Anne O'Connell Solicitors

Senior Associate

Jenny qualified as a solicitor in 2012 and holds a first-class LL.B and LL.M. She specialises in Employment Law and joined our Team as a Senior Associate in September 2021. Jenny is consistently ranked as a Recommended Lawyer in the Legal500 and she was awarded the title of Leading Employment Lawyer of the Year 2024 – Republic of Ireland by Acquisition International.

Jenny has worked with a broad range of employers in Ireland and abroad as well as with major insurers and private individuals. Her work encompasses all aspects of non-contentious and contentious employment law and related litigation. She advises clients in respect of all matters relating to the employment relationship, from recruitment to termination. Jenny frequently guides clients through various complex workplace processes, including investigations, disciplinary, grievance, and redundancy processes. She also advises employers in responding to complaints, grievances, and/or requests from employees, including in respect of accommodations sought by employees under the Employment Equality Acts. Jenny has assisted clients through some particularly sensitive employment related matters, including claims regarding sexual harassment and sexual assault.

Jenny also regularly drafts and reviews contracts of employment, employee handbooks and policies. She also advises employers on data protection matters and assists employers in responding to complex and wide-ranging data subject access requests.

Jenny also has significant experience acting for clients in relation to contentious employment law and equality disputes including unfair dismissal claims, employment equality claims, equal status claims, redundancy payment claims, payment of wages claims, penalisation claims, and claims under the Industrial Relations legislation and she regularly acts as advocate in respect of such claims. She also acts for clients in relation to Circuit and High Court claims arising from the employment relationship. Jenny frequently represents clients at mediations – both Counsel-led and mediations conducted through the Workplace Relations Commission. She also drafts, reviews, and advises clients in respect of complex severance and compromise agreements.

In addition to her legal expertise, Jenny has significant industry experience, having worked in-house as an Employment Law Consultant in a leading Human Resources company in 2013/2014.

Jenny is a member of the Employment Law Association of Ireland. She frequently writes on employment law related matters. Her articles are published in our newsletter and on Lexology, and they are also often picked up and published by HR firms, and recently by the Legal Island in its Friday Round Up – Ireland. Jenny also lectures on the Law Society of Ireland Employment Law diploma on which she also regularly tutors. Jenny also delivers guest lectures, webinars and CPD talks on employment law topics. Jenny also provides bespoke training to clients on a broad range of employment-related matters, including investigation and disciplinary procedures.

Jenny has an excellent relationship with her clients and strives to achieve the best possible results for each of them.