Ms Catherine Derrig > McCann FitzGerald LLP > Dublin, Ireland > Lawyer Profile

With ‘expertise over a wide-range of areas‘, McCann FitzGerald LLP‘s public law practice advises an extensive roster of state and other public sector bodies on contentious and non-contentious regulatory and administrative matters. The team is widely recognised for its strength in public procurement matters and in the development of major infrastructure projects, particularly in the transport sector; projects specialist Eamonn O’Hanrahan and public procurement ‘expert‘ Orlaith Sheehy are notable names in this area. The firm also has a stellar record in judicial reviews and regulatory litigation, wherein Michelle Doyle, Catherine Derrig and Rosaleen Byrne are all highly regarded. Seán Barton is also a key name.

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.

McCann FitzGerald LLP has a broad client base of insurers and reinsurers, including those for which it is exclusive Irish corporate and regulatory counsel. It has continued to advise major multinational insurers on high-value M&A transactions and is at the forefront of insurance disputes, including business interruption cases. ESG, sanctions and outsourcing are growth areas for the insurance team. Darragh Murphy is at the forefront of insurance regulatory matters and Brian Quigley is a leader in insurance disputes, along with Catherine Derrig, who specialises in health insurance and professional indemnity. Helen Kilroy and Roddy Bourke are also noted for insurance disputes. Associate Donnchadh Ó Collatáin is a rising star.

McCann FitzGerald LLP has an impressive history in the EU and competition field, including merger control matters, along with anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominance and state aid advice. It has extensive experience in cartel investigations and competition litigation, including follow-on damages actions. Following the retirement of long-time department head Philip Andrews, it promoted Amy Brick to partner in May 2023 and has expanded the ranks below partner level. Laura Treacy now leads the team, which includes litigators Rosaleen Byrne and Catherine Derrig, who both have specialist expertise in competition cases, such as representing DAF Trucks in follow-on damages claims in Ireland.

McCann FitzGerald LLP’s white-collar crime team acts for regulators and regulated entities in complex regulatory and business crime-related investigations and disputes. One key area of strength for the team is its expertise in fraud and asset tracing affairs leading to a steady stream of instructions to handle cross-border criminal and fraudulent disputes. Audrey Byrne specialises in international litigation and investigations and jointly heads the team with Megan Hooper, who has extensive expertise advising financial institutions on both regulatory and criminal investigations. Experienced litigator Catherine Derrig has been involved in a number of corporate fraud investigations of late, while Donal Hamilton focuses on contentious issues and investigations involving employees and whistleblowing. Michael Coonan, Rosaleen Byrne and Bébhinn Bollard are other key contacts.

McCann FitzGerald LLP has a well-developed commercial litigation practice, coupled with strength in contentious public law matters; it has vast experience in judicial reviews and statutory appeals. It has achieved further growth in highly-regulated areas, including data protection, market abuse regulations and competition. Catherine Derrig has an established reputation in commercial and regulatory disputes, and is also noted for contentious competition matters. ‘Top class litigator‘ Rosaleen Byrne is a leader in contentious regulatory matters, including financial services and telecoms cases. Helen Kilroy is a seasoned figure in shareholder disagreements and breach of warranty claims, and in insurance disputes. Roddy Bourke is an outstanding practitioner in product liability cases. Brian Quigley and Ciara Ryan are also highly rated. Bébhinn Bollard and Amy Brick were promoted to the partnership in May 2023. Karyn Harty has left the firm.