People
Niall is a litigation partner on our Public, Regulatory & Investigations team. He has industry-leading experience and expertise in both advisory and contentious matters. Niall's focus is on procedural and other jurisdictional issues, statutory interpretation and drafting, public sector corporate governance, freedom of information (“FOI”), investigations and inquiries, judicial review and statutory appeals, and contentious public procurement.
Niall is an acknowledged expert in FOI, and in information-management and disclosure matters generally (including evidence-gathering and evaluation, confidentiality, privacy, and privilege).
Niall’s clients are mainly in the public sector, or public sector-facing. Much of his work is in the areas of sectoral and professional regulation, and professional discipline. He has also advised closely on major statutory investigations and inquiries, and has successfully represented clients as a solicitor-advocate before the High Court, without counsel.
Niall is a two-time winner of the International Law Office Client Choice Award for excellence in client-care and service-quality.
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 TransCore LP in a Commercial Court public procurement challenge to a decision of Transport Infrastructure Ireland not to award it the M50 motorway tolling services contract, worth €400 million.
- Representing the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in defending a statutory appeal and judicial review brought by Viridian Power Limited against a decision to modify its electricity generation licence to bring it into line with the new Integrated Single Electricity Market arrangements on the island of Ireland.
- Representing a high-street bank in a high-profile investigation and examination by the Central Bank of Ireland regarding tracker-mortgage arrangements with customers.
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)
