Our People

• University of Dublin, Trinity College, (BA Mod Legal Science)
• University of Cambridge, England (LLM)
• Honorable Society of King's Inns, Dublin (BL)

A former barrister, Niall is a partner in the public and administrative law unit of the litigation department.  He focuses on advising public bodies, regulators and professional and other disciplinary bodies in relation to public law matters, and on representing them in judicial review, statutory appeal and other dispute-resolution proceedings (whether with counsel or, occasionally, as a solicitor-advocate).

His work frequently involves advising in relation to the powers, functions and duties of public bodies, detailed matters of statutory interpretation and procedure, and public sector corporate governance (with a particular emphasis on public procurement and information-access matters, including freedom of information).

Areas of Expertise:

• Public and Administrative Law
• Litigation (Judicial Review; Statutory Appeals; Plenary Proceedings)
• Alternative Dispute-Resolution (Arbitration; Mediation)
• Freedom of Information
• Information Law
• Law of Evidence
• Public Procurement
• Public Sector Corporate Governance
• Constitutional/European Convention on Human Rights Law

Representative Matters:

• Advising the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority in relation to its regulatory options concerning the supervision of prescribed accountancy bodies.
• Successfully applying to the High Court as a solicitor-advocate to set aside leave granted to an applicant in judicial review proceedings against the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
• Representing the Irish Takeover Panel in judicial review proceedings brought by Ryanair against it in the context of its bid for Aer Lingus.
• Representing the Irish Pharmacy Union in Commercial Court litigation concerning the remuneration of pharmacists participating in the Community Pharmacy Contractor scheme with the HSE
• Representing the Irish Equine Foundation Limited in its Commercial Court public procurement judicial review proceedings against the Turf Club.
• Representing Adler & Allan Limited and Euro Dismantling Solutions Limited in Commercial Court public procurement judicial review proceedings brought by other parties against the National Oil Reserves Agency.
• Advising medical consultants in relation to their dealings with, and procedural rights in relation to, the Health Information and Quality Authority.
• Advising a major US insurance company in its dealings with the Financial Regulator regarding establishment in Ireland.
• Advising the Ombudsman in relation to confidentiality-of-information matters, and successfully applying to High Court to strike out proceedings against the Ombudsman.
• Advising the Advertising Standards Authority with regard to the preparation of its current Code.
• Advising various sectoral regulators in relation to ongoing processes and consultations.
• Representing the Information Commissioner in High Court and Supreme Court statutory appeal proceedings, including doing so as a solicitor-advocate on a number of occasions.

Speaking Engagements and Teaching:

• Niall is a contributing author to "Freedom of Information: Philosophy and Implementation" (Blackhall Publishing, 1999) and "Freedom of Information: Law and Practice" (FirstLaw, 2006), as well as a writer of articles on judicial review, freedom of information, and other public law or dispute-resolution-related topics, such as the doctrine of legitimate expectations and legal professional privilege. 
• He is a standing speaker at the annual Trinity College Dublin Freedom of Information Conference, an expert practitioner-contributor to the Law Society’s Diploma Programme on Judicial Review and a lecturer on Public Affairs Ireland’s certificate course in Freedom of Information.

Recommendations:

Chambers Global - The World's Leading Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, 2012
Niall is recommended as a leading lawyer in the area of ‘Dispute Resolution’.  Niall Michel specialises in administrative litigation, representing the Commissioner for Environmental Information in the defence of a judicial review and statutory appeal proceedings.

Chambers Global - The World's Leading Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, 2011
Niall is recommended as a leading lawyer in the area of ‘Dispute Resolution’, and ‘Partner Niall Michel specialises in public and administrative law, and he recently acted for the Irish Takeover Panel in a judicial review challenge brought by Ryanair.’

Chambers Global - The World's Leading Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, 2010
Niall is recommended as a leading lawyer in the area of ‘Dispute Resolution’, and noted as a specialist in the area of public and administrative law.

Chambers Global - The World's Leading Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, 2009.
Niall is recommended as a leading lawyer in the area of ‘Dispute Resolution’. Chambers quotes client descriptions of Niall as “…very thorough…” and “… ask[ing] pertinent questions to ensure that every possible consequence and outcome is covered.”

Chambers Europe – Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business Chambers and Partners, 2011. 
Niall is recommended as a leading lawyer in the area of ‘Dispute Resolution’.

Chambers Europe – Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2010.
Niall is recommended as a leading lawyer in the area of ‘Dispute Resolution’.

Chambers Europe - Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2009.
Niall is recommended as a leading lawyer in the area of ‘Dispute Resolution’. Chambers notes his particular concentration on public and administrative law for regulatory and governmental bodies.

Legal 500 - 2011.
Niall is recommended by Legal 500 for his dispute resolution expertise.

Legal 500, 2010.
Niall is recommended by Legal 500 for his dispute resolution expertise. Niall is considered ‘meticulous in detail regarding government regulatory matters’. Niall is also recommended in the area of Public Sector.  “Mason Hayes & Curran provides a ‘comprehensive and consistently reliable service’ and fields a dedicated administrative and public law unit headed by the ‘excellent’ Niall Michel. Highlights included advising the Irish Takeover Panel in the first High Court challenge of its decision making. The firm also provides ongoing advice to the Legal Aid Board and the Information Commissioner.”

European Legal Experts – Dispute Resolution, 2010
Niall “…has been identified by researchers as being highly recommended in his area of practice [dispute resolution].”