What We Do

Our Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department is the largest litigation practice in Ireland, representing a mix of domestic and international clients. 

We are at the forefront of the key Commercial Court cases currently taking place.  We act for a broad range of clients, including banks and financial institutions, property developers, insurance companies and large multinational clients. 

Understanding your business and your objectives are key to our approach.  Our size means we have the flexibility and depth of resource to handle large and complex litigation.  We never forget that every client may have different needs and expectations.  When necessary, we design and implement a bespoke service to meet a client’s particular requirements. 

The partners in our Department are leaders in the development of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and we currently have five accredited mediators.  We are committed to resolving disputes and providing timely advice in the most efficient and cost-effective way. 

Our 60-lawyer department has the capacity to advise on large-scale domestic and cross-border Litigation and Dispute Resolution, but we also have a number of specialist practice groups designed to meet the broad but specific range of needs of our domestic and international clients. These groups are led by partners who are leaders in their particular fields and regularly work in multi-disciplinary teams with other areas of the firm. 

Our close working relationships with leading overseas law firms, experts in forensic investigations and other relevant disciplines, ensure that clients benefit from a seamless service.

• advising one of the World’s largest banks on a number of cases before the Irish Courts arising from the Bernard Madoff fraud. This is the most significant litigation before the Irish Courts, both for complexity and value.
• we were instructed by NTR Plc to defend proceedings issued against them by Dali Properties Ltd in relation to whether a break clause in a lease worth in excess of €30m was validly exercised or not. These proceedings were also transferred to the Commercial Court, but have recently been compromised by the parties. 
• defended UPC in the peer to peer filing sharing litigation brought by the record companies.  
• we have been instructed by ACE in respect of the mis-selling claims against Bloxham Stockbrokers arising from the sale of the Saturn and Dresner bonds. 
• successfully resolved a long running copyright infringement dispute between IMRO and the Cinema Industry which was before the Commercial Court and the Controller of Intellectual Property. 
• acting for a leading international aircraft owner in defending multimillion euro commercial court proceedings arising from the alleged late delivery of an aircraft at the end of its lease period.
• successful Supreme Court case on behalf of the Central Applications Office (Ireland's central university admissions body). This was the first challenge to the Irish Language Minister under the Official Languages Act.  The Minister was found to have acted outside his statutory powers.
• acted on behalf of Russian state oil company Rosneft International Limited in relation to freezing orders obtained arising from an international arbitration award of STG£425 million.    
• acting for an international shipping company in relation to a unique set of commercial court proceedings against GE Transportation Finance Limited. The decision will have potentially major ramifications for the shipping industry.  
• successful supreme Court appeal on behalf of Compagnie Gervais Danone involving an action taken by Glanbia Foods Society Limited to revoke a trade mark on the grounds of non-use.

This firm handles a wide range of contentious work and is particularly highly regarded for healthcare litigation, IP cases and judicial reviews. Sources remark that “it is prompt in its responses and the partners are readily available to help".
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Europe 2011

Headed up by Sharon Daly, the “efficient and responsive” team at Matheson Ormsby Prentice “provide sensible, practical advice”.
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2011

“MOP has real clout in the Irish legal market, and if you have a tough case it has the resources to assist you,” say interviewees. Clients praise the level of support they receive from the disputes lawyers: “They are never fazed and act incredibly fast, which is of paramount importance in litigation. We get round-the-clock support from them and are never left in the lurch.” Major commercial litigation is very much the order of the day, although the firm’s breadth of experience is extensive. Highlights include acting for a multinational bank in a series of litigation claims arising out of the Bernard Madoff collapse. Head of the firm’s public law, regulatory and investigations team, Bríd Munnelly is playing a lead role. “She is an extremely exact lawyer and stands out for her thoroughness and attention to detail,” say clients. The firm is well known for its expertise within the corporate restructuring and insolvency space, and its practice has experienced significant growth since the start of the downturn. Heavyweight insolvency expert Tony O'Grady really knows his stuff, and has recently advised on the examinerships of McEneaney Construction, Qualceram Shires and Fate. Rod Ensor is also highly recommended in the insolvency arena. The firm is a leading player in the insurance sector, where Sharon Daly is known for her dispute resolution expertise. Clients appreciate her tenacity: ”She is a tough litigator who defends her clients passionately.” The firm has one of the largest disputes groups in Ireland and has all angles covered: Stuart Margetson tackles product liability cases, administrative and environmental matters and professional negligence. Noreen Howard is a strong commercial litigator with a particular emphasis on professional negligence cases. Carina Lawlor is further recommended, with clients reporting that “she is brilliant at dealing with senior counsel.” Other key areas for the disputes group include IP, construction, employment and pensions and healthcare.
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2010

At Matheson Ormsby Prentice, Sharon Daly’s team ‘proactively works to develop the strength and depth of its service’. Leading names include Bríd Munnelly. In a major highlight, the team is acting alongside its investment funds practice to advise HSBC on 14 Madoff-related Commercial Court cases, and 40 other High Court cases, with values ranging from €14 million to over €1 billion - a hotly contested market mandate.
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2010

Under the leadership of Sharon Daly, Matheson Ormsby Prentice "inspires confidence" according to clients, who also believe that "there are no other firms on a par in this area". Employment litigation, competition disputes and healthcare are also strong areas.
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2009

Covering banking, employment, product liability, construction, IP, public law and professional negligence within the litigation field, this team is praised not only for its diversity, but also for its co-operation with other departments within the firm in order to generate business and support litigious cases. Banking and corporate restructuring cases have featured heavily in the workload of late, and the construction and employment teams have also remained busy through the recent market turmoil. The group was commended for its customer service:“It’s very flexible and always puts the client first, and the lawyers seem to know all the legislation inside-out.” The team is also active in regulatory advice, investigatory work and dispute avoidance counsel, and is equipped to handle ADR on the largest scale. “They’re very creative, and always seem to come up with ways around any difficulties in a case,” said one impressed client. Stuart Margetson is highlighted for his effective mediation skills, and also covers product liability, environmental and administrative litigation. “He’s quick to respond and a very good operator in court,” say commentators. Clients appreciate that Bríd Munnelly “doesn’t just confirm there’s a problem, but brings you a choice of solutions as well.” She is most active on the investigations and inquiry side of the practice. Described as “very practical and down-to-earth,” Noreen Howard works on complex commercial cases, often involving professional negligence.
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2009

This team is made up of commercially minded practitioners, and clients praise the strong, approachable juniors and the ease with which relationships are established with individuals in the group. The firm as a whole has an excellent reputation for its litigation capabilities, which ensures that this is a popular choice for all types of insurance work, be it litigious or otherwise.  
Insurance: Chambers Europe 2009

Matheson Ormsby Prentice bolstered its disputes offering in 2007 with the recruitment of healthcare specialist Tom Hayes from Capsticks. Lawyers here operate on the highest level in matters of contentious employment, IP, insurance and family matters.
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2008

This large full-service team is divided into specialist work groups focused on areas such as product liability, public law, retail and leisure, IP, construction, media and defamation, employment, professional negligence and healthcare. The firm also handles a significant amount of ADR work, as well as general commercial litigation matters. Advising a mix of domestic and international companies as well as Irish state bodies, the lawyers “respond swiftly and comprehensively, giving clear and unambiguous advice,” according to clients.
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Global 2008