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Expertise

Barry Sheehan, Solicitor is a general practice law firm with a particular emphasis on litigation and commercial law.
Banking & Financial Services Law

The firm is involved in an extensive range of transactions for a variety of consumer and commercial clients.

 

Legal Services

Expertise in banking and financial services includes: 

  • Restructuring and refinancing;

  • Financial institution regulation;

  • Consumer credit;

  • Debt restructuring;

  • Financial Derivatives;

  • Financial Services Ombudsman; and

  • Litigation

 

Experience Highlights
The firm has acted as solicitor or solicitor-advocate in the following significant reported cases: 

Murphy v Bank of Ireland and Official Assignee in Bankruptcy [2014] IESC 37, [2014] 1 IR 642 

 

Lyons & Murray v Financial Services Ombudsman and Bank of Scotland plc [2011] IEHC 454

 

Murphy v Bank of Ireland [2011] IEHC 541

 

Media Coverage

"Businessman transferred €2m property to wife to avoid loan repayment, claims bank in court" Irish Independent (Dublin, 7 July 2015)

 

"Ulster Bank objects to transfer of €2.3m property" Irish Times (Dublin, 29 April 2014)

 

"Oral hearing at Financial Services Ombudsman granted" Irish Times (Dublin, 6 February 2012)

"Banks using private eyes to hunt vanishing homeowners" Irish Independent (Dublin, 1 February 2011)

 

"Fears developer is transferring properties to wifeIrish Examiner (Cork, 11 May 2010)

"Signing over prompts concern" Irish Times (Dublin, 11 May 2010)

Criminal Litigation
 & Human Rights

The firm provides criminal defence legal services to non legally-aided clients in relation to offences prosecuted summarily by An Garda Siochana, the Revenue Commissioners and other state bodies and offences prosecuted on indictment by the Director of Public Prosecutions. 

 

Legal Services

The firm offers legal representation before the District Court, Circuit Court and Central Criminal Court. The firm also provides appellate representation before the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights.

Experience Highlights
The firm has acted as solicitor or solicitor-advocate in the following significant reported cases:

W v District Judge O'Leary & Director of Public Prosecutions [2010] IESC 63, [2011] 4 IR 544

W v District Judge O'Leary & Director of Public Prosecutions [2007] IEHC 460

Director of Public Prosecutions v Alcock [2007] IESC 60

 

Director of Public Prosecutions v Alcock [2006] IEHC 437, [2008] 1 IR 200

 

Media Coverage

"Man detained in Cork fails in court bid to be released" Irish Times (Dublin, 19 March 2008)

Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution

The firm is a leading litigation practice with a particular expertise in complex, high-value commercial cases heard before the Commercial Division of the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union.

 

Legal Services

The firm has wide-ranging experience in all types of commercial and corporate disputes, including actions under the Companies Acts, construction law claims, statutory and non-statutory appeals and judicial review.

 

Experience Highlights
The firm has acted as solicitor or solicitor-advocate in the following significant reported cases:
O'Donovan v Cork County Registrar [2021] IEHC 307

 

Carlisle Mortgages Limited v Canty [2013] IEHC 552, [2013] 3 IR 406

 

Bingham v Cowley [2008] IEHC 453

 

O'Donovan v Chief Superintendent of An Garda Siochana [2005] IEHC 26, [2005] 1 IR 407

 

Media Coverage

"Costs awards open to challenge after cap on fees is deemed 'unlawful' by High Court" Irish Examiner (Cork, 31 May 2021)

"Supermac's founder and Limerick outlet operator settle dispute" Irish Times (Dublin, 2 July 2019)

"Dispute between Supermac's and tenants settled as accusation of forgery on document withdrawn" Irish Independent (Dublin, 2 July 2019)

"Dispute between Supermac's and Limerick tenants settled" Irish Examiner (Cork, 2 July 2019)

"Supermac’s fails to get injunction against franchisee" Irish Times (Dublin, 6 July 2019)

"Supermac's and franchisee back in court" Sunday Business Post (Dublin, 16 June 2019)

"High Court to rule on row over refurbishment of Supermac's store" Irish Independent (Dublin, 6 June 2019)

"Supermac's fail in bid for injunction over Limerick outlet" Irish Examiner (Cork, 6 June 2019)

"Supermac's take couple to High Court in row over Limerick premises refurbishment" Irish Examiner (Cork, 5 June 2019)

"Supermac's ordered to reimburse €150,000 to tenantIrish Times (Dublin, 19 July 2018)

"Supermac's boss to repay €150,000 to tenant" Irish Independent (Dublin, 19 July 2018)

"High Court to rule on row over refurbishment of Supermac's store" Irish Independent (Dublin, 6 June 2019)

"Farmer ‘took to the air’ in bid to stop repossession" Irish Examiner (Cork, 4 December 2013)

 

"Farmer 'took to the air in microlight plane' after repossession orderIrish Independent (Dublin, 3 December 2013)

 

Education Law

The firm enjoys a particular expertise in this niche area of the law and the principal of the firm was previously invited to serve on the board of management of a post primary school.

Legal Services

The firm offers legal services to both primary and post schools and to students and parents of students under the Education Acts 1878 to 2015.

 

Experience Highlights

The firm has advised principals and boards of management of a number of primary and post primary schools in relation to admission policies and student and staff disciplinary procedures.   

 

 

 

Commercial Contracts

The firm advises across a broad range of non-contentious corporate and commercial law transactions.

 

Legal Services

Expertise in the drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts to include:

  • Agency agreements;

  • Building agreements;

  • Distribution agreements;

  • E-commerce agreements;

  • Franchising agreements;

  • Lease agreements;

  • Licensing agreements;

  • Manufacturing agreements;

  • Outsourcing agreements;

  • Partnership agreements; and

  • Shareholders agreements

 

 

 

Employment Law 

The firm advises employers and employees across the full spectrum of employment law.

 

Legal Services

The firm offers legal representation before the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court in relation to all types of employment grievances and disputes. In addition, the firm offers representation before the Circuit Court and the High Court, as appropriate, in respect of employment law injunctions and claims of wrongful dismissal.

Experience Highlights

The firm has acted as solicitor or solicitor-advocate in the following significant reported cases:

McCarthy v Abec Technologies Europe Limited - ADJ-00029340

Varian v Sodexo Ireland Limited - ADJ-00032016

McHugh v Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) (The High Court, Record Number 2017/9747P)

 

McCarthy v Cork City Council EDA0821

 

McCarthy v Cork City Council DEC-E2008-018 

Media Coverage

"Vaccine manufacturing equipment supplier ordered to pay €22,000 to technician for his dismissal" Irish Independent (Dublin, 14 March 2022)

"Worker claims Cork vaccine manufacturing supplier unfairly dismissed him" Irish Times (Dublin, 22 February 2022)

"Sodexo ordered to pay €47,552 over manager’s ‘sham redundancy" Irish Independent (Dublin, 3 January 2022)

"Former international rugby referee David McHugh resolves High Court case with IRFU" Irish Independent (Dublin, 7 November 2017)

"Former international rugby referee settles case against IRFU" Irish Times (Dublin, 7 November 2017)

"Ex-rugby referee takes High Court action against IRFUIrish Times (Dublin, 1 November 2017)

Family Law 

 

The firm has wide-ranging experience in all aspects of family and child law.

 

Legal Services

The firm offers legal representation before the District Court, Circuit Family Court and High Court, and provides appellate representation before the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights, in relation to:

  • Divorce;

  • Judicial Separation;

  • Maintenance;

  • Child Guardianship, Custody and Access;

  • Child Abduction; and

  • Cohabitees.

 

 

 

 

 

Property Law

 

The firm provides the full range of conveyancing legal services to select clients.

 

Legal Services

The firm offers conveyancing legal services in respect of:

  • Buying and selling commercial property​;

  • Buying and selling residential property​;

  • Commercial lettings; and

  • Residential lettings.

 

 

 

Northern Irish Law

 

The firm is licensed to practise in Northern Ireland and is therefore in the unique position to advise on Northern Irish law as it affects Irish clients with business interests in that jurisdiction. 

 

Legal Services

The firm provides legal representation to select clients before the Magistrates' Court, Crown Court, County Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in addition to the various employment and administrative law tribunals.

Healthcare Law 

 

The firm acts for both patients and healthcare professionals in respect of the provision of medical services. 

 

Legal Services

The firm offers legal representation in respect of civil and personal injuries proceedings arising out of medical treatment, medical devices and elective and non-elective surgeries.

Experience Highlights

The firm has acted as solicitor or solicitor-advocate in the following significant reported cases:

 

Bingham v Cowley [2008] IEHC 453

Mediation 

 

The principal of the firm is an accredited mediator with the Mediator's Institute of Ireland and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London. 

 

Legal Services

The firm offers legal representation in relation to the following types of alternative dispute resolution:

  • Mediation;

  • Conciliation;

  • Arbitration; and

  • Adjudication

For commercial and construction law disputes, the principal of the firm is available to act as the:

  • Mediator;

  • Conciliator; or

  • Adjudicator

Regulatory
& Public Law 

 

The firm enjoys a particular expertise in this niche area of the law and the principal of the firm has written extensively in the area and is regularly invited to give guest lectures on this topic.

 

Legal Services

The firm advises members of the regulated professions in respect of regulatory and disciplinary issues with their regulatory bodies.

 

Experience Highlights

The firm has acted as solicitor and/or solicitor-advocate in the following significant cases which were successfully compromised prior to final hearing:

Sheehan v Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal [2021] IESC 64

Cahill v Law Society of Ireland (The High Court, Record Number 2017/78 JR)

Cahill v Law Society of Ireland (The High Court, Record Number 2017/6 SA)

 

Sheehan v Law Society of Ireland (The High Court, Record Number 2014/336 JR)

 

Sheehan v Law Society of Ireland (The High Court, Record Number 2012/20 JR)

Sports Law

The firm enjoys particular expertise in this niche area of the law. The principal holds a diploma in sports law from the Law Society of Ireland and is currently an ordinary committee member of the Cork Business League which is affiliated to the Munster Football Association.

Legal Services

The firm advises on the core areas affecting the business of sport and including:

  • Broadcasting/Media Agreements

  • Commercial Contracts

  • Defamation & Reputation Management

  • Disciplinary & Doping

  • Dispute Resolution

  • Employment

  • EU & Competition

  • Governance & Regulation

  • Intellectual Property & Rights Protection

  • Information Technology

  • Sponsorship, Merchandising & Sports Marketing

  • Personality & Image Rights

  • Privacy & Data Protection

  • Fundraising and Grants

  • Property matters including sporting leases and licenses

English Law

 

The firm is also licensed to practise in England & Wales and is uniquely placed to advise on UK law as it affect Irish clients with business interests in that jurisdiction. 

 

Legal Services

The firm provides legal representation to select clients before the Magistrates' Court, Crown Court, County Court, High Court of Justice, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in addition to the various employment and administrative law tribunals.

Experience Highlights

The firm has successfully prosecuted complex high-value professional negligence claims before the Royal Courts of Justice on behalf of Irish clients based in Ireland.

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