What We Do

“It is prompt in its responses and the partners are readily available to help".
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Europe 2011

Our Product Liability Group has extensive experience and expertise in advising Irish and international companies, manufacturers, sellers, distributors and insurers, on all aspects of product liability and product safety law, from defending litigation arising from defective devices and products to advising on product recall, regulatory and compliance issues. We also advise on liability issues in relation to business to business and consumer contracts.

The Group is structured on a cross-departmental basis, drawing on dedicated professionals specialising in commercial litigation, corporate law, commercial contracts, life sciences, healthcare, intellectual property, projects, environmental law, energy and construction.

This cross-departmental approach ensures that our clients are provided with a wealth of expertise and experience, allowing us to provide tailored solutions across a wide range of issues.

The Group has specific expertise in the pharmaceutical, life sciences and healthcare industries, including labelling, product descriptions and compliance matters. We have advised on some of the most significant cases of this nature in Ireland in recent years. The Group also specialises in sectors including FMCG, Tobacco, Food and Drink, Technology, Motor Vehicle, Aviation, Construction and Mechanical Devices.

Regulatory/ Advisory

• advising a science centre global healthcare company on the HSE pricing agreement, legal compliance, Data Protection and labelling requirements for the supply of over-the-counter drugs in Ireland.
• advising pharmaceutical companies on Pharma Protocols including; review of data protection legislation, consent forms, transfer of data outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) and disclosure to medical practitioners
• Advising leading corporations on the regulatory framework regarding the manufacturing, control and supply of drugs.

Life Science and Healthcare

• representing a number of multinational pharmaceutical companies in product liability claims arising from the use of devices and products such as benzodiazepines and the MMR vaccine
• representing a blood product manufacturer in respect of ongoing product liability litigation and regulatory hearings 
• advising on complex regulatory issues regarding the research, manufacture, marketing and distribution of pharmaceutical, biotech and related products

Insurance

• acting on behalf of a leading insurance company in defence of High Court proceedings issued arising from property damage caused by a defective gate valve used in plumbing  
• acting on instructions from a leading insurer, in defence of personal injury proceedings issued against a supermarket arising from a defective food product

Mechanical Devices

• acting for an international manufacturer of aircraft engines and defending proceedings arising from the alleged failure of an engine in connection with a plane crash
• advising multinational motor vehicle companies on a range of product liability actions and product safety issues

Environmental Building, Energy and Construction

• advising insurers on defective building and environmental products and property liability 
• advising a large corporate in relation to labelling of electrical devices in light of the introduction of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive (2002)

FMCG

• advising a major tobacco company in relation to ongoing regulatory issues and product liability actions
• advising in relation to the sale of foods with particular nutritional uses and other fitness and diet supplements, to include PARNUTS (Foods for Particular Nutritional Uses) and supplements, such as diet pills

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

The Matheson Ormsby Prentice team boasts strength on both the contentious and non-contentious sides, and has a particularly strong healthcare group led by Tom Hayes.
Insurance: European Legal 500 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

Nicola Dunleavy is also highly skilled in construction disputes, and has a particular focus on planning and environmental matters. Clients praise her ability to "digest large amounts of information very quickly, and expertly manage all aspects of a project."
Chambers Europe 2011

"Matheson Ormsby Prentice has real clout in the Irish legal market, and if you have a tough case they have 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.
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2010

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. The team is also active in regulatory advice, investigatory work and dispute avoidance 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.
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Europe 2009

Stuart Margetson is recommended by
Who’s Who legal – Product Liability Defence 2011 and Commercial Litigation 2010