Mr Garrett Breen > William Fry LLP > Dublin, Ireland > Lawyer Profile

William Fry LLP continues to handle some of the most prominent and high-profile regulation, enforcement, and litigation matters in the Irish and EU telecommunications sectors. The team regularly assists clients with regulatory matters, network build and roll-out projects, corporate transactions, data protection matters, and matters related to competition law and consumer law. Practice head Claire Waterson has extensive knowledge of Irish and EU competition law and advises regulators and private operators on contentious and non-contentious matters related to telecoms law, with support from Garrett Breen, Cormac Little SC, and Sheila Tormey.

William Fry LLP advises government departments, regulators and other public bodies across a wide-range of projects, public procurement, state aid, regulatory and financing matters. In particular, the team excels in advising on the financing and development of major telecoms, energy and transport infrastructure projects; among its standout mandates is its advice to the Department of Communications on the rollout of the National Broadband Plan. EU and regulatory law specialist Claire Waterson leads the team. Alicia Compton, who advises on public sector employment matters, projects expert Jarleth Heneghan and litigator Garrett Breen are also noted.

William Fry LLP delivers a broad, cross-departmental service to clients in the transport sector, ranging from major airlines and aircraft leasing companies to port and airport authorities and innovative transport platform providers. The firm has a strong presence in the aviation field; practice head David Maughan and Mary Ward have extensive experience of handling aircraft-related financing transactions and advising on the establishment of aircraft leasing companies and joint ventures, and the team’s expertise in the sector also extends to M&A, regulatory issues and high-profile insolvencies and restructurings involving aviation companies. Projects and construction partner Jarleth Heneghan frequently advises on the development of transport infrastructure, and Garrett Breen is a key contact for contentious matters.

William Fry LLP has a highly impressive team with a string of top practitioners at senior, mid and junior levels. The team is led by Garrett Breen, who has more than 30 years’ experience in dispute resolution and is a recognised leader in general commercial litigation, and partnership and shareholder disputes. The firm is frequently engaged in cases admitted to the Commercial List of the High Court, and, like others, the dispute resolution department has developed a greater focus on contentious regulatory matters. Paul Convery is another senior figure, who has appeared in a series of major sanctions-related cases and competition disputes. Fergus Doorly is noted for shareholder disputes, fraud and asset recovery cases. Managing partner Owen O’Sullivan is also rated for shareholder and investment disputes. Mary Cooney is an ‘up and coming star‘. Gerard James and Michelle Martin were promoted to partner in 2023. Lisa Carty  has left the firm.

William Fry LLP’s white-collar crime practice handles high-profile cases and investigations for clients including public sector bodies, multinational companies, and high-net-worth individuals. The team regularly acts for clients in proceedings before the Irish High Court and advises on money laundering, bribery, and corruption matters. Laura Murdock has significant experience of handling complex multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes involving financial crime and jointly heads the team with Paul Convery, who specialises in shareholder disputes and reputation management issues. Deirdre O’Donovan’s practice often involves advising clients on investigations arising from allegations of corporate wrongdoing and significant data breaches. Other key contacts include Adele Hall, Joanne Ryan, and litigator Garrett Breen.