Mr Garret Farrelly > Matheson LLP > Dublin, Ireland > Lawyer Profile

Matheson LLP houses a wide-ranging public law practice which counts a broad array of state and semi-state bodies, government departments and private sector companies among its clients. The team has significant expertise in contentious matters, including judicial reviews and statutory investigations and appeals, and also stands out for its strengths in energy regulatory issues, the procurement and development of public infrastructure projects, and freedom of information law. The practice is led by litigation-focused Michael Byrne, Nicola Dunleavy, whose extensive practice includes planning and environmental law, Garret Farrelly, a key name in the energy sector, and state aid and public procurement specialist Kate McKenna.

Matheson LLP‘s practice stands out for its vast expertise in advising foreign and domestic clients on all areas of the energy sector, including electricity projects. The team has in-depth knowledge of the renewable energy regulatory framework, onshore and offshore wind projects, and corporate PPA and data centre operations. The practice is headed by Garret Farrelly, who has extensive experience handling renewable energy innovation and compliance, having worked on wind, solar, and hydro energy projects. Nicola Dunleavy is particularly adept at handling energy and utility disputes, along with infrastructure and PPP projects. Conor Blennerhassett is active on project financing transactions. Seán Scally left the firm in early 2024.

Matheson LLP stands out for its ‘immense strength and depth‘ in the transport sector, with a sizeable cross-departmental group that works alongside the firm’s transportation tax team to advise on aviation, shipping, road and rail matters. The firm houses a particularly strong offering in the aviation sector, where Rory McPhillips, Stuart Kennedy, Yvonne McWeeney and Stephen Gardiner are frequently called upon to handle complex financial transactions in addition to providing M&A and regulatory advice; the team is also experienced in the financing of rail and shipping assets. In the transport infrastructure space, Nicola Dunleavy SC, Garret Farrelly and Rhona Henry advise on planning and environmental, projects and construction issues, respectively.

Matheson LLP is frequently called upon by some of the largest domestic and international lenders and developers for advice on project financing and development in Ireland. The team handles projects across a variety of sectors, including education, healthcare, transport, energy, and telecoms. Practice head Garret Farrelly has extensive experience of advising some of the world’s largest financial institutions on complex infrastructure projects, while Rhona Henry specialises in project re-financing transactions. Conor Blennerhassett has significant expertise in offshore infrastructure, while Alison Bearpark and Owen Collins are other key contacts.