People
A Client Choice™ award winner and recommended by Legal 500, Niall is a litigation partner on our Tier 1 ranked Public, Regulatory & Investigations team.
Amongst other things, he shares his industry-leading experience and expertise with clients in the regulatory sphere. A large part of his practice is in the areas of sectoral and professional regulation, and professional discipline. In particular, he advises clients extensively in the areas of financial services, utilities, aviation and legal services regulation. Here, he assists both regulators and regulated persons in navigating complex issues, including compliance, regulation, supervision, investigation and enforcement. He frequently advises and represents clients in optimally navigating through regulatory and other investigations and inquiries. This includes guiding clients on the exercise of regulatory powers, the procedures to be followed, the rights and obligations of the parties involved, and on the extent of information and document-provision that can be expected or required.
Specialties
- Public and Administrative Law
- Regulatory Law
- Disciplinary Law
- Litigation (Judicial Review; Statutory Appeals; Plenary Proceedings)
- Investigations and Inquiries
- Information Law
- Freedom of Information
- Law of Evidence; Privilege; Disclosure
- Public Procurement
- Public Sector Corporate Governance
- Constitutional and European Convention on Human Rights Law
- Statutory Interpretation and Drafting
Representative Matters
- Representing a regulated financial service provider in a high-profile investigation and examination by the Central Bank of Ireland regarding tracker-mortgage arrangements with customers.
- Advising a regulated financial service provider in relation to breaches of a number of regulatory requirements suspected by the Central Bank of Ireland.
- Representing the Commission for Aviation Regulation in judicial review proceedings brought by Ryanair DAC against a determination by the Commission that Ryanair was liable to pay passengers compensation for flights cancelled owing to the Ryanair pilots’ strike of 2018, under EU Regulation 261 of 2004.
Recommendations
Chambers & Partners, 2019
Niall is "very considered and strategic in his thinking”.
Legal 500, 2019
Niall is a “Recommended Lawyer”.
Speaking Engagements & Teaching
Lecturer on Public Affairs Ireland’s certificate course in Freedom of Information and on courses in Statutory Appeals and Judicial Review.
Regular trainer and lecturer on legal topics, in-house at client venues, or at MHC and other venues. Topics include FOI; judicial review; decision-making in the public sector; legitimate expectations; legal professional privilege; and professional regulation.
Authorship
• Contributing author to "Freedom of Information: Philosophy and Implementation" (Blackhall Publishing)
• Contributing author to "Freedom of Information: Law and Practice" (FirstLaw)
• Contributing author (Ireland Chapter) to “LEGAL PROFESSIONAL PRIVILEGE, Global Handbook” (third edition) (DLA; Published in association with the European Company Lawyers Association)
• Author 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. Some are available on this website.
Areas of Expertise
Dispute Resolution General Data Protection Regulation Freedom Of Information Public, Regulatory and InvestigationsEducation
University of Dublin, Trinity College, (BA Mod Legal Science)
University of Cambridge, England (LLM)
Honorable Society of King's Inns, Dublin (BL)
