Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of Arbitration Ireland is charged with managing the affairs of the body. This includes all aspects of operations including developing strategy, ensuring the finances are in order, organising events and increasing membership.
President
Paul McGarry SC
Paul was called to the Bar in 1996 and appointed a senior counsel in 2010. He has also been a member of the Bar of England and Wales since 2012. A former Chairman of the The Bar of Ireland, his practice is primarily in public, commercial and European law. Paul is an accredited mediator and international arbitrator and has spoken on arbitration at events organised by the IBA, UIA, CCBE, ABA, Arbitration Ireland and ICAB. He currently chairs the Sports Law Bar Association of Ireland.
Vice President
John Doyle, Solicitor
John is a Partner in the Litigation Department of Dillon Eustace and advises national and international clients on all aspects of commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation. John is a Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)-Accredited Mediator and a member of the Irish Commercial Mediation Association.
Treasurer
Ciarán Ó Conluain, Partner, A&L Goodbody
Ciarán Ó Conluain is a partner in A&L Goodbody’s Disputes & Investigations group. Ciarán advises market leading corporates, Tech companies and financial institutions on complex commercial disputes and investigations. His experience spans large scale commercial and multiparty litigation, international arbitrations under various arbitral institutions and contentious investigations and enquiries. Ciarán has played a leading role in some of the most complex litigation and investigations in which A&L Goodbody has been involved in recent years.
Secretary
Susan Ahern BL
Susan is a barrister at the Law Library in Dublin and international arbitrator at 33 Bedford Row Chambers, London. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Susan is a member of the ICSID Conciliator Panel, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Sport Resolutions UK and the Bar of Ireland Arbitration and ADR Committee.
Nicola Dunleavy, Solicitor
Nicola is a Partner in Matheson’s Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department. She leads the Matheson arbitration team and her expertise includes advocacy in alternative dispute resolution, encompassing expert determination, adjudication and mediation. Nicola is also an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Paul Gardiner SC
Paul was called to the Bar in 1987 and to the Inner Bar in October 2000. He has appeared as counsel in many significant commercial litigation cases, and acted as arbitrator both domestically and internationally, while also appearing as counsel in many arbitrations. He is an accredited mediator with the CEDR, and has acted as mediator in a number of significant commercial disputes.
Colm Ó hOisín SC
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.
Gavin Woods, Solicitor
Gavin is a Partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department of DLA Piper LLP. His practice has a focus on advising clients about intellectual property disputes (trademark and copyright infringement and breach of confidential information).
Rory Kirrane, Solicitor
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.
Michael Collins SC
Michael has extensive experience of international commercial arbitration, with appointments as arbitrator from the ICC, the LCIA and UNCITRAL. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers in the US, a member of the panel of arbitrators for the International Arbitration Centre in Kazakhstan and a former chair of the Bar Council of Ireland. Michael is currently Chairman of the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel, a member of the ICC national committee and Adjunct Professor at the Sutherland UCD Law School.
Klaus Reichert SC
Klaus is in practice at Brick Court Chambers in London and specialises in international arbitration. He is a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He serves on the Governing Board of the ICCA and is a Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitration (USA). In 2020 he was designated by the Government of Ireland to the panel of conciliators at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
Caoilfhionn Ní Chuanacháin
Caoilfhionn has an established commercial litigation practice with a standout reputation for client service. She has successfully represented Irish and international clients in a wide range of business disputes before the Irish Courts, with a focus on the Commercial Court. Caoilfhionn is an all-rounder but her practice has a particular focus on financial services litigation, professional negligence claims and high profile property related litigation. She also has significant experience in alternative dispute resolution.
Chartered Accountant
Ian Talbot,
Ian is Secretary General of International Chamber of Commerce Ireland and CEO of Chambers Ireland, the largest business network in Ireland. Previously Ian worked with JPMorgan Chase, Citibank and Price Waterhouse.
Nessa Cahill SC
Nessa was called to the Bar of Ireland in 1999 and practised law in Shearman & Sterling in New York before commencing practice in Dublin in 2002. She was called to the Inner Bar in 2020 and her practice is focused on intellectual property (particularly in the pharmaceutical industry), banking, energy and telecommunications regulation, as well as other areas of commercial and public law. She has extensive experience in mediation, a background in international arbitration, and is Chair of the Bar of Ireland’s Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and a member of the Council of the Bar of Ireland.
Peggy O’Rourke SC
Professional Qualifications: LLB, LLM (Harv), Attorney at Law (NY1996)
Areas of specialism: Administrative/Judicial Review, Arbitration/Dispute Resolution, Commercial/Chancery, Construction, Employment Law, Professional Negligence
Neil Steen SC
Neil is a senior counsel at the Bar of Ireland. He has a commercial practice, encompassing company and insolvency, financial services, professional negligence, construction, energy, insurance, and planning and environmental law. He has acted in many arbitrations, both domestic and international.
Gerard H. James
Gerard H. James is a Partner in the William Fry LLP Litigation and Investigations department. He is a commercial litigator with particular expertise in complex commercial and property related disputes.
A strong advocate for and experienced practitioner in the area of ADR, Gerard is a member of the Executive Committee of Arbitration Ireland and the Co-Chair of its Young Practitioners’ Committee.
Gerard is a founding committee member of the OUTLaw Network which works to promote and drive inclusion of LGBT+ people and allies in the Irish legal sector.
David Herlihy
David is a partner in Allen & Overy’s International Arbitration Group, where he focuses on international commercial arbitration, investment treaty arbitration and public international law. David is qualified in Ireland, England & Wales and New York. His recent matters include representing Vodafone in its investment treaty win against India; successfully defending Cyprus in investment treaty claims arising out of the Eurozone financial crisis; and obtaining the largest Energy Charter Treaty award against Spain. His victories have won International Arbitration Team of the Year twice, most recently in 2021 (Legal Business Awards).
Elaine White
Elaine is a partner in the Ogier Leman Dispute Resolution team and advises across a broad range of international and domestic commercial disputes in areas such as shareholder disputes, contractual disputes and contentious insolvency. Elaine is also qualified in England and Wales having practiced with an international firm in London for 7 years.
Executive Director
Rose Fisher
Rose Fisher is the Executive Director of Arbitration Ireland. Well known throughout the Irish legal network, Rose worked for the body representing Irish barristers, The Bar of Ireland, for almost 20 years before taking up her post with Arbitration Ireland. Rose has extensive experience in management, business development and operations roles, and holds an honours degree in business and project management.
President
Paul McGarry SC
Paul was called to the Bar in 1996 and appointed a senior counsel in 2010, He has also been a member of the Bar of England and Wales since 2012. A former Chairman of the The Bar of Ireland, his practice is primarily in public, commercial and European law. Paul is an accredited mediator and international arbitrator and has spoken on arbitration at events organised by the IBA, UIA, CCBE, ABA, Arbitration Ireland and ICAB. He currently chairs the Sports Law Bar Association of Ireland.
Vice President
John Doyle, Solicitor
John is a Partner in the Litigation Department of Dillon Eustace and advises national and international clients on all aspects of commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation. John is a Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)-Accredited Mediator and a member of the Irish Commercial Mediation Association.
Treasurer
John DCiarán Ó Conluain,
Ciarán Ó Conluain is a partner in A&L Goodbody’s Disputes & Investigations group. Ciarán advises market leading corporates, Tech companies and financial institutions on complex commercial disputes and investigations. His experience spans large scale commercial and multiparty litigation, international arbitrations under various arbitral institutions and contentious investigations and enquiries. Ciarán has played a leading role in some of the most complex litigation and investigations in which A&L Goodbody has been involved in recent years.
Secretary
Susan Ahern BL
Susan is a barrister at the Law Library in Dublin and international arbitrator at 33 Bedford Row Chambers, London. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Susan is a member of the ICSID Conciliator Panel, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Sport Resolutions UK and the Bar of Ireland Arbitration and ADR Committee.
Nicola Dunleavy, Solicitor
Nicola is a Partner in Matheson’s Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department. She leads the Matheson arbitration team and her expertise includes advocacy in alternative dispute resolution, encompassing expert determination, adjudication and mediation. Nicola is also an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Paul Gardiner SC
Paul was called to the Bar in 1987 and to the Inner Bar in October 2000. He has appeared as counsel in many significant commercial litigation cases, and acted as arbitrator both domestically and internationally, while also appearing as counsel in many arbitrations. He is an accredited mediator with the CEDR, and has acted as mediator in a number of significant commercial disputes.
Colm Ó hOisín SC
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.
Gerard Monaghan, Engineer
Gerard is a Chartered Engineer and Technical Director at Nicholas O’Dwyer Ltd Consulting Engineers. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the Engineers Ireland Panel of Conciliators and a CEDR-accredited mediator.
Rory Kirrane, Solicitor
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.
Michael Collins SC
Michael has extensive experience of international commercial arbitration, with appointments as arbitrator from the ICC, the LCIA and UNCITRAL. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers in the US, a member of the panel of arbitrators for the International Arbitration Centre in Kazakhstan and a former chair of the Bar Council of Ireland. Michael is currently Chairman of the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel, a member of the ICC national committee and Adjunct Professor at the Sutherland UCD Law School.
Richard Breen, Solicitor
Gavin Woods, Solicitor
Gavin is a Partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department of Arthur Cox Solicitors. His practice has a focus on advising clients about intellectual property disputes (trademark and copyright infringement and breach of confidential information).
Klaus Reichert SC
Klaus is a senior counsel at the Law Library, Dublin and Brick Court Chambers, London. He is a member of the Governing Board of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration, Legal Practice Division Council of the International Bar Association, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Chartered Accountant
Ian Talbot,
Ian is Secretary General of International Chamber of Commerce Ireland and CEO of Chambers Ireland, the largest business network in Ireland. Previously Ian worked with JPMorgan Chase, Citibank and Price Waterhouse.
Nessa Cahill SC
Nessa was called to the Bar of Ireland in 1999 and practised law in Shearman & Sterling in New York before commencing practice in Dublin in 2002. She was called to the Inner Bar in 2020 and her practice is focused on intellectual property (particularly in the pharmaceutical industry), banking, energy and telecommunications regulation, as well as other areas of commercial and public law. She has extensive experience in mediation, a background in international arbitration, and is Chair of the Bar of Ireland’s Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and a member of the Council of the Bar of Ireland.
Peggy O’Rourke SC
Professional Qualifications: LLB, LLM (Harv), Attorney at Law (NY1996)
Areas of specialism: Administrative/Judicial Review, Arbitration/Dispute Resolution, Commercial/Chancery, Construction, Employment Law, Professional Negligence
Neil Steen SC
Neil is a senior counsel at the Bar of Ireland. He has a commercial practice, encompassing company and insolvency, financial services, professional negligence, construction, energy, insurance, and planning and environmental law. He has acted in many arbitrations, both domestic and international.
Gerard H. James
Gerard H. James is a Partner in the William Fry LLP Litigation and Investigations department. He is a commercial litigator with particular expertise in complex commercial and property related disputes.
A strong advocate for and experienced practitioner in the area of ADR, Gerard is a member of the Executive Committee of Arbitration Ireland and the Co-Chair of its Young Practitioners’ Committee.
Gerard is a founding committee member of the OUTLaw Network which works to promote and drive inclusion of LGBT+ people and allies in the Irish legal sector.
Caoilfhionn Ní Chuanacháin
Caoilfhionn has an established commercial litigation practice with a standout reputation for client service. She has successfully represented Irish and international clients in a wide range of business disputes before the Irish Courts, with a focus on the Commercial Court. Caoilfhionn is an all-rounder but her practice has a particular focus on financial services litigation, professional negligence claims and high profile property related litigation. She also has significant experience in alternative dispute resolution.
David Herlihy
David is a partner in Allen & Overy’s International Arbitration Group, where he focuses on international commercial arbitration, investment treaty arbitration and public international law. David is qualified in Ireland, England & Wales and New York. His recent matters include representing Vodafone in its investment treaty win against India; successfully defending Cyprus in investment treaty claims arising out of the Eurozone financial crisis; and obtaining the largest Energy Charter Treaty award against Spain. His victories have won International Arbitration Team of the Year twice, most recently in 2021 (Legal Business Awards).
Elaine White
Elaine is a partner in the Ogier Leman Dispute Resolution team and advises across a broad range of international and domestic commercial disputes in areas such as shareholder disputes, contractual disputes and contentious insolvency. Elaine is also qualified in England and Wales having practiced with an international firm in London for 7 years.
Executive Director
Rose Fisher
Rose Fisher is the Executive Director of Arbitration Ireland. Well known throughout the Irish legal network, Rose worked for the body representing Irish barristers, The Bar of Ireland, for almost 20 years before taking up her post with Arbitration Ireland. Rose has extensive experience in management, business development and operations roles, and holds an honours degree in business and project management.