Ms Nicola Dunleavy > Matheson LLP > Dublin, Ireland > Lawyer Profile

Demonstrating ‘exceptional market and industry knowledge’, the energy, natural resources, and utilities group at Matheson LLP acts for leading domestic bodies and major multinational clients on innovative development and transactional mandates. Practice head Garret Farrelly is highly active in the space, assisting with project development and finance, commercial and offtake agreements, and regulatory matters for leading offtakers, operators, developers, and public bodies. Conor Blennerhassett is an expert advisor to energy developers and investors on development, finance, and M&A mandates across the wind, solar, and gas segments. Other experts include Nicola Dunleavy, who represents clients in energy sector disputes, and Ruadhán Kenny, who assists in commercial litigation concerning energy and infrastructure projects.

The planning and environmental team at Matheson LLP is a part of the firm’s wider commercial litigation and dispute resolution team. It stands out for its experience of advising clients on the environmental aspects of large-scale developments, such as strategic infrastructure projects, and representing them in complex and precedent-setting planning matters and disputes. Market leader Nicola Dunleavy SC heads the practice, bringing over 25 years of expertise in environmental dispute resolution and regulatory enforcement. She is renowned for representing high-profile clients in complex environmental and planning matters, including judicial review challenges and the revision of planning applications. Another key individual is Ruadhán Kenny, who focuses on planning and environmental disputes and advisory work.

Matheson LLP has a stable and large team of dispute resolution specialists, remaining noted for its strength in financial services cases, along with regulatory enforcement and investigations for financial services businesses and large corporates. It has achieved further prominence in representing aircraft lessors in four of the six proceedings in Ireland relating to irrecoverable aircraft in Russia; it is the only firm in Ireland to act for more than one client in this headline case. The firm continues to make an impression in technology and data privacy disputes, and is at the forefront of media, motor industry and insurance coverage cases. Nicola Dunleavy is a recognised leading figure in the market along with Julie Murphy O’Connor and regulatory investigations specialist Karen Reynolds, who also earn accolades. April McClements is noted for insurance coverage cases and Michael Byrne for TMT disputes, while Deirdre Crowley handles contentious data privacy, cyber and AI-related litigation.

With a strong track record advising on the development of projects and land acquisition, Matheson LLP counts a diverse array of clients from the pharmaceutical and tech sectors among its clients. The team is very experienced in advising major contractors, developers and funders on construction disputes. The practice is chaired by a duo comprising Rhona Henry and Nicola Dunleavy, who also lead the commercial litigation team. Other key team members include Alison Bearpark and Ruadhán Kenny.

Matheson LLP excels in handling a broad spectrum of contentious matters, such as judicial reviews, statutory investigations, and appeals, while demonstrating notable expertise in energy regulation, public infrastructure procurement and development, and freedom of information law. The team routinely acts for state and semi-state bodies, government departments and regulatory bodies. The practice is spearheaded by Michael Byrne, who leverages his expert knowledge of regulatory and administrative law to represent clients before all levels of Irish court. Nicola Dunleavy is a specialist in planning and environmental law, while Kate McKenna is the go-to person for competition, state aid and public procurement issues.

Matheson LLP’s regulatory investigations and corporate crime team offers comprehensive support across the prevention, detection, reporting, and risk management of white-collar crimes. The practice is well-versed in handling a wide range of cases, including in relation to fraud, bribery, corruption, money laundering, and corporate criminal offences. Karen Reynolds, the head of the practice, specialises in financial services litigation and provides counsel to financial institutions on a wide array of regulatory matters, including market abuse, insider trading, and cybersecurity incidents. Connor Cassidy, Nicola Dunleavy SC and Deirdre Crowley are also noted.