The ARIAS-Ireland Chapter has been established under the aegis of AIDA (Association Internationale de Droit des Assurances) and is the first Irish based Chapter of AIDA.   Arising from the growth of disputes in the global insurance and reinsurance markets, this Chapter will aim to encourage market practitioners with sufficient skills and experience to promote and assist in the development of insurance and reinsurance dispute resolution through arbitration in Ireland.  The Chapter’s main objective is to provide valuable information about industry trends and information, collaborate with overseas ARIAS organisations on events of mutual interest which will highlight new and hot topics in the industry and to provide an opportunity for industry professionals to participate in events and networking opportunities.  To ensure appropriate representation the ARIAS·Ireland Chapter is composed of legal professionals experienced in the Insurance and Re-insurance industry.

Arising from the growth of disputes in the global insurance and reinsurance markets, this Chapter will aim to encourage market practitioners with sufficient skills and experience to promote and assist in the development of insurance and reinsurance dispute resolution through arbitration in Ireland.  The Chapter’s main objective is to provide valuable information about industry trends and information, collaborate with overseas ARIAS organisations on events of mutual interest which will highlight new and hot topics in the industry and to provide an opportunity for industry professionals to participate in events and networking opportunities.  To ensure appropriate representation the ARIAS·Ireland Chapter is composed of legal professionals experienced in the Insurance and Re-insurance industry.

Cathy is an Irish barrister with over 23 years’ experience in litigation, arbitration and mediation. Appointed Senior Counsel in 2021, she is recognised for her expertise, independence and integrity across complex commercial and public law disputes.

Cathy is a member of the Executive Committee of Arbitration Irelandand former Vice Chair of the Bar of Ireland and former Chair of the Arbitration and ADR Committee for the Irish Bar. A CEDR-accredited mediator and qualified arbitrator in international arbitration (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators), she has extensive experience acting as arbitrator, tribunal chair and mediator in both ad hoc and institutional settings.

She serves on a number of significant arbitral and adjudicative panels, including as Independent Chair of bank appeals panels established under the Central Bank of Ireland’s tracker mortgage examination, and as a member of a statutory Determination Panel under the European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) Regulations. In 2024 she was appointed Chair of the Apple Pay (NFC) Appeals Panel. She has also been appointed by the Minister for Justice as Chair of the Trust/Company Service Provider Appeal Tribunal, established under Irish Anti-Money Laundering legislation.

Cathy’s wider practice spans commercial, employment, equality and regulatory disputes. She acts for corporate clients, financial institutions, State bodies and individuals, and brings to her dispute resolution work significant prior experience in corporate governance and company law.

She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and Arbitration Ireland, and a former director of the Dublin Dispute Resolution Centre. She is a member of the Employment Law Review Group and the Company Law Review Group, pursuant to appointment by the Minister for Business.  She is a member of the steering committee for Dublin International Disputes Week 2026.

Matthew is a partner in the Commercial & Business team at Hayes solicitors. Matthew is a highly skilled litigator in commercial disputes and is experienced in cases before the Commercial Court and cases involving cross border issues. He has acted in significant loan recovery proceedings and in the defence of very substantial construction/energy claims. He has considerable experience of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

Chloe Culleton is a partner in A&L Goodbody’s Disputes and Investigations Group and is part of its specialist Regulatory Investigations team. She acts for insurers and other financial services clients in complex disputes and in respect of regulatory risk and engagement. Chloe has acted in high-profile and significant insurance disputes in Dublin and in London, where she practiced for a number of years.

Paul is a Partner in William Fry and acts on behalf of clients in respect of complex, high-value insurance claims and coverage disputes. He is the firm’s representative in The Harmonie Group, an international network of vetted law firms providing dispute resolution services. He also advises on contractual/tortious disputes. Paul has extensive experience of advising clients where issues arise involving financial litigation, including financial crime litigation, investigations and reputational damage issues.

Paul is a Partner at Addleshaw Goddard in the Dispute Resolution Group and is Head of Commercial Debt & Asset Recovery in Ireland. Paul has an established commercial litigation practice which has been built up over his seventeen years with the firm.

Paul has a wide client base of both domestic and international clients and acts for a number of high profile multinational corporations and insurance companies in all aspects of commercial litigation to include product liability claims, professional negligence claims, contractual disputes, insurance claims, shareholder disputes and financial disputes.

He also has extensive experience advising and acting for a number of financial institutions in all areas of banking and financial disputes before the Irish Courts, such as enforcement actions, possession proceedings, injunctions and specific performance claims.

Paul also has considerable experience advising clients on alternative dispute resolution to include arbitration and mediation.

Naoise Harnett is a corporate insurance partner at DLA Piper and leads the corporate insurance practice in Dublin. He has over 15 years’ experience advising Irish and international insurers, reinsurers and intermediaries on major cross-border M&A transactions, court sanctioned transfers, authorisations, distribution and Brexit-related matters.

Naoise has advised on a number of the highest profile corporate (re)insurance transactions in Ireland and combines his impressive track-record in corporate (re)insurance transaction work with a strong (re)insurance regulatory practice encompassing all areas of Solvency II and Irish legislation and regulation.

He is dual qualified in both Ireland and in England and Wales and has extensive experience advising in the London market.

Naoise joined DLA Piper in 2023 having built a very strong reputation through top tier domestic law firms and an international law firm in Dublin.

Rory is a Partner at Mason, Hayes & Curran, where he is head of the construction team. He has extensive experience in energy and construction issues and expertise in real estate, renewable energy and gas. Rory advises clients through ADR, arbitration and court.

Deirdre is a partner in the Insurance & Risk team at Mason Hayes and Curran. She has been practising for over ten years and regularly advises Irish insurance companies, UK underwriters and self-insured corporations on the defence of public and employer’s liability, motor and product liability claims. Deirdre also advises on coverage and policy issues.
Deirdre provides regular training to clients, lecturing on health and safety risk, statutory requirements and changes and trends in insurance defence litigation. Deirdre has a keen interest in emerging trends in the insurance sector and has delivered talks to the International Underwriter’s Association, the Insurance Institute of London and the Insurance Institute of Ireland.
Deirdre is an accredited mediator, achieving CEDR accreditation in 2018.

Michael Murphy

Michael is a Partner at Holmes O’Malley Sexton and specialises in high-level, complex professional negligence litigation with a focus upon pursuing the most effective means of dispute resolution. He also advises on the GDPR, including compliance strategies, risk minimisation and litigation arising from data breaches. He acts for insurance companies, loss adjusters, and financial institutions, among others.

Over 40 years experience in the Insurance and Reinsurance market working in senior positions in London , Bermuda , and America .
Current Board positions :
XL Re Europe SE Chairman Audit and Finance Committee.
XL Catlin Services SE Chairman Audit and Finance Committee.
Subsidiaries of AXA XL .

April is a Partner in Matheson and specialises in insurance disputes for international clients and financial institutions. She acts for insurance companies in complex coverage disputes, often in the Commercial Court, through arbitration or another ADR method. She has acted for clients in ad hoc arbitrations and arbitrations under LCIA rules.

Andrew is Regional Managing Partner for EMEA, as well as Managing Partner in Kennedy’s Dublin office. He has over 20 years’ experience advising clients in both contentious and non-contentious matters. He advises insurers on claims brought against directors of leading multinational companies and defending directors in breach of duty claims.

Colm has been in practice in Dublin at the Irish Bar since 1988 and became a Senior Counsel in 2005. He has a wide-ranging practice concentrated on commercial and public law litigation and on international arbitration. He has been appointed as arbitrator in international disputes under the rules of ICSID, LCIA, ICC, ICDR and DIAC. He is currently member for Ireland on the ICC International Court of Arbitration and is designated by Ireland to the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators.

Mark is a partner in Dentons’ Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice group, based in the Dublin office.

He advises domestic and international organizations on complex litigation, with a particular focus on intellectual property, technology, data and corporate disputes.

Mark also has significant experience of providing business leaders with regulatory and crisis management advice during data breaches, cyberattacks and corporate governance incidents.

He was appointed by the European Commission as a member of its expert group advising on Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs). This expert group assisted the European Commission with its preparation of the recently enacted Anti-SLAPP Directive.

Further information

For further information please contact our Executive Director, Rose Fisher at info@arbitrationireland.com.