Expertise
Matheson’s Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department is one of Ireland’s leading disputes practices, representing both domestic and international clients. We are at the forefront of the key Commercial Court cases currently taking place before the Irish Courts. We act for a broad range of clients, including financial institutions, property developers, insurance companies and large multinational clients.
Every deal or transaction carries with it the risk of a dispute and reputational management. Successful businesses require lawyers that can pre-empt the issues that may surface, take steps to minimise them and then react quickly and effectively when a dispute arises. We routinely assist our clients with pre-emptive advice on potentially contentious aspects of major corporate and financial transactions. We play a critical role in the strategy of the dispute from the outset and minimise the cost and time involved in instructing external counsel. We give our clients business ready advice that enables them to approach a dispute, confident that we will guide them to the most commercial resolution.
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 our client’s requirements.
Our full service offering extends beyond traditional legal advice. Our Digital Legal Services business offers cost effective technological solutions and project management support for document intensive cases. Our resources facilitate the fast-tracking of the most complex commercial and cross-border disputes through Ireland’s Commercial Court.
The partners in our Department are also leaders in the development of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and a number of our partners are accredited mediators. Matheson also has Ireland’s only representative on the London Court of International Arbitration.
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.
Our Team
Our dedicated team of over 100 professionals is led by 18 partners.
- Angela Brennan
- Michael Byrne
- Geraldine Carr
- Brendan Colgan
- Deirdre Crowley
- Sharon Daly
- Gráinne Dever
- Nicola Dunleavy
- Bryan Dunne
- Kevin Gahan
- Aisling Kavanagh
- Ruadhán Kenny
- April McClements
- Julie Murphy-O'Connor
- Mairéad Ní Ghabháin
- Tony O'Grady
- Karen Reynolds
- Russell Rochford
- Rebecca Ryan
- 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.
- Advising Opel in relation to commercial court proceedings arising out of the fire in Douglas Village Shopping Centre Cork.
- Advising Aviva in relation to a significant subrogation claim against the ESB in the Commercial Court and the Supreme Court arising from flooding in Cork City.
- Advising a number of insurance companies in relation to Covid 19 - related business interruption claims, internal investigations and related regulatory and reporting obligations.
- Advising a major insurance broker in connection with a dawn raid by the European Commission in connection with alleged anti-competitive practices.
- Advising a major multinational technology company in relation to contractual and licensing disputes with business partners throughout the EMEA region.
- Advises a major multinational technology company in relation to dealing with “Norwich Pharmacal” orders and take-down requests received.
- Advising an Irish plc in relation to a number of civil claims arising from a highly publicised investigation by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement followed by the appointment of High Court Inspectors to investigate the company.
- Advising credit servicing firms and investment funds in relation to interest overcharging issues affecting acquired loan portfolios and associated remediation projects.
- Representing Royalty Pharma in litigation related to its $6.5 billion hostile bid for Elan.
- Representing a US oil and gas company in a judicial review of a decision of the Commission for Energy Regulation in the Commercial Court.
- Representing a major European utility (French-headquartered) in respect of two successful court challenges to government procurement procedures.
- Acting for a multinational energy client in a dispute under a gas tolling agreement, governed by ICC arbitration rules.
- Advising 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.
- Advising an international private equity company against an Irish plc oil company in a cross-border enforcement of a multi-million international arbitration award arising from a shareholder dispute in relation to a gas field in Poland
- Advising Central Applications Office (Ireland's central university admissions body) in connection with challenges to the process adopted to address Leaving Certificate examination results arising out of Covd-19 lockdown.
- Advising an Irish plc in the successful Supreme Court appeal of a €10 million libel award.
- Advising a large Italian multinational manufacturer and distributor of electricity and gas in a successful jurisdictional challenge to the enforcement of an Albanian judgment in Ireland, as part of a broader enforcement strategy (so far France, Luxembourg, Ireland, New York and the Netherlands) on the part of the Albanian applicant.
- 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.
"Full engagement from the team over many years. The continuity of staff also saves time and energy in every new situation and at the same time ensures that prior experiences are fully used and taken advantage of. That several individuals are involved also give needed back-up when the relationship lasts for many years."
Dispute Resolution: the Legal 500 2023
"Creative, reliable, and hard-working."
IFLR1000 2022
"Very well resourced with personable, knowledgeable solicitors and good sector expertise."
IFLR1000 2022
"Use in most complex cases – wealth of knowledge and always in safe hands. "
IFLR1000 2022
"The firm brings a practical commercial approach to difficult situations. The team are very responsive and provide a commercial approach in addition to their outstanding technical legal know-how. "
IFLR1000 2022
“I have found Matheson as a firm extremely helpful, responsive and detailed in their work. I would be happy to recommend them as the first port of call for any dispute resolution advice.”
The Legal 500 2022
“They are always prepared, they have strategies dealing with our case. They are always at least one or two partners involved.”
The Legal 500 2022
“This team were prompt on their action, understood the issues well and dealt with a changing scenario very professionally. They applied logic and wasted little time in their deliberations keeping costs under a managed level.”
The Legal 500 2022
The Legal 500 2021
The Legal 500 2021
"The lawyers are particularly responsive to fast-moving litigation that is highly sensitive or highly complex."
Chambers Europe 2021
Suitability to handle cases that "require a high level of ability in terms of litigation, negotiation and mediation skills."
Chambers Europe 2021
"They engage straight away, and the advice we get is commercially focused and industry-specific."
Chambers Europe 2021
"Matheson are solutions driven and efficient."
White Collar Crime: European Legal 500 2020
“Matheson are familiar with all aspects of case law and attentive to the client’s needs. They have very
skilled legal practitioners who provide clients with an efficient and effective range of options that focus on combining the optimum legal and business solutions possible.”
White Collar Crime: European Legal 500 2020
“The team is innovative, cost conscious, solutions driven and calm under pressure. I am constantly impressed by their preparation and approach. They have proven time and time again they have the skills needed to navigate litigation successfully.”
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2020
“The entire team provide a wide range of expertise with great depth of experience.”
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2020
“The team have a practical and responsive approach to the issues raised.”
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2020
“They add huge value to a complex case, always make themselves available, provide quality contributions and expert insight, and deliver a completely reliable service.”
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2020
“The service we received from Matheson from the beginning was hugely beneficial. Their availability also made a huge difference to the progression of the matter.”
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2020
“They have a combination of expertise and experience, with thoughtful client relationship management. Matheson provides clear and concise advice that is on point and pertinent, and its lawyers apply the law to the facts. Matheson are comfortable
navigating legal uncertainty and providing reliable, practical advice. The team is always responsive and manages client relations and expectations effectively.”
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2020
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2020
Matheson is known for its’ “first-class analysis, forensic identification of relevant issues and focus on solving the problem”.
White Collar: European Legal 500 2019
Matheson’s team “engage thoroughly with the subject at hand and are anxious to move the matter forward: they are decision makers”.
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2019
"They put a huge amount of work into understanding the case from both sides and can express the issues very well."
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Europe 2019
Matheson is described as "a go-to firm for complex matters".
Chambers Europe 2019
"They’re professional, confidence-inspiring and reliable."
Chambers Europe 2018
Matheson is a popular choice for "more complicated cases", with the "first-class" team regularly instructed on cross-border work for international financial institutions and technology providers.
European Legal 500 2018
"Confidence-inspiring and reliable"
Chambers Europe 2018
"They offered the right balance between legal and strategic advice."
Chambers Europe 2017