A&L Goodbody LLP‘s public sector team offers a ‘commendable‘ service spanning both contentious and non-contentious matters relating to transport, housing, utilities, energy and healthcare. The firm particularly stands out for its experience advising on the procurement, planning, environmental aspects and construction of major public infrastructure projects, most recently advising Transport Infrastructure Ireland on the development of the MetroLink project. Anna-Marie Curran, who is well-regarded for her expertise in public procurement and state aid matters jointly leads the team with construction and engineering specialist Conor Owens. Enda O’Keeffe, who handles disputes arising from public projects, and environmental law expert Alison Fanagan are also noted.

Arthur Cox fields a diverse public law practice which is well-versed in advising state, semi-state and other public bodies on matters ranging from high-profile inquiries and judicial reviews to the development of major energy and infrastructure projects. Another significant area of expertise lies in advising the Irish government on the establishment of schemes to address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the housing crisis; Maura McLaughlin is a standout name in this regard. Joanelle O’Cleirigh leads the litigation and investigations side of the practice, while Aaron Boyle focuses on infrastructure and procurement. Kate O’Donohoe is also noted for her provision of advice to statutory bodies.

ByrneWallace LLP‘s ‘highly specialised and expert' public sector group handles contentious and non-contentious mandates on behalf of an enviable client list including state and semi-state bodies, government departments, local authorities and regulators; it has particularly notable expertise in the healthcare sector. The team is active across the full spectrum of public procurement, construction, employment, data protection and regulatory matters. Practice head Michelle Ní Longáin focuses on employment law, including protected disclosures, while other names to note are health and social care head Sinead Kearney; Martin Cooney and Fergal Ruane, who advise on construction matters, and data protection; and regulatory expert Sean O’Donnell.

Eversheds Sutherland‘s ‘incredibly knowledgeable' team handles high-profile contentious and non-contentious mandates in the public sector, with a client base that includes public bodies, regulators and local authorities. Peter Curran heads the public sector contracts and infrastructure side of the practice, which handles the procurement of major energy, education and social housing projects – including advising on multi-jurisdictional developments with the support of the firm’s international network. Pamela O’Neill takes the lead on litigation and regulatory matters, acting in a high volume of significant judicial reviews and statutory appeals on behalf of public bodies, where Eoin Mac Aodha and Ciara Geraghty are also sought after.

Praised for the ‘trustworthiness, expertise and wisdom‘ of its public law team, Mason Hayes & Curran LLP has an excellent reputation for handling regulatory investigations and litigation, with standout recent highlights including its advice to Meta and WhatsApp in high-profile data protection inquiries. The firm also acts for a host of public sector bodies in relation to judicial review proceedings and statutory appeals, fitness to practise inquiries and governance issues. The ‘exceptional‘ Catherine Allen heads the practice. Lisa Joyce and Niall Michel, who are noted for their expertise in information law, Aoiffe Moran, who was promoted to partner in May 2023, and Laura Rattigan are also key contacts.

Matheson LLP houses a wide-ranging public law practice which counts a broad array of state and semi-state bodies, government departments and private sector companies among its clients. The team has significant expertise in contentious matters, including judicial reviews and statutory investigations and appeals, and also stands out for its strengths in energy regulatory issues, the procurement and development of public infrastructure projects, and freedom of information law. The practice is led by litigation-focused Michael Byrne, Nicola Dunleavy, whose extensive practice includes planning and environmental law, Garret Farrelly, a key name in the energy sector, and state aid and public procurement specialist Kate McKenna.

With ‘expertise over a wide-range of areas‘, McCann FitzGerald LLP‘s public law practice advises an extensive roster of state and other public sector bodies on contentious and non-contentious regulatory and administrative matters. The team is widely recognised for its strength in public procurement matters and in the development of major infrastructure projects, particularly in the transport sector; projects specialist Eamonn O’Hanrahan and public procurement ‘expert‘ Orlaith Sheehy are notable names in this area. The firm also has a stellar record in judicial reviews and regulatory litigation, wherein Michelle Doyle, Catherine Derrig and Rosaleen Byrne are all highly regarded. Seán Barton is also a key name.

Beauchamps LLP bolstered its expertise in the public sector in 2023 with the additions of Pat McInerney, who joined from Holmes O'Malley Sexton in May to head the public sector and regulatory practice, and public procurement specialist Áine Smith, who arrived from Eversheds Sutherland in July. The team advises public bodies, educational institutions and local authorities, among others, on large-scale transport infrastructure and housing projects, judicial review challenges and data protection issues. Other key names include ‘excellent‘ practice co-head and firm chair Imelda Reynolds and Fidelma McManus, who specialises in the social housing sector.

DAC Beachcroft Dublin acts for public sector clients on a wide-range of matters, including judicial reviews and statutory appeals, procurement and state aid issues, but is best known for its professional regulatory expertise. Led by Gary Rice, whose clients include regulators in the healthcare and sports sectors, and Brian Ormond, the ‘very experienced' team is well-versed in fitness to practise inquiries and professional disciplinary matters. It is also experienced assisting regulators with governance, statutory interpretations and audits. Aideen Ryan, a key adviser to the Medical Council, and Aidan Healy are also noted.

Fieldfisher's public and regulatory law team delivers a ‘first-class‘ service to a vast array of public sector clients, particularly statutory regulators and licensing bodies, in areas ranging from healthcare and education to aviation. The firm is well-regarded for its extensive experience in the professional regulatory sphere, and is frequently active in regulatory investigations and fitness to practise inquiries. Other areas of strength include judicial reviews and statutory appeals. Managing partner JP McDowell oversees the team, which also includes the ‘standout‘ Eimear Burke, Barry Fagan, Zoe Richardson and Sinéad Taaffe.

Litigation is the cornerstone of the public sector practice at Hayes Solicitors LLP, which has a particularly strong track-record of defending the state in high-profile medical negligence and product and public liability claims, in addition to handling judicial reviews and acting for regulatory bodies in professional disciplinary proceedings. The ‘expert partners‘ in the practice include Joseph O’Malley, who frequently represents statutory bodies in public law-related disputes; Mary Hough, who leads the sizeable healthcare litigation team; and Jackie Buckley and Breda O’Malley, who advise public sector clients on property and employment issues, respectively.

William Fry LLP advises government departments, regulators and other public bodies across a wide-range of projects, public procurement, state aid, regulatory and financing matters. In particular, the team excels in advising on the financing and development of major telecoms, energy and transport infrastructure projects; among its standout mandates is its advice to the Department of Communications on the rollout of the National Broadband Plan. EU and regulatory law specialist Claire Waterson leads the team. Alicia Compton, who advises on public sector employment matters, projects expert Jarleth Heneghan and litigator Garrett Breen are also noted.

Addleshaw Goddard stands out for its strong skillset in the professional regulatory sphere, where the firm is frequently called upon to represent regulatory bodies in misconduct inquiries and litigation, but its broad expertise also extends to advising clients in the public sector on procurement, construction, employment and data protection issues. Practice head Stephen McLoughlin focuses on professional regulation, while Ronan O’Neill is noted for his experience in medical law and Margaret Austin advises on the development of social housing.

Holmes O'Malley Sexton is particularly active in contentious matters in the public sector, routinely representing statutory and semi-state bodies and private sector clients in judicial review proceedings and appeals. The firm also has notable experience of advising on data protection and freedom of information issues, and of acting for clients in the third-level education sector. Following the departure of Pat McInerney to Beauchamps LLP in May 2023, Lorraine Power has taken over as co-head of the practice alongside managing partner Harry Fehily, who is based in Limerick.

RDJ LLP demonstrates particular strengths in public procurement and housing matters, where the team has significant experience advising public authorities and state-sponsored bodies on social housing and other developments, and is also a strong choice for universities seeking advice on IP, R&D and employment issues. In addition, the firm fields a sizeable healthcare litigation team. Construction expert Finola McCarthy; Padraic Brennan, who specialises in medical negligence litigation; and real estate-focused Simon Lynch lead the practice from Cork, Galway and Dublin, respectively.