Mr Michael Byrne > Matheson LLP > Dublin, Ireland > Lawyer Profile

The ‘impressive’ breadth of Matheson LLP’s technology practice covers advice on technology transactions, e-commerce regulation, and intermediary liability issues. The team is equally adept at handling data governance arrangements and general data protection, as well as cyber-attacks. Spearheading the practice is Anne-Marie Bohan, who leverages almost three decades of experience to advise predominantly financial services clients on the full spectrum of privacy rules. Carlo Salizzo focuses on technology outsourcing and software licensing contracts, while Michael Byrne is a technology litigation expert, focusing on advising ISPs on requests for take-downs of defamatory online material. Digital services regulation specialist Sarah Jayne Hanna joined in 2024 and Rory O’Keeffe departed in May 2024.

Matheson LLP’s cross-departmental data protection group assists clients like Microsoft with the full range of matters, including data protection compliance, data transfer agreements, cyber-attacks, cyber security and GDPR compliance. Practice lead Anne-Marie Bohan is particularly well-versed in handling matters at the interface between privacy rules and the requirements of financial services regulation. Michael Byrne advises internet service providers on take-down requests, regularly working on the contentious side of the practice. Deirdre Crowley specialises in advising multinational and enterprise clients on regulatory enquiries. Rory O’Keeffe left the firm in May 2024 while Sarah Jayne Hanna joined the team in 2024.

Matheson LLP is well-regarded for its expertise, particularly in the Irish film and television sector. The team advises media and broadcasting companies and regulatory and statutory bodies on various matters spanning film, television, and digital media. Combining its entertainment law expertise with the capabilities of its commercial litigation and dispute resolution team, the firm offers detailed advice on defamation and privacy law. The practice serves a diverse client base, including producers, lenders, financiers, and distributors, across contentious and non-contentious matters. Ruth Hunter leads the entertainment practice, while Michael Byrne heads the defamation and privacy team.

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 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.