Our People
Helen Kelly "is an active listener who understands exactly what the client's issues are and really guides them through, giving a great level of confidence."
Competition: Chambers Europe 2010
Department head Helen Kelly is described by peers as "a well-respected and formidable competitor."
Competition/European Law: Chambers Europe 2009
According to sources, Helen's "deep experience in the area makes her a formidable opponent."
Telecommunications: Chambers Europe 2009
Helen is the only Irish lawyer nominated in Global Competition Review's '100 Women in Antitrust' survey 2009. Heading up the department is the 'impressive' Helen Kelly. A 'solid, capable and thorough lawyer,' she was described by clients as "very knowledgeable and direct."
Chambers Europe 2008
Helen is also recognised as a leading lawyer by a number of international legal directories, including Chambers Global, PLC Which Lawyer, European Legal 500 and Euromoney Expert Guides and Who's Who Legal.
Expertise
Helen is a partner and head of the EU, Competition and Regulatory Law Group at Matheson Ormsby Prentice. Helen has particular expertise in EU and Irish merger control work and has experience in dealing with large scale mergers and complex joint venture arrangements under the EU Merger Regulation as well as advising on Irish merger control issues. Helen also advises on behavioural competition issues including cartels and abuses of a dominant position. Helen has experience in dealing with complex investigations including dawn raids by the European Commission, the Competition Authority and other sectoral regulators as well as witness summons procedures by the Competition Authority. Helen has indepth experience of state aid issues advising the State, recipients of aid and complainants. Helen also regularly advises on public procurement issues. Helen has experience in dealing with the European Commission, the Competition Authority and various regulators, including the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR), Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) and the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).
Education
Trinity College Dublin, Bachelor of Laws
London School of Economics, Master of Laws
College of Law, York, Law Society Finals
Qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales (non-practising)
Highlights
Helen has advised:
- Allied Irish Banks on the proposed joint venture between Ark Life Insurance Company and Hibernian Life Holdings (part of Aviva plc)
- Hutchison 3G Ireland, "3" on its successful appeal to the Electronic Communications Appeal Panel on ComReg's designation of SMP in the wholesale voice call termination market
- An Post in its judicial review of ComReg's decision to refuse a price increase for letters etc.
- Calor Teoranta on competition litigation including advising it in relation to first amicus curiae application made by the Irish Competition Authority
- the Department of Transport in relation to the restructuring of Aer Rianta c.p.t., the State-owned company responsible for the management, operation and development of Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports in Ireland
- Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Limited in respect of the Competition Authority's investigation of price-fixing in the newspapers market
- a bank following an allegation by the European Commission of price fixing by banks in exchange of euro-zone currencies
- the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General on a wide range of public procurement issues including drafting expert sections for inclusion in its report to Parliament
- a number of companies on competition compliance programmes and dawn raid guidelines
