, loan workouts, distressed debt acquisition (including loan-to-own strategies), investment, corporate occupation, tax, finance, securitisation, structuring and joint ventures, and complex real estate mergers and acquisitions.

Commercial: CKT’s commercial law team works in partnership with business, to ensure the team has a thorough understanding of the client organisation and its objectives. Through this understanding and service promise the team has developed long term working relationships with a broad and diverse client base including the Health Service Executive. The team focus on understanding the importance of cost certainty and providing value. The commercial team combine exceptional transactional skills with specialist expertise including employment and benefits, environmental and intellectual property. This enables the team to handle the numerous issues that can arise in a single corporate transaction.

Department Name Email Telephone
Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Defence Litigation, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Insurance Eamon Harrington +353 21 4626900
Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Defence Litigation, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Insurance, Banking and Finance, Real Estate Debbie Moore +353 21 4626900
Employment and Pensions, Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Data Protection, Maritime, Debt Recovery, Healthcare Diarmuid Cunningham +353 21 4626900
Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Employment and Pensions, Data Protection Patrice O'Keeffe +353 21 4626900
Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Commercial and Corporate, Real Estate Hilda O'Keeffe +353 21 4626900
Real Estate, Private Client, Commercial and Corporate, Banking and Finance Emma Comyn +353 21 4626900
Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Defence Litigation, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Data Protection Alison Kelleher +353 21 4626900
Child Protection, Family, Alternate Dispute Resolution, Healthcare Denise Kirwan +353 21 4626900
Child and Adult Protection, Family, Alternate Dispute Resolution, Healthcare Katharine Kelleher +353 21 4626900
Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Insurance Daniel McLoughlin +3531 8745929
Commercial Litigation, Child Protection, Family Sinead Fitzgerald +353 21 4626900
Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Defence Litigation, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Data Protection Yvonne Joyce +353 21 4626900
Real Estate, Private Client, Commercial and Corporate, Banking and Finance Tom Tobin +353 21 4626900
Real Estate, Private Client, Commercial and Corporate Louise Duggan +353 21 4626900
Child Protection, Family, Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Healthcare Michelle Cronin +353 21 4626900
Employment and Pensions, Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Data Protection Emily Sexton +353 21 4626900
Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Defence Litigation, Insurance. Nicola Kiely +3531 8745929
Insurance, Debt recovery, Alternate Dispute Resolution Barry Kelleher +353 21 4626900
Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Defence Litigation, Healthcare and Life Sciences Cliona Kenny +353 21 4626900
Child and Adult Protection, Family, Healthcare Lebeau Jonker +3531 8745929
Child Protection, Family Karen Tobin +353 21 4626900
Real Estate, Banking and Finance Colette Neville +353 21 4626900
Child Protection, Family David Taylor +353 21 4626900
Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Defence Litigation, Healthcare and Life Sciences Grace Toher +353 21 4626900
Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Defence Litigation, Healthcare and Life Sciences Kevin Healy +353 21 4626900
Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Healthcare and Life Sciences Deirdre Ryan +353 21 4626900
Employment and Pensions, Alternate Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation, Data Protection Conor White +353 21 4626900
Real Estate, Private Client, Commercial and Corporate, Banking and Finance Kate Russell +353 21 4626900
Commercial Cian Duane +353 21 4626900
Litigation and Healthcare Clíona O'Brien +353 21 4626900
Healthcare, Litigation and Childcare Law James Burke +3531 8745929
Photo Name Position Profile
James Burke photo James Burke Solicitor in the Healthcare, Litigation and Childcare Law departments.
Emma Comyn photo Emma Comyn Partner in the Property and Probate Departments
Michelle Cronin photo Michelle Cronin Solicitor in the Healthcare and Child Law departments
Diarmuid Cunningham photo Diarmuid Cunningham Partner in the Dispute Resolution and Employment Departments.
Cian Duane photo Cian Duane Partner in our Commercial Department.
Louise Duggan photo Louise Duggan Partner in the firms Property and Real Estate Departments.
Chantal Feeney photo Chantal Feeney Solicitor in the Litigation Department
Sinead Fitzgerald photo Sinead Fitzgerald Sinead is a Partner in the firm’s Family and Child Law departments
Eamon Harrington photo Eamon Harrington Partner in Dispute Resolution group with focus on: Healthcare, Professional indemnity, Mediation,…
Kevin Healy photo Kevin Healy Solicitor in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department
Lebeau Jonker photo Lebeau Jonker Lebeau is a Partner in Comyn Kelleher Tobin’s Health and Medical Law…
Yvonne Joyce photo Yvonne Joyce Partner in the Healthcare Department
Barry Kelleher photo Barry Kelleher Senior Associate in Healthcare & Litigation Departments
Katharine Kelleher photo Katharine Kelleher Partner in Healthcare, Childcare and Mental Health Departmnents
Alison Kelleher photo Alison Kelleher Partner in Litigation & Dispute Resolution Departments
Cliona Kenny photo Cliona Kenny Solicitor in the Litigation and Healthcare departments
Nicola Kiely photo Nicola Kiely Partner in the Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution Departments
Denise Kirwan photo Denise Kirwan Partner-in-Charge – Child Care Department
Daniel McLoughlin photo Daniel McLoughlin Partner in the Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution Departments
Amy McNicholas photo Amy McNicholas Solicitor in our Employment Law Department
Deborah Moore photo Deborah Moore Chairperson Alternative Dispute Resolution, Litigation (Clinical Negligence and Personal Injuries Defence), Real…
Colette Neville photo Colette Neville Solicitor in our Property Department
Clíona  O'Brien photo Clíona O'Brien Solicitor in our Litigation and Healthcare departments.
Hilda O'Keeffe photo Hilda O'Keeffe Partner in the Healthcare & Litigation Departments
Patrice O'Keeffe photo Patrice O'Keeffe Managing Partner
Kate Russell photo Kate Russell Solicitor
Deirdre Ryan photo Deirdre Ryan Solicitor in our Healthcare Department
Emily Sexton photo Emily Sexton Partner in the firm’s Litigation and Employment Departments
David Taylor photo David Taylor Solicitor in the firm’s Family Law & Child Law Departments
Tom Tobin photo Tom Tobin Consultant in the firm’s Commercial & Property Departments
Karen Tobin photo Karen Tobin Solicitor in our Family Law Departments
Grace Toher photo Grace Toher Solicitor
Conor White photo Conor White Conor is a Senior Associate in CKT’s Employment Law Department.
Number of lawyers : 32
Total employees : 81
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Law Society of Ireland
Law Society of Ireland Employment Law Committee
CEDR
Law Society of England and Wales
Other offices : Dublin