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News
The Business Post has published the 2026 edition of its Legal 100, recognising Ireland’s most respected legal practitioners across key business sectors. Compiled independently by Eoin O'Hare, Legal Affairs Correspondent, the list is informed by insight from C-suite executives, in-house counsel and other legal sources.
We are pleased to share that a number of our partners are featured, underscoring their market-leading expertise and commitment to exceptional client service.
We would like to thank our clients and peers, whose trust and partnership continue to drive these achievements.
Vanessa is co-head of our Real Estate team.
The Business Post said:
Byrne advises on all aspects of commercial property, with a particular focus on energy infrastructure and assets across sectors such as hotels and healthcare. She has extensive experience in landlord and tenant matters and regularly negotiates complex lease arrangements.
She also acts for financial institutions on the acquisition and disposal of property-backed loan portfolios. Byrne is particularly experienced in managing large-scale transactions. A graduate of Queen’s University Belfast, she has advised on a range of significant deals, such as advising Emeis Ireland on the €56 million sale and leaseback of three nursing homes to Healthcare Activos and advising SSE on its €1 billion joint venture with Bord na Móna to develop eight new onshore wind projects in Ireland."
Gerard is head of our Intellectual Property Law team and co-head of our Dispute Resolution team. This is his third time appearing in the Legal 100:
Kelly was appointed co-head of MHC’s dispute resolution team last year, but has continued as its head of intellectual property law and remains a standout in the field. He was one of only two solicitors designated as SCs in July last year. The former Matheson IP lawyer joined MHC in 2014. In the same year, he represented Irish singer songwriter Damien Rice in a copyright dispute that was settled last year. Kelly also acted for Novartis Pharma AG in High Court litigation against Eli Lilly relating to a European patent dispute, and advised NYSE-listed Biohaven Pharmaceuticals on the Irish, IP and tax law aspects of the $11.8 billion sale of the Biohaven group of companies to Pfizer."
Melanie is Head of our Employment Law & Benefits team.
The Business Post said:
Named on the inaugural Legal 100 list two years ago, Crowley is a leading Irish employment lawyer and a go-to adviser on workplace issues for both domestic and multinational firms in Ireland. Her impressive array of clients includes Meta, X, PayPal, Dropbox, Adobe, Salesforce, Accenture and Western Union. One recent appearance at the WRC saw Crowley successfully defend PwC in a dismissal challenge taken by an employee who was discovered to have spent weeks working remotely in India when they were supposed to be in the firm’s offices in Dublin. She made partner just eight years after starting at Mason Hayes & Curran as a trainee, and now leads the firm’s employment team."
The full report is available (behind paywall) on the Business Post website.
